Professional Development Opportunities for school ICT technicians

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Professional Development Opportunities for school
ICT technicians

• Terry Killer, Skills Manager Microsoft Education
• v-terryk_at_microsoft.com

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Agenda

• Professional Development Opportunities for school
  ICT technicians
• Changing nature of work - ICT
• National Skills Strategy
• Why Certification
• Becta Technicians Framework
• Microsoft Strategic Partners
• Progression

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Changing nature of work - ICT
Lifetime employment is over Stable employment at
large corporations is gone The average career
will most likely encompass two or there
occupations and a half-dozen or more
employers Most of us will spend sustained
periods of our career in some form of self
employment
Work is increasingly represented electronically
So need skills
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Islands of Information
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National Skills Strategy

• Vendor Qualifications
• In sectors such as IT
• the certificates offered by companies to
  recognise proficiency in using their products are
  highly valued.
• The best of those certificates should be
  recognised in the National Qualifications
  Framework.
• A unit-based approach will offer greater
  opportunities to incorporate high quality vendor
  and employer qualifications or units into the
  national framework
• Source
• DfES National Skills Strategy White Paper, 9th
  July 2003,
• Section 5.37 d. Page 83

Microsoft Academy and Qualifications
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Why Certification
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Technical Competencies Framework - Becta

• Creating an effective structure to support the
  use of ICT in schools requires personnel with
  specific competences relevant to the school
  environment.
• School leaders need to be convinced of the
  necessity for high quality support and aware of
  the range of competences required to perform this
  task.
• This framework is concerned with competences
  specifically related to ICT technical support. It
  does not deal with the more generic competences
  relevant to any member of the school workforce.
• The framework was co-developed between Becta and
  e-skills UK, the sector skills council for IT,
  Telecoms and Contact Centres.

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Microsoft Qualifications and the National
Qualifications Framework
Microsoft Certifications MCSE Office
Expert MCP MCDST Office Specialist IC3 Digi
tal Literacy
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Microsofts Certification Model
INFORMATION WORKER
IT PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPER
SPECIALISATION
Master
CAREER ADVANCEMENT
Expert
SPECIALISATION
Core
CAREER ENABLEMENT
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Descriptions of Technician Levels

• Technician ATypical title Teaching
  AssistantDescription This person has ICT
  support as one aspect of a wider
  support/assistant role. A selection of the
  competences listed will be relevant, but may need
  to be developed through appropriate on-the-job
  training.
• Technician BTypical title ICT
  TechnicianDescription An entry-level post or
  one involving basic
• day-to-day support of ICT systems.
• This is likely to be a dedicated ICT technician.
• Technician CTypical title Senior ICT
  TechnicianDescription A senior post with
  general responsibility for the effective running
  of ICT systems.
• Technician DTypical title ICT Systems
  ManagerDescription A strategic post with
  additional specific management responsibility for
  the development and deployment of ICT systems.

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Digital Literacy and IC3 Internet Computer
Core Certification

• Office Skills Level 1
• IC3 - Internet and Computing Core certification
• provides employers and academic institutions
  proof that individuals have essential computing
  knowledge and skills
• professionally validated
• standards-based certification programme
• 3 Modules
• IC3 Computing Fundamentals
• IC3 Living on Line
• IC3 Key Applications

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IC3 Units
Module A Computing Fundamentals
Computer Hardware Computer Software Using an Operating System
Module B Key Applications
Common Programming Functions Word Processing Functions Spreadsheet Functions
Module C Living Online
Networks The Internet Electronic Mail Using The Internet The impact of Computing and The Internet on Society
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IC3 Certificate
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The Becta Framework
Skill Activities Technician A Technician B Technician C Technician D
Technology Focus Technology Focus Technology Focus Technology Focus Technology Focus Technology Focus
Desk Top Application Support Install, maintain and upgrade desktop hardware (including peripherals) and software Aware of the limitations and the appropriate use of hardware and OS (operating systems). Activities A1.1A1.2A3.3 Connect up and check hardware for normal operation. Set up a suitable desktop environment for users of a standalone PC. Install simple software applications. . Activities A1.4A2.1A3.1A3.2A3.3 Install and test new peripherals. Follow manufacturers instructions to support the use of hardware, such as installing drivers. Perform basic PC hardware repairs and upgrades. Diagnose and resolve basic PC, printer, peripheral and software faults. Install complete applications and set software options, such as default directory. Carry out any required maintenance of applications. (eg. install service packs.) Activities Perform a wide range of hardware repairs and upgrades. Detect, diagnose and resolve most PC, printer and peripheral device faults. Follow instructions to install and upgrade client/server applications (such as the schools MIS). Identify and install essential software patches. Identify application compatibility issues. Activities Perform advanced diagnosis procedures on hardware, peripherals and applications. Give appropriate advice on compatibility of hardware and OS. Give appropriate level of advice on compatibility of applications with existing systems, based on user requirements.
Desk Top Application Support Install, maintain and upgrade desktop hardware (including peripherals) and software Aware of the limitations and the appropriate use of hardware and OS (operating systems). Knowledge Confident user of common hardware and OS. Confident user of common desktop application software. Knowledge Confident user of a majority of hardware and OS. Confident user of the majority of desktop applications, including educational software. Awareness of client/server based applications. (eg. School's MIS system). Knowledge Expert user of the majority of hardware and OS. Expert user of desktop application software. Confident user of client/server based applications. Knowledge Expert user of all major hardware and detailed knowledge of OS. Expert user of desktop and client/server based application software, including awareness of version limitations.
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Microsoft Strategic Partners
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Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician

• What is MCDST?
• Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician
  (MCDST) is a qualification and certification that
  can jump start an IT professional career.
• Typical job titles for MCDST include
• ICT Support Technicians
• Help Desk Technician,
• Customer Support Representative,
• PC Support Specialist,
• Technical Support Representative.
• The Microsoft Certified Desktop Support
  Technician (MCDST) certification will support
  your ICT career by ensuring you have the skills
  to support end users and successfully
  troubleshoot desktop environments running on the
  Microsoft Windows operating system.

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IT Professional Career Path
Technical Support
Network Administration
Skills-based Career Opportunities
Time
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