European Computer Driving License

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

International Certification of Digital Literacy (ICDL) is an internationally recognized IT certificate for the acquisition of digital knowledge and skills. Previously known as the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) or " European Computer Driving License ", the certification program was also renamed ICDL in Europe in 2019, its content updated and adapted to the needs of the labor market. The certificate certifies essential knowledge and skills that contribute to employability in a digitized world of work. The ECDL certificates remain valid after the renaming.

The ECDL / ICDL program has been offered worldwide since 1997 and is now used in over 100 countries. The international coordination is carried out by the ICDL Foundation, a non-profit organization.

The exams of the ICDL program are internationally standardized exams that are carried out online. Since the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICDL exams can also be taken under online supervision under certain conditions, so that neither the examiner nor the examinee have to leave the house.

In Germany, remote ICDL exams have been approved since April 1, 2020. Over 1000 remote ICDL exams were conducted here in the first two months.

ICDL in Germany

The implementation of the program in the individual countries is the responsibility of the national certification organizations. In Germany, this has been the service company for information technology (DLGI), which was founded as an offshoot of the company for information technology , since the program was launched.

The DLGI is responsible for the further development of the content and the accreditation of the national test centers for the ICDL certification under the conditions of the international ICDL foundation. There are currently around 1600 accredited ICDL test centers in Germany. This includes companies, organizations, universities, schools and training providers.

The test centers include the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, the Mainz University of Applied Sciences, the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and the Rhineland-Palatinate State Educational Institute, which also offers a wide range of the program for teachers. At the medical technology manufacturer B. Braun Melsungen , the ICDL is an integral part of the IT qualification of the approximately 120 trainees at the Melsungen site every year. The ICDL certifies important competencies such as spreadsheets, IT security and data protection in the company.

Content and program structure

Orientation towards independent international standards

The content and syllabi of the ICDL modules are based on the requirements of Digcomp 2.0, the European reference framework for digital skills. It was developed by the European Commission in its Joint Research Center, where it will be further developed and defined in a competence grid the skills and abilities that are relevant for citizens in a digital (working) world.

The ICDL Foundation orients itself in the development of the European and worldwide standardized learning content of the ICDL modules on the Digcomp reference framework and thus maps the competencies defined there to an important extent. In the UNESCO study A Global Framework of Reference on Digital Literacy Skills for Indicator published in June 2018 by the ICDL, for example, it was identified as the most relevant certificate for demonstrating digital skills.

In the report of the European Training Foundation ETF (European Training Foundation) Digital skills and competence, and digital and online learning for 2018, ICDL / ECDL modules are compared in terms of content with the competencies required according to the Digcomp. The report describes the European Computer Driving License ECDL as one of the world's most successful initiatives and the world's leading certification process for computer skills.

Modular construction

The certification program has a modular structure. Each module is based on an internationally standardized catalog of learning objectives (syllabus) that contains all possible exam-relevant content of a module. This syllabus is regularly adapted and updated.

Depending on their content, the modules are divided into the “ICDL Workforce” or “ICDL Professional” category. The modules in the ICDL Workforce category encompass the digital skills that are required in today's modern work environment, regardless of industry. The modules in the ICDL Professional category cover specific digital content and digital skills and knowledge at an advanced level. Depending on the industry or degree of specialization, suitable modules for certification can be selected here.

Product neutrality

The ICDL modules are formulated neutrally and do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about specific software manufacturers and versions. The learning objective catalogs are also kept neutral in terms of competence orientation. Different tests for the application-oriented modules are available to the examinee. He can choose whether he wants to take the exam under Microsoft products, OpenOffice or LibreOffice.

Importance of ICDL certification in vocational preparation and further education

The ICDL learning content and exams are aimed at (professional) students as well as adults.

A study by the Wolfgang Schulenberg Institute for Educational Research and Adult Education at the University of Oldenburg questioned the importance of an ECDL / ICDL certificate when applying: 66% of the students with a certificate were invited to an interview, 43% of the students without a certificate were invited. The difference is statistically significant. 42% of the students with certificate were asked about their certificate during the interview.

