ICT from City & Guilds

Hopefully useful information for those delivering ICT qualifications from City & Guilds.

[cgict-blog]

Gadget Show Live - Final day

After 5 and a half hectic days, the 4 teams looking to "Make Something UNREAL Live" now have to impress to legends of the gaming world - Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson. But now will go away losers, as all 4 games will be released by Epic Games and already companies visiting the show have been offering interviews or even jobs.

City & Guilds is being seen as a key component to programmes. All those taking part will complete one of the new high level qualifications in Gaming development with Train 2 Game. This is what I got into developing qualifications and education for - delivering real opportunities for people to either gain jobs or enjoy a better life.

Since Tuesday the teams have carried out some amazing work to produce top quality games for iOS. Considering this is the first time they have been together in one place for more than a day (only met 3 days previously as a team) the quality of work is near studio standard.

It truly is Unreal!

Will provide details of the winners and the runners up, so you can see the products for your self.

Watch this space.

[cgict-blog]

Gadget Show Live - Part 2

4 amazing games for iOS. These young people show that the talent required for this industry is out there and the UK leads the way.

Even better, these 40 people making up the teams will have a professional portfolio to present to any company backed by a City & Guilds qualification.

Stay tuned.

[cgict-blog]

Gadget Show Live - NEC Birmingham

Pleased to be a guest of Train 2 Game and will be judging the 4 teams who are competing to have their game publish by a leading games development company.

Having wandered round the 4 team stations, the work carried out by he young people involved is outstanding. First player and strategy games from teams that have been spread across the country will soon be available for your iPhone, iPod or iPad.

Train 2 Game will shortly beginning programmes for the gaming industry back by a City & Guilds qualifications either Games Design, Games Development or Games Art.

More later.

[cgict-blog]

QuizCity

 City & Guilds has released QizCity App on iTunes that has sample multiple choice questions for learners to test themsleves for the following units; 102 IT User Fundamentals 103 Setting up an IT system 104 Optimise IT system performance This is a fully working prototype and totally FREE!

[cgict-blog]

14-16 Qualificatons - accepted submissions

Well, 3,000 plus qualifications down to 135 Vocational products for schools! The Department of Education have sent out the list of those that hae been accepted for Perfromance Points from 2014 and I am sure many Awarding Organisations will be set to appeal against the decisions.

Good news! City & Guilds have a number of products in ICT accepted (yes I am challenging a couple of others) and here they are;

500/1729/9 City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma for Software Developers

500/6724/2 City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate for IT Users (ITQ) (QCF)

500/6760/6 City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma for IT Users (ITQ) (QCF)

501/1859/6 City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in ICT Systems and Principles for IT Professionals (QCF)

So if you are a school or linked to offer ICT programmes for schools, check these out now!

[cgict-blog]

Learning Technologies exhibition - Olympia

Who ever said there are no learning materials out there should have visited this exhibition. e-learning galore and not just for ICT!!

Tools for skills assessment, learn and test health & safety in the work place, career planning against learning and, of course, products for learning a wide range of ICT for users and professionals. In amongst this is Towards Maturity (where I sit writing this and drinking coffee) and opposite The National Skills Academy for IT; TM providing guidance on appropriate learning and helping create best practice, while NSA have a wealth of materials and tests for IT novices, professionals and various business roles.

Course, books, online its all here - obviously for a cost.

if you were there hope you enjoyed it, let me know.

[cgict-blog]

New Apprenticeship certification service

The new apprenticeship certification online system for England is scheduled to go live from 19th January.

The new service called ACE (Apprenticeship Certificates England) will be run by the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils. SSCs will be going live using a phased approach with e-skills UK being included in the week starting Monday 6th February.

[cgict-blog]

Where have all the Frameworks gone?

If you have been searching for the official Apprenticeship Framework documents from the Online library (even if you haven't) please note it is moved. To find the documents that have been submited by the Sector Skills Councils and signed off by the National Apprenticeship Service use the link below;

http://www.afo.sscalliance.org/frameworkslibrary/

Enjoy.

