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Essential IT Skills (Level 1)

Level 1 ITQ Award / Certificate in IT User Skills (QCF)

Essential IT Skills Level 1 on vision2learn for schools leads to the new Information Technology Qualification ITQ in IT User Skills at Level 1. It's designed to demonstrate students' competence in using IT and is a nationally recognised qualification.

In this vision2learn for schools course, learners can choose from the following 9 units to build credits towards their ITQ at Level 1:

  • Improving productivity using IT
  • Using email
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
  • Database software
  • Presentation software
  • IT User Fundamentals
  • IT Communication Fundamentals
  • Using the Internet
Essential IT Skills (Level 1) - Good for: Developing practical IT skills for beginners

Course details

Essential IT Skills Level 1 is suitable for KS3 year 9 students and KS4 year 10 and 11 students. The units are flexible and can be combined to create a Level 1 Award or Certificate qualification, depending on the needs of the individual learner. They are also suitable for use in Foundation Learning Personalised Learning Programmes and in KS4 Engagement Programmes.

Each ITQ unit has a credit value. Learners will need to build up 9 credit values to achieve a Level 1 Award in IT User Skills (QCF) and 13 credit values to achieve a Level 1 ITQ Certificate in IT User Skills (QCF). The units and their individual credit values are summarised below.

Improving productivity using IT

Credit value: 3 (Mandatory)

This unit is all about using IT tools to complete tasks more efficiently and really improve your work. Pupils will learn lots of useful skills including:

  • Planning an IT task
  • Choosing software programmes
  • Reviewing their work.

Using email

Credit value: 2 (Optional)

This unit covers all the essentials of using email. Learners will find out how to:

  • Create and send email messages
  • Use ‘netiquette’ to get the most out of email
  • Use the email address book
  • Do more with email.

Spreadsheet software

Credit value: 3 (Optional)

In this unit learners will discover lots of practical skills about creating and using spreadsheets and getting the most from their spreadsheet software. They will find out how to:

  • Use spreadsheet software
  • Create and use functions and formulae
  • Create graphs and charts
  • Format their spreadsheets.

Word processing software

Credit value: 3 (Optional)

This unit shows learners how to get the most out of their word processing application, using a wide range of tools and techniques to produce professional looking documents. Learners will find out about:

  • Creating a new document
  • Entering text, numbers and symbols
  • Inserting image files and using tables
  • Formatting documents.

Database software

Credit value: 3 (Optional)

This unit will help pupils to discover more about databases. It is ideal if they want to find out more about modification of simple databases, creating queries and building reports. They will learn how to:

  • Set up a database
  • Enter data accurately
  • Create records in their database
  • Do more with their data
  • Create and print reports.

Presentation software

Credit value: 3 (Optional)

In this unit learners will learn lots of useful skills to enable them to create professional presentations. Pupils will discover how to:

  • Create a new presentation
  • Use a design template
  • Control their presentation
  • Finish their presentation.

IT User Fundamentals

Credit value: 3 (Optional)

This unit helps pupils to understand the basics of using IT systems safely and securely, and to use appropriate skills and techniques to operate IT systems for a range of activities. Pupils will learn how to:

  • Use IT systems for different needs
  • Manage filing systems and retrieve information from these systems
  • Maintain an IT system and troubleshoot IT problems.

Using the Internet

Credit value: 3 (Optional)

With this unit pupils will discover how to connect to the Internet and navigate browsers effectively to search for and find information. Pupils will cover the following topics:

  • Getting online
  • Change settings to improve browser performance
  • Browsing the web and searching for information.

IT Communication Fundamentals

Credit value: 2 (Optional)

In this unit pupils will learn the basics of communicating online via email and other Internet-based mediums. The following subjects are covered:

  • Using email accounts to organise and plan activities
  • Accessing different types of information/media via the Internet
  • Using search engines.
Essential IT Skills (Level 1)

Registration and certification fees vary. Please see our in depth information sheet for details.

Section 96: <16 / 16-18 / STET 18+

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