The International Computer Driving License (ICDL – formerly ECDL) is run as a selection of qualifications, with the aim of empowering individuals and companies by teaching essential skills in modern computer technology. The courses are designed to account for anybody and everybody, from those sitting down in front of a computer for the first time to those looking to lay the foundations for a career in web design or multimedia. The more advanced ICDL courses even enable you to train as an IT Instructor.
ICDL courses are internationally recognised, currently running in 148 countries and 41 languages worldwide, and therefore provide a highly transferrable skill set that’s well established amongst employers as a good demonstration of necessary modern IT skills. Each course features a regularly updated syllabus that takes into account the ever-changing world of computing (the syllabus is currently on its’ 5th revision), and so won’t leave you lagging behind the times, and is taught by a highly qualified instructor who’s able to give plenty of hands-on assistance.
Both individuals and employees can access ICDL courses, making them an affordable way for companies to enhance the skills of its workforce as well as an exercise in personal development. While the content at the easier end of the spectrum is fairly self-explanatory (using the Internet, email and common programs), the complexities of web design and system usage are targeted skills for people aiming to develop a career in – or at least possess a strong understanding of – IT.
ICDL Courses cover the following areas:
- Beginner: Computers for beginners; Internet and Email.
- Intermediate: Essential Computer Skills.
- Advanced: Advanced Computer Skills; 2D Computer Aided Design; Website Creation; Working with Digital Images; Health Informatics System Usage.
- Professional: The standard for IT professionals; IT Training Skills.
Courses are structured in a format that first teaches the material, and then requires students to demonstrate their understanding of it in a series of modular tests (or, for the shorter classes, with a single test). Completion of a course can take anything from 8 hours to hundreds of hours, depending on both the course and the candidate’s ability.
To give an example, the intermediate level ‘Essential Computer Skills’ course requires candidates (by the completion of the course) to have a good knowledge of the use of File Management, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, Web Browsing and Presentations, and comes with plenty of online practice tests and training materials to get candidates started. A typical candidate might be expected to take a few hours to complete each of the seven modules.
To examine any one of these courses in more details, head over to the downloads section of the Irish IDCL website (www.icdl.ie), where you can get hold a series of syllabi and program brochures giving an extremely thorough overview of exactly what’s on offer. The Irish office also runs a series of free, helpful seminars in order to assist HR, Training and IT managers in finding the correct course for their staff, therefore identifying the areas in which their business’ technological outlook needs to improve.
To find ICDL and Computer Courses on Findacourse.ie view the following link; ICDL Courses & Computer Training courses in Ireland
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