[cgict-blog]

BBC WebWise - more fun for learners and its accredited

At the beginning of October the BBC relaunched the WebWise programme, with updated modules and linked to ITQ at Level 1. They have inbuilt testing that provides on screen practical test and multi-choice questions - and if the learner takes these under centre supervision then this evidence will gain them units of ITQ.

What is even better is we have an Award for IT Users - BBC WebWise that includes the units in the programme:

Using the Internet

Using email

Internet saftey for IT users

Using mobile IT devices

Any learner that then completes the IMproving Productivity unit could also get the Certificate for IT user at Level 1.

The BBC has also created a tutor space and to access you will need to provide us with your centre number and contact details, we can then send the releavnt information.

If you use this new and exciting BBC programme of e-learning and assessment, don't foget to get the learner to print the module certificates at the end of doing the test (if successful) for you to validate.

Enjoy!

[cgict-blog]

RESPECT - Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

Though this blog was never meant to be about personal stuff and was for informing you all about qualifications and other things all City & Guilds, I felt today needed to be an exception.

Like many of you I use a Windows based PC, but without the old Apple 2e putting the personal computer into the business domain, Ken Olsen (founder of DEC) would have probably been right and computers would not now be in the home as a common appliance. You may dispute the Apple 2e as the leader in this area, but it was my first real exposure to the world of personal computing and I trained quite a number of secretaries and managers in the use of spreadsheets, word processing and databases on them.

For me Apple as a company (and to a certain extent its products) have always been a bit like Marmite - you love or hate them, there is no in between. But undeniably Steve drove an organisation that made others sit up and take notice, made them strive to do better and more. I am the proud owner of a BlackBerry Playpad, but would it or the Samsung, Acer, HP, Sony and other tablets have really ever got there. Though in the early 1990s Canon had a write on slate, it has taken the elegance and usability drive of Steve Jobs to get them where they are now.

I would not be doing what I am today without having encountered products from Steve, I am sure many of you may be in the same position.

Thanks Steve Jobs may you Rest In Peace.

[cgict-blog]

Medals for Excellence - not to late to nominate

Dear Colleague, Medals for Excellence programme is open - nominate now

We have extended the deadline for nominations for Medals for Excellence until 31 October 2011. City & Guilds learners who completed their course of study between 1 August 2010 and 31 July 2011, as well as lecturers/trainers who have been actively delivering City & Guilds qualifications may be nominated.

City & Guilds has been running The Medals for Excellence programme for over 100 years and recognises the achievements of City & Guilds' learners and lecturers/trainers in the UK who produce exceptional work or have overcome the challenges to achieve their goals.

Winners receive:

An engraved golden medal and commemorative certificate

Invite to attend the Lion Awards at The Camden Roundhouse in London

Opportunity to win a Lion Award

Recognition of their hard work and achievement that can support their career

In recognition of your centre's role, if your nominee is successful you will receive:

An invitation to share in the celebrations at the Lion Awards ceremony

A certificate recognising the high standard of training at your centre

A PR support kit

Winning a medal is just the start of an exciting journey. One of last years Medal and Lion Award winner Paula Hames said of winning:   'I am delighted to have won City & Guilds Community Supporter of the Year. My qualification has helped to give me the confidence to identify ways to improve the current system for children with profound and multiple learning difficulties. I am determined to ensure that these children are given a voice within society.'

For further information visit www.cityandguilds.com/m4x. 

A reminder that the closing date for nominations this year is 31 October 2011. Kind regards,  Medals for Excellence team 

[cgict-blog]

ICT Professional (7540) - unit audit

During the tidy up and re-accreditation of 7540 we have noticed that a couple of units have been duplicated in the qualifications and so we have had one of each removed. So, here is what we had and what you should do for your learners.

7540-389 and 360 Develop software using SQL

CLAIM 389 as 360 has been removed

7540-653 and 053 Investigating and defining cuetomer requirements for ICT systems

CLAIM 653 as 053 has been removed

These units appear in the Systems and Principles titled versions of 7540 only.

[cgict-blog]

Here come the girls.......well LARA

Learning Aim Database (LAD) to be replaced

As part of the enhancements to the Data Service data collection systems, the Learning Aim Database (LAD) is to be replaced by the Learning Aims Reference Application (LARA). Key changes include learning aims data being available in a new format that provides.