Accessibility of the ICDL exams

ECDL / ICDL exams can be taken without barriers. The offer is aimed at the visually impaired and the blind, the hearing impaired and the deaf, people who are restricted in their mobility and freedom of movement and at people with learning difficulties such as dyslexia or dyscalculia, i.e. a reading or arithmetic weakness. These groups of people are allowed to use techniques and technologies that help them compensate for their limitation. This includes, for example, the use of screen readers, special keyboards or head mice as well as the accompaniment of a deaf person by a sign language interpreter. As with other final or intermediate exams, the ICDL exams are compensated for in the form of a longer time.

Individual proof

  1. ↑ Bernd Lorenz: Computer license: from ECDL to ICDL. In: handwerksblatt.de. Verlagsanstalt Handwerk GmbH, October 2019, accessed July 2020 .
  2. ↑ About Us. In: ICDL Europe. Retrieved August 5, 2020 (UK English).
  3. ↑ ICDL testing during the Covid-19 crisis. Accessed July 2020 (English).
  4. ↑ ICDL certificate despite lockdown: Emilia passes 1000th ICDL exam in online supervision. In: News4Teachers. The education magazine. June 3, 2020, accessed July 2020 .
  5. ↑ Bernd Lorenz: Computer driving license: 1,000th exam via online supervision passed. In: Handwerksblatt.de. Verlagsanstalt Handwerk, June 2020, accessed July 2020 .
  6. ↑ DLGI website. Accessed July 2020 .
  7. ^ Website of the Gesellschaft für Informatik eV. Accessed in July 2020 .
  8. ↑ Basic digital skills: “Like a global central high school diploma for digital skills”. In: News4Teachers. The education magazine. October 11, 2019, accessed July 2019 .
  9. ↑ Press release: BIBB accredited as examination center for European computer driving license (ECDL) - President Kremer first graduate. In: Website of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training BIBB. Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training BIBB, October 22, 2010, accessed July 2020 .
  10. ↑ ECDL | European computer driving license. In: Website of the Mainz University of Applied Sciences. Accessed June 2020 .
  11. ↑ Information Technologies and European Computer Driving License ™ - an offer from the Career Service of the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences. In: Website of the FH Dortmund. Accessed June 2020 .
  12. ↑ State Secretary for Education Beckmann: Computer driving license certifies media competence. In: Education server of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Accessed June 2020 .
  13. ↑ The ICDL workplace example B. Braun. In: ICDL Germany website. Accessed June 2020 .
  14. ↑ DigComp 2.1 - The Digital Competence Framework for Citizens. (PDF) In: Website of the Joint Research Center of the European Commission. 2017, accessed July 2020 .
  15. ↑ A Global Framework of Reference on Digital Literacy Skills for Indicator 4.4.2, pp. 27f. (PDF) In: UNESCO website. Accessed February 2020 (English).
  16. ↑ Digital skills and competence, and digital and online learning. (PDF) In: Website of the European Training Foundation. 2018, accessed June 2020 .
  17. ↑ Who or what is an ECDL learning objective catalog? In: Blog of the Austrian Computer Society OCG. April 19, 2014, accessed February 2020 .
  18. ↑ The European computer driving license becomes the ICDL - which skills does vocational training require in times of Economy 4.0? In: News4Teachers. The education magazine. October 2, 2019, accessed in 2020 .
  19. ↑ ICDL Germany website. Accessed February 2020 .
  20. ↑ European Computer Driving License (ECDL) - imparting and certifying job-related IT skills in training companies. (PDF) In: AusbilderHandbuch. 2016, p. 158 , accessed on February 23, 2020 .
  21. ↑ European Computer Driving License (ECDL) - imparting and certifying job-related IT skills in training companies . In: Instructor Handbook . June 2016, p. 158 .
  22. ↑ Anke Hanft, Wolfgang Müskens, Petra Muckel: Certification and proof of IT skills. (PDF) In: Expert opinion of the project certification of learning in the net and with multimedia under the aspect of the learning culture change and competence development . University of Oldenburg, 2008, accessed July 2020 .
  23. ↑ Accessible e-learning. In: Website of the Stiftung Warentest. June 5, 2014, accessed July 8, 2020 .
  24. ↑ ECDL barrier-free. In: Website of the Digital Opportunities Foundation. Retrieved August 7, 2020 .