ICT@SGC

ECDL – Transition Year

Mr. Hannon — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:15:55 +0000

If you are considering doing ECDL in Transition Year, then you should take a look at the following websites to learn more about ECDL.

ICS Skills

Teach ICT

Download the syllabus from ICS Skills and do some questions on the Teach ICT website.

What is ECDL?

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is the world’s most successful IT skills certification programme. Almost three million people are participating in the programme today in over 60 countries worldwide. Over 125,000 secondary school students in Ireland have completed the ECDL.

In Ireland, the ECDL is administered by ICS SKILLS.

The ECDL establishes a standard for everyone who uses a computer in either a professional or personal capacity. It is a certificate that verifies competence in computer use, making the holder readily mobile within Ireland and internationally. Employers and job seekers all agree on the importance of this standard definition of practical competence in Information Technology.

The ECDL consists of 3 main components – a syllabus, a skills card and a question test base, all leading to the European Computer Driving Licence.

If you have any questions on ECDL, post them in the comments sections of this post or you can email mrhannon [at] geralds [dot] ie

Source: ICS Skills

ECDL Certificates

Mr. Hannon — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:34:26 +0000

Well done to all who have passed all seven ECDL exams in TY this year.

You will receive your ECDL Certificate when you return to school in September.

If you have any questions on ECDL, just send an email to mrhannon [at] geralds [dot] ie

Enjoy the summer holidays!

First Year ICT Survey

Mr. Hannon — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:56:12 +0000

All students in First Year should complete the following online survey.

Click here to complete the questionnaire.

What is Twitter?

Mr. Hannon — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:19:02 +0000

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service started by Jack Dorsey in 2006. It enables users to send and read other users’ updates known as tweets.

Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user’s profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them (known as followers). Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow anybody to access them.

This video may explain it better:

Who uses Twitter?

The Los Angeles Fire Department used Twitter during the California wildfires in October 2007. NASA have used it to update the public on its various space missions. Barack Obama used it extensively during his campaign and celebrities are now using it such as Stephen Fry.

Unfortunately Twitter is blocked in schools by the NCTE but do visit the sgcbusiness.com Twitter page .

Read about some young tweeters in Ireland.

Are you on Twitter?

YouTube Channel

Mr. Hannon — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 12:25:41 +0000

We now have our own YouTube channel.

I have uploaded some videos to the blog for ECDL Module 1 and on using your Google Apps account.

You can access the channel here or click on the YouTube logo in the right column.

Computer Software in Plain English

Mr. Hannon — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:47:52 +0000

As part of the upcoming Module 1 ECDL exam, you will need to know the different types of computer software and how an Operating System is different to other computer applications.

The following Youtube video explains Computer Software in Plain English.

ECDL Module 1

Mr. Hannon — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:54:22 +0000

Information and Communications Technology

The final ECDL exam this year for Mr. Hannon’s class is Module 1 – Basic Concepts of Information Technology.

The module 1 exam in ECDL is a theory based exam and will test your knowledge of ICT terms and theory.

I have uploaded two Mind Maps that will help you prepare for the Module 1 exam. You should download and print these mind maps.

As always, the Teach-ICT website has some excellent resources for ECDL. Test your knowledge of Module 1 by doing their Revision Quiz.

Google Street View

Mr. Hannon — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:16:15 +0000

If you see a black car with the Google logo in Ireland in the next few months, give a wave. This is the Google car used to capture images for Google Maps’ Street View.

Street View is Google’s online, interactive, panoramic street level photographic mapping system that is part of Google Maps.

The street car is now in Ireland taking images of Irish streets in five cities: Dublin, Cork, Limerick , Galway and Waterford. Google hope to have these cities on Street View within the next few months.

Street View has received a lot of media attention recently in the UK due to concerns over privacy. According to Google, their technology blurs out both faces and registration plates and people can also report details on Street View that are inappropriate.

So how useful is Google Maps’ Street View?

Tourists can use it to check a city they intend visiting, auctioneers could use it to sell houses and businesses are already using Google Maps on their websites to show their location. We use Google Maps on our school website.

See what cities and towns are currently available in Street View.

EC President Barroso receives the 9 millionth Skills Card

Mr. Hannon — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:57:12 +0000

The following Youtube video shows the European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, receiving the 9 millionth ECDL Skills Card. Now all he has to do is pass all 7 exams to get his ECDL Certificate!

West Coast Racers through to the Final

Mr. Hannon — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:22:42 +0000

Well done to the West Coast Racers team who are now through to the final of the F1 in Schools Competition.

Find out more about West Coast Racers and the F1 in Schools competition.