This section describes the new IT Units in v1.1 of the CPD Programme and presents some guidance on how to tackle them as part of the whole award.
If you just want to download the new IT Unit descriptions please click on the item(s) in the list below.
What are the new IT Units?
The new Units, called ITQs, were created in 2004 by the Sector Skills body for IT called "e-skills". They replace the old-fashioned and rather heavy-handed Units that have been around for the past five years.
Because of the new design and approach to the new National Occupational Standards (NOS) the ITQs do not directly replace the Units listed in the v1.0 CPD programme. Here is a list of how they are comparable:
OLD UNIT
NEW ITQ UNIT
NOTES
6. Contribute to the effectiveness of the IT working environment
7. Improve your own effectiveness in the IT working environment
There is no direct match between the old and new Units here but there are many common areas in both. The only area missing is the evaluative aspect. Although this is contained in a new ITQ Unit it was thought to be rather peripheral to the Technicians Programme and has not been used.
These two new ITQs contain all the components of the old unit except the out of date reference to FAXes. There are also improved sections about security and networks.
The best way of addressing these Units is to make a list of what you currently use IT for as part of your job. This should include a distinction between items that are essential for your day-to-day work (eg email and word processing might fall into that category) and then things that you use IT for frequently, then less frequently and so forth.
Next you should be able to draw out the implicit skill areas:
Email & word processing (Units 9 and 15 IMPLY competent operation of a computer, Unit 7)
Frequent use of (eg) a spreadsheet in addition to this IMPLIES competent selection of IT for a particular job, Unit 6.
And so forth....
Getting started
Your list of your uses of IT is now ready to develop using the Unit contents. Look at the list of work and match them to the list of Units. If you need advice simply ask your assessor.
Once you have complete list of Units you can then look at each Unit in turn to see if there are gaps in what you need to do or need to know about. These gaps can be added into a development plan.
Prior experience
You will almost certainly have prior experience using IT. If you have only minimal experience you can use the Units to structure training and development to give you the basic IT skills necessary for the award.
If you already have IT- oriented qualifications like CLAIT or IBT you may be able to gain credit for these providing you can demonstrate the skills are current. Please talk to your Assessor in the first instance.
