Developing ICT Skills — Open Awards Essential Digital Skills Digital Skills & IT Revision

    This subtopic focuses on building essential digital literacy by teaching learners to control their immediate surroundings through ICT, access and retrieve

    Topic Synopsis

    This subtopic focuses on building essential digital literacy by teaching learners to control their immediate surroundings through ICT, access and retrieve information from digital sources, and engage in basic electronic communication. Practical applications include adjusting device settings, performing simple web searches, and sending/receiving messages to support daily living and learning.

    Key Concepts & Core Principles

    Exam Tips & Revision Strategies

    Common Misconceptions & Mistakes to Avoid

    Examiner Marking Points

    Developing ICT Skills

    OPEN AWARDS
    vocational

    This subtopic focuses on building essential digital literacy by teaching learners to control their immediate surroundings through ICT, access and retrieve information from digital sources, and engage in basic electronic communication. Practical applications include adjusting device settings, performing simple web searches, and sending/receiving messages to support daily living and learning.

    1
    Learning Outcomes
    3
    Assessment Guidance
    3
    Key Skills
    1
    Key Terms
    3
    Assessment Criteria

    Assessment criteria

    Open Awards Entry Level Certificate in IT User Skills (Entry 1) (RQF)

    Topic Overview

    The Open Awards Entry Level Certificate in IT User Skills (Entry 1) (RQF) is designed to provide you with the most fundamental understanding and practical skills needed to use common IT devices safely and effectively. This qualification is perfect if you are new to using computers, tablets, or smartphones, or if you want to build confidence in basic digital tasks. It covers essential topics like identifying different IT devices, understanding basic IT terminology, and performing simple operations such as turning devices on and off, which are crucial first steps in the digital world.

    This qualification is incredibly important because digital skills are no longer optional – they are a necessity for everyday life, education, and employment in the UK and globally. By successfully completing Entry 1, you'll gain a foundational set of skills that will empower you to access online information, communicate with others, and manage basic digital tasks independently. It's about building your digital literacy from the ground up, ensuring you can navigate common technology with a basic level of competence and safety.

    As an Entry Level qualification within the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), this certificate serves as a vital stepping stone. It provides a structured pathway into further digital skills development, preparing you for Entry 2 and Entry 3 qualifications, or even other vocational courses that require basic IT proficiency. Mastering these entry-level skills will not only boost your confidence but also open doors to further learning opportunities and enhance your readiness for a wide range of personal and professional activities that increasingly rely on technology.

    Key Concepts

    Core ideas you must understand for this topic

    • →**Identifying Common IT Devices:** Recognising and naming basic hardware like desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and their main components (e.g., screen, keyboard, mouse).
    • →**Basic Safe Use of IT:** Understanding simple safety procedures, including how to turn devices on and off correctly, connecting power cables safely, and maintaining a safe posture.
    • →**Understanding Basic IT Terminology:** Knowing the meaning of fundamental terms such as 'app', 'icon', 'click', 'tap', 'screen', 'internet', and 'password'.
    • →**Performing Simple IT Operations:** Being able to carry out very basic tasks like opening and closing an application, navigating a simple menu, or using a mouse/touchscreen to select items.
    • →**Introduction to Digital Security:** Grasping the basic idea of keeping personal information safe, such as not sharing passwords and understanding what a password is for.

    Learning Objectives

    What you need to know and understand

    • Use ICT to effect own environment.Use ICT as a source of information.Use ICT to enable communication.

    Assessment Criteria

    Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio

    • Award credit for demonstrating the ability to use ICT to affect the environment, such as turning on a device, adjusting screen brightness, or opening an accessibility feature.
    • Award credit for showing how ICT can be used as an information source, e.g., by successfully navigating to a pre-bookmarked website or performing a basic search with minimal guidance.
    • Award credit for applying ICT to communication, including composing and sending a simple message, replying to an email, or initiating a video call with appropriate verbal/non-verbal interaction.

    Assessment Guidance

    Guidance for achieving higher grades

    • 💡Narrate each step as you perform it to clearly show the assessor your thought process and understanding.
    • 💡Familiarise yourself with assistive features (e.g., text-to-speech, magnifier) before the assessment in case they are needed.
    • 💡When communicating, check the recipient’s address or number carefully before sending to avoid errors that could lose marks.
    • 💡**Read Questions Carefully:** Pay close attention to keywords like "identify," "describe," "demonstrate," or "name." Ensure your answer directly addresses what the question is asking, even for simple tasks.
    • 💡**Use Correct Terminology:** Even at Entry 1, using the correct names for devices (e.g., "tablet" instead of "the flat screen thing") and actions (e.g., "click" instead of "press the button") shows a clearer understanding.
    • 💡**Practice Practical Skills:** If your assessment includes practical tasks (e.g., turning on a device, opening an application), practice these actions until they become second nature. Confidence in performing these basic operations will be evident to the examiner.