Learning Aims for the 2011/12 academic year

Ability to import data from authorised sources (Ofqual, DfE, UKCES, QAA, HEFCE, Awarding Organisations and learning providers)

LARA will be the repository for learning aims from 2011/12 onwards, and any data that is not relevant for the 2011/12 collection will be removed. New data will be added to cater for:

Changes to the Agencies’ funding systems

Units as learning aims

More transparency in the progress of a learning aim

LARA download and search website for 2011/12 and future years will be available from a new location, and will have a new look and feel.  The LARA structure will be based on the existing LAD database.

QUICK LINK: https://gateway.imservices.org.uk/sites/lara/Pages/Welcome.aspx

[cgict-blog]

IT Application Specialist Apprenticeship (The ITQ Apprenticeship)

As they say, a message from our sponsors (well the news you have all been waiting for at least) - fill your boots, as they say. 

Dear All

We have today reached agreement with the Apprenticeship Unit and have now issued the ‘IT Application Specialist’ apprentice framework which replaces the IT User framework. This is downloadable from http://www.apprenticeshipframeworksonline.semta.org.uk/, and shortly from the e-skills UK website. The qualification content is exactly the same (with all AO ITQs now included).

 Regards

 Chris

 Dr Chris Morrow MBCS CEng CITP

Director Standards and Qualications

[cgict-blog]

SkilSure/ITQ termination communication

Dear Colleague,

We would like to inform you that from the 1 September 2011, City & Guilds ITQ (7574), Customer Services (4430) and Business Administration (4428) qualifications will no longer include the option to purchase SkilSure e-portfolios. 

The unit option for the SkilSure e-portfolio will not be present within these products nor available in Walled Garden beyond this date. 

City & Guilds continues to endorse the use of SkilSure and for further SkilSure e-portfolio requirements please contact Brian Tetley on 01509 415884.

This change in product offering is due to City & Guilds’ acquisition of Learning Assistant, the UK’s leading e-portfolio provider. This exciting development will combine our strong brand heritage and expertise in qualification design, assessment and accreditation with a leader in the e-portfolio technology market.

For further details about Learning Assistant simply visit www.learningassistant.com

  If you need further assistance please contact our Customer Relations team on 0844 543 0000.

[cgict-blog]

ITQ (7574) Goes International

Just a short note, I will be pressing for more information as to the status of the IT User Apprenticeship Framework during the week beginning 18 July 2011. The initial news was positive and what we are looking for is the final confirmation that NAS have signed up and Skills Funding Agency are putting forward for the LAD.

However, posts next week will be coming from Mauritius, where the Mauritian Qualification Authority have now authorised the use of 7574 as part of their national curriculum framework. Working with the Mauritian Examination Syndicate we ae looking to train around 120 people on the use of ITQ, how to assess it with evidence or assignments and the all important processes for quality, standardisation and veriication.

This is an important step in taking employer lead Occupational Standards around the world. While culture and needs may vary, the requirements for using IT tend to remain constant - and we are not just talking office products.

We hope this new group of deliverers and learners will also be able to feedback into the ongoing development of IT user qualifications in the future. With Cloud becoming more prominent the world just keeps getting smaller.

Keeping watching and I'll keep posting.

[cgict-blog]

IT User Apprenticeships - common sense rules!

Big thanks to Chris Morrow at e-skills (framework issuer) and all centres who sent him and me supporting evidence for maintaining an IT user Apprenticeship.

While it has to be edited and represented, Chris has managed to get the National Apprenticeship Service to understand the need for this vital framework. The only argument now is that the framework must state that those undertaking will make substantial use of ICT as part of their every job.

There will be no change to the original proposal (including the two new units to cover the 10 credit of knowledge and PTLS requirements from SASE) and the costings required by Skills Funding Agency are ready to go. Chris will be making the changes and resubmitting this week (hopefully) and we chould see the Apprenticeship Framework up and running with some swiftness.

The reasons for this were always clear:

Return to work

Upskilling

Unemployed to work

Young people looking to work with ICT software (not hardware or systems or networks as in ICT Professional)

The previous Framework has been used successfully by a wide range of centres across the country in all of the areas.

Thanks for your support to all those who sent details and I will continue to update the blog as more information comes through.