What's I.T all about? Another one of the key skills mentioned in the first article is Information Technology. Generally this includes :-

• Searching for information
• Working with information
• Presenting information

Once again, there are 3 levels that require different types and levels of difficulty.

Why is I.T important?

Information technology is a very important skill……a key skill even!!!
Think about how much you use IT already. You might:-

• Do your homework using IT
• Email your mate in Australia
• Surf the web for cheap CDs

The world of work isn't much more different to everyday life. Things are changing and there are more and more companies using IT.

• Shop till /cash registers are often connected to IT systems
• Customer details may be stored in a database
• Ordering parts for a vehicle might be done through a central IT system
• Video shops and libraries may even use an IT system for their loaning service.

Have a think about all the things you do and the services you use and how many of them use IT!

Remember……if they use IT……then you'll need IT!

What's involved in IT?

Level 1

This looks at straightforward stuff. Things like text (writing), images (pictures) and numbers. You might have already done things like this at school. You'll need to show how to find and enter information and present information using the right layouts. You'll use procedures to look after health, equipment and information.

(So….. making sure you don't use the CD drive as a cup holder, whilst deleting all the companies information when your eyes went funny because you were too close to the screen!)

Level 2

With this level you will need to do longer and a bit more complicated stuff. These might include entering formulae to generate simple calculations (which in English means typing in the codes that make the computer work out the sums!). It also includes carrying out searches, combining information with text and knowing about copyright laws, health and safety, the benefits and disadvantages of IT, spotting errors and reducing the risk of virus infection.

In work you might use these skills to make a company newsletter with text and logos, using a database to find customer information or making sure you don't download a dodgy email and passing it round to the whole office before realising its infected the whole companies IT system, costing thousands of pounds worth of damage!!!

Level 3

Obviously this level is more complex and will include things like managing your own software and hardware, planning and using your own initiative to select and search for information, comparing the use of IT systems and looking at the structure and content of your presentations.

It might all sound a bit complicated but these things will be explained in more detail.

If you would like more information, you could have a chat with your careers/connexions adviser or have a look in your local careers library.

So…….Get With I.T!

Good Luck

Jennie Glitherow.

Links

General DfES information on Key Skills
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/keyskills/

Key Skills Student Website
http://www.keyskills4u.com/

QCA website
http://www.qca.org.uk/603.html

At school or college? Look out for Jennie's future articles which we'll have here for the first Monday of each month, and which we'll link to the best sites we can find on the Web. Why not bookmark us now?

To get back to this page to use the links on it - enter http://www.careers-gateway.co.uk/mainpage.htm and click on Magazine then Making I.T. Work?

Copyright © Careersoft 2002 - Last updated 1st July 2002.