    Common Mistakes

    Common errors to avoid in your coursework

    • Confusing device power buttons with other controls, leading to accidental shutdowns or restarts.
    • Typing full web addresses into a search engine instead of the browser address bar, or using a search box as a URL field.
    • Forgetting to log out of personal accounts on shared or public devices, risking privacy and security breaches.
    • **Misconception:** All digital devices are "computers" and work exactly the same way. **Correction:** While many devices share common features, it's important to differentiate between a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, and smartphone. Each has unique characteristics, operating systems, and primary uses, even if they can all access the internet or run applications.
    • **Misconception:** You can just unplug a device to turn it off quickly. **Correction:** Improperly shutting down a device, especially a computer, can lead to data loss, corruption of files, or even damage to the operating system. Always use the proper shutdown procedure (e.g., 'Shut down' option in the operating system) to ensure all programs close correctly and data is saved.
    • **Misconception:** If information is online, it must be true or safe. **Correction:** The internet contains a vast amount of information, but not all of it is accurate, reliable, or safe. Even at Entry 1, it's important to understand that you should be cautious about what you click on, what information you believe, and never share personal details unless you are sure it's a trusted source.

    Revision Plan

    How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks

    1. 1**Week 1: Device Identification & Terminology:** Dedicate time to visually identify and name common IT devices (desktop, laptop, tablet, smartphone) and their main parts (screen, keyboard, mouse). Create flashcards for basic terms like 'app', 'icon', 'click', 'tap', 'internet', and 'password'.
    2. 2**Week 1: Basic Operations Practice:** Spend 15-20 minutes daily practicing turning a device (e.g., a computer or tablet) on and off correctly. Practice opening and closing a simple application (like a calculator or a basic game) and navigating its main screen.
    3. 3**Week 2: Safety & Security Fundamentals:** Review the importance of safe power connections and proper posture. Understand why passwords are important and the basic idea of not sharing them. Discuss with a trusted adult what "personal information" means online.
    4. 4**Week 2: Review and Self-Assessment:** Go back over all the devices and terms you've learned. Ask a friend or family member to quiz you on identifying devices or explaining what a specific term means. Practice describing the steps for basic operations.
    5. 5**Practical Application:** Throughout the 1-2 weeks, try to use an IT device for a simple, everyday task, such as checking the weather on a tablet, looking at pictures on a smartphone, or using a computer to type a few words. This hands-on experience reinforces learning.

    Exam Question Types

    How this topic typically appears in the exam

    • 📋**Multiple Choice Questions:** You might be given a question with several possible answers, and you need to select the correct one. For example, "Which of these is a smartphone?" followed by images of different devices. Advice: Look at all options carefully before choosing, even if the first one seems correct.
    • 📋**Matching Questions:** These questions require you to match items from one list to items in another. For instance, matching a device name (e.g., "Keyboard") to its function (e.g., "Used for typing"). Advice: Draw lines or write the corresponding letters/numbers clearly.
    • 📋**Short Answer Questions:** You'll be asked to provide a brief written answer, such as defining a basic IT term or describing a simple action. For example, "Name one common IT device." Advice: Keep your answers concise and directly to the point, using correct terminology.
    • 📋**Practical Demonstration Tasks:** In some assessments, you may be asked to physically demonstrate a skill, such as turning on a computer, safely shutting it down, or opening a specific application. Advice: Practice these actions repeatedly so you can perform them confidently and correctly under observation.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions students ask about this topic

    Before You Start

    Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

    • •**Basic Literacy and Numeracy Skills:** The ability to read and understand simple instructions, as well as basic counting or matching, will be beneficial for following prompts and understanding basic IT concepts.
    • •**No Formal IT Prerequisites:** This qualification is designed for beginners, so no prior experience with IT is formally required. However, any informal exposure to digital devices (e.g., using a TV remote, a basic mobile phone) can provide a helpful starting point.

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    • Use ICT to effect own environment.Use ICT as a source of information.Use ICT to enable communication.

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