NQT Computer Literacy

[MartinT]

Now that BECTA have gone, can anyone point me to ICT policies or advisories on what should constitute the minimum computer literacy skills for an NQT please? Any sort of guidance would be appreciated.

[MartinT]

Anyone? Just looking for what you consider to be minimum IT skills for new teachers please.

[Davit2005]

I'd like to know, but seriously they should have basic training or refresher course every 5 years. In my experience something along the ECDL Essentials would benefit a few I think

[Michael]

In my experience, NQTs are generally pretty hot on ICT and require less support than teachers who have taught 25+ years. It's existing staff who need more support using ICT to its full potential.

[MartinT]

Ok, thanks chaps. We are looking at delivering the basic ECDL to teachers so that should get the basic literacy up. For us, the pattern is not so clear: some young teachers seem as clueless with computing as some of our oldest staff while others just adapt and are not afraid to click-and-learn.

[AngryTechnician]

Agree, some are utterly clueless, many are OK, while others are excellent. Pretty much the same as the rest of the staff to be honest.

 

The most extreme case of clue deficiency was in my last school when a recently qualified teacher (in his late 20s) called me to explain that he had been tabulating some grades in Excel, and wanted to know if it was possible to get Excel to add two grades together and put the result in a third column, as he was tired of adding them together with a calculator.

 

There is no way he could have passed the ICT Skills part of QTS without cheating. I find it incredible that this test is no longer required for QTS despite the fact it is still sorely needed.

[Dos_Box]

Ok, thanks chaps. We are looking at delivering the basic ECDL to teachers so that should get the basic literacy up. For us, the pattern is not so clear: some young teachers seem as clueless with computing as some of our oldest staff while others just adapt and are not afraid to click-and-learn.

 

My Tuppenceworth. I think one problem is that there is an attitude at senior levels in the education sphere that because IT is so prevalent in modern life that the teaching of IT skills is no longer required as people are using it every day without realising. Unfortunately this is not the case, especially in 'work' environments that utilise secure networks with specialist software etc. The ability to get email on an iPad or home laptop in no way relates to having the personal facilities to use Excel for instance.

The problem with any compulsary training I think is that it will end up just like the 'NGfL Training' that took place 12 years ago (for all of us older types who go to see it first hand). This training was intended to coincide with the mass roll-out of computers in UK schools and teach staff the basics from logging on to accessing email and other areas. The reality (from what I saw) however was a bit different. Training took place after the final bell had rung, and by the time the staff had all arrived, got tea and biscuits (yes, in the ICT suite!) and settled down it was just about time for the teacher taking the session to announce 'any questions?' before they all went home. Compulsory IT training for all staff should be a requirement (most companies do it as standard) in schools, but should be more relevant and better run that the NGfL training over a decade ago.

[penfold]

 

There is no way he could have passed the ICT Skills part of QTS without cheating. I find it incredible that this test is no longer required for QTS despite the fact it is still sorely needed.

 

Along similar lines, I've worked with a member of staff who I was informed had to pass the ECDL in order to become fully qualified but had failed in 4 times and only wanted to pass to get their full money as a qualified teacher. They did pass (although I'm not sure how) but had no interest in doing anything IT related as part of their subject. As a result every time they used anythng techical caused a problem. It was more their attitude of not being interested in learning something they didn't need rather than not receiving the training.

 

Perhaps you could look at what skills people need in your school? While ECDL can be very useful for some, the ability to check how to change the display on a laptop that is connected to a projector is always useful (as is checking speakers are turned on, sound on mute etc...)