Workshop on International Benchmarks in Digital Skills

A workshop on Innovative ICTs in Teaching and Learning was conducted by ICDL( International Computer Driving License), a leading computer skills' certification centre, on 14 May 2016 at the Indian Habitat Centre.

The chief guest on the occasion was Dr. Ms. Shayama Chona, Padma Bhushan and former principal, DPS RK Puram. Dr. Chona has launched several major initiatives to strengthen teaching in the STEAM subjects, namely, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.

Dr. Chona addressed the audience on the importance and need for Digital Benchmarking for teachers and students. She applauded ICDL for taking the initiative to provide computer skills' certification to all stakeholders in the teaching and learning process.

She cautioned about the misnomer, We live in the age of the digital native. According to her, this statement is a fallacy as not all young people have the digital skills required in the workplace. Studies have repeatedly shown that in an age when digital skills are essential to almost every job, many still have serious gaps in their understanding of this skill and are not suitably equipped. Therefore, digital education is crucial to create a digitally aware work force.

Other panelists, Ms. Deepa Kumar, Director, Maxfort School, Dwarka and Mr. Arindam Lahiri, engineer and management expert also spoke on the occasion.

The speakers stressed that the usage of tablets in the classroom, techniques such as games and projects for learning were all suitable modes that would equip the digitally empowered workforce of the 21st century. ICT did not simply imply learning a subject per se, but also acquiring a life skill.

Sayem Mehmood, Country Manager, ICDL Asia-India briefed the audience about ICDL and the various courses it offers as Base Modules, Standard Modules and Advanced Modules. The range in these categories was: a) Base Modules: Computer Essentials, Online Essentials, Word Processing,Spreadsheets b) Standard Modules:Presentation,Using Databases,Web Editing,Image Editing,Project Planning, IT Security,Online Collaboration, Managing Online Information c) Advanced Modules: Advanced Word Processing, Advanced Spreadsheets, Advanced Databases, Advanced Presentation.

These modules, according could be chosen by students in their school years and continued till later, we were told.

Ms. Nitu Kumari, Computer Department.