Essential IT Skills (Level 2)

Essential IT Skills leads to a Level 2 ITQ Certificate in IT User Skills (QCF). This is a brand new qualification which is on the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF) and is accredited by the awarding body OCR.

Qualification details

Each ITQ unit has a credit value. You will need to build up 16 credit values to achieve a Level 2 ITQ Certificate in IT User Skills (QCF). The units and their individual credit values are summarised below.

The following units are available for study on Essential IT Skills:

Mandatory unit:

Improving productivity using IT

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

• Planning an IT task
• Choosing software programmes
• Using shortcuts, customised menus / toolbars and templates.

Optional units:

Using email

This unit covers all the essentials of using email, including more advanced features such as setting up groups of email addresses, adding a signature and altering the design and format of emails. You will find out how to:

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

Spreadsheet software

In this unit you will learn lots of practical skills about creating and using spreadsheets and getting the most from your spreadsheet software. You will find out how to:

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

Word processing software

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

• Creating a new document
• Managing files
• Using shortcuts, mail merge and tables
• Integrating files
• Formatting documents.

Database software

This unit will help you to discover more about databases. It is ideal if you want to learn about modification of simple databases, creating queries and building reports. You will learn how to:

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

Presentation software

In this unit you will learn lots of useful skills to enable you to create professional presentations. You will discover how to:

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

How long does it take?

Although Essential IT Skills is free, your commitment is time. As you get started on your course we ask you to complete a short course induction. From this the vision2learn system will provide you with an Action Plan, which will tell you when you need to submit your assessments to your tutor and help you to plan your study time into your busy lifestyle. Each unit requires approximately 20-30 hours of study time.

The support you’ll get

You will be assigned to an online tutor who will help you and assess the work you submit as your assessments during the course. These assessments will form your portfolio of evidence. This demonstrates that you have met the learning outcomes of the course. You can contact your tutor at any time using vision2learn’s own internal messaging system or by telephone or email too.

Course delivery and assessment

The course is offered online with vision2learn – an innovative web-based learning system, which you can access via your internet-connected PC. The online course contains all of the learning content needed to meet the assessment requirements of the course, as well as activities to enable you to practise your skills and test your learning. In addition, you will receive help and support from an online tutor – who is always just a click away.

The computer kit you’ll need

• An internet-enabled PC running MS Windows and Internet Explorer 6 (or later), or Mozilla Firefox 1.0 (or later), with JavaScript and cookies enabled
• An active email account
• Microsoft Word or similar word processing package
• Adobe Acrobat
• Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet package
• Microsoft Access or similar database package
• Microsoft PowerPoint or similar presentation package
• Presentation software