Professional Development Opportunities for school ICT technicians

Terry Killer, Skills Manager Microsoft Education

v-terryk@microsoft.com

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

Changing nature of work - ICT

Work is increasingly represented electronically

– So need skills

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

Islands of Information

VirtualLearning

Environment

Communication Collaboration

LibrarySystem

Student Records

School IS Systems& Class environment

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

Certified staff are more productive and Certified staff are more productive and effectiveeffective

ProductivityProductivity

Provides a reliable benchmark for hiring Provides a reliable benchmark for hiring talented stafftalented staff

Efficient Efficient managementmanagement

Ensures technical competency and identifies Ensures technical competency and identifies advanced skills and focus areasadvanced skills and focus areasIdentify skillsIdentify skills

Certification is excepted and recognised by Certification is excepted and recognised by the ICT industry the ICT industry

Increase Increase CredibilityCredibility

Why Certification

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.

ACADEMIC

QUALIFICATIONS

VOCATIONALLY RELATED

QUALIFICATIONS

OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Level 4 First degree Level 4 for IT Practitioners

NVQ Level 4

Level 3 AS/A Level

Level 3 Advanced Diploma for IT Users Level 3Advanced Diploma for IT

Practitioners Foundation degree

CREATING PROFICIENCY

NVQ Level 3

Level 2 GCSE Grades A* - C

Level 2 Diploma for IT Users Level 2 Diploma for IT Practitioners

INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY

NVQ Level 2

Level 1 GCSE Grades D - G

Level 1 Certificate for IT Users

CONFIDENCE BUILDING

NVQ Level 1

Microsoft Certifications

MCSE

Office ExpertMCP

MCDST

Office Specialist

IC3Digital Literacy

Microsoft Qualifications and the National Qualifications Framework

INFORMATION INFORMATION WORKERWORKERIT PROFESSIONALIT PROFESSIONALDEVELOPERDEVELOPER

CoreCoreCAREERCAREERENABLEMENTENABLEMENT

MasterMaster

ExpertExpert

CAREERCAREERADVANCEMENTADVANCEMENT

SPECIALISATIONSPECIALISATION

SPECIALISATIONSPECIALISATION

Microsoft’s Certification Model

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.

Office Skills: Level 1

IC3 - Internet and Computing Core certification:

1. provides employers and academic institutions proof that individuals have essential computing knowledge and skills

2. professionally validated

3. standards-based certification programme

3 Modules IC3 Computing Fundamentals IC3 Living on LineIC3 Key Applications

Digital Literacy and ICDigital Literacy and IC33

Internet & Computer Core CertificationInternet & Computer Core Certification

Module C: Living Online

•Common Programming Functions•Word Processing Functions

•Spreadsheet Functions

Module B: Key Applications

•Networks & The Internet•Electronic Mail

•Using The Internet•The impact of Computing and The

Internet on Society

Module A: Computing Fundamentals

•Computer Hardware•Computer Software

•Using an Operating System

IC3 Units

IC3 Certificate

Skill Activities Technician A Technician B Technician C Technician D

Technology Focus

Desk

Top

&

Application

Support

Install, maintain and upgrade desktop hardware (including peripherals) and softwareAware of the limitations and the appropriate use of hardware and OS (operating systems).

Activities [A1.1;A1.2;A3.3]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 [A1.4;A2.1;A3.1;A3.2;A3.3]Install and test new peripherals. Follow manufacturer’s 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.)

ActivitiesPerform 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 school’s MIS).Identify and install essential software patches.Identify application compatibility issues.

ActivitiesPerform 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.

KnowledgeConfident user of common hardware and OS.Confident user of common desktop application software.

KnowledgeConfident 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).

KnowledgeExpert user of the majority of hardware and OS.Expert user of desktop application software.Confident user of client/server based applications.

KnowledgeExpert 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.

The Becta Framework

Microsoft Strategic PartnersMicrosoft Strategic Partners

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.

Technical

Support

Network Administration

TimeTime

Skill

s-ba

sed

Skill

s-ba

sed

Care

er O

ppor

tuni

ties

Care

er O

ppor

tuni

ties

Support TechnicianSupport Technician

MCDST

System AdministratorSystem Administrator

MCSA

Systems EngineerSystems Engineer

MCSE

ArchitectArchitect

Architect

IT Professional Career Path