< ICDL Programs

ICDL Professional

Digital skills for occupational effectiveness

To remain relevant and competitive, organisations of every type are integrating technology into their working practices. These organisations require working professionals that are digitally literate and can collaborate in an international setting, with easily transferrable skills.

ICDL Professional modules

ICDL Professional is designed to meet the needs of modern professionals in a range of sectors and develops an advanced level of skills for those with technology reliant roles. From the use of business applications to the fundamentals of advanced technologies, these skills allow them to manage different types of workload as well as collaborate with technical teams.

ICDL Professional contains a range of modules which can be combined in any way to create a unique ICDL Profile. The syllabus content of each module is supported by learning materials that mirror day-to-day tasks and responsibilities typical of a role in the sector or industry.

The modules in ICDL Professional are:

Creative

Module overview
Category Skill set
Presentation planning
  1. Audience and environment
  2. Design, content and layout
Slide masters and templates
  1. Slide masters
  2. Templates
Graphical objects
  1. Formatting drawn objects
  2. Formatting pictures, images
  3. Handling graphical objects
Charts and diagrams
  1. Using charts
  2. Using diagrams
Multimedia
  1. Audio, video
  2. Animation
  3. Spelling, thesaurus
Enhancing productivity
  1. Linking, embedding
  2. Importing, exporting, securing
Managing presentations
  1. Custom shows
  2. Slide show settings
  3. Slide show delivery
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to plan and design complex presentations that communicate effectively with the target audience in the chosen venue. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident creating advanced presentations from scratch. They will be able to:
  • – understand and adapt to the demographics of the audience
  • – recognise the importance of graphical elements and when to use them
  • – identify where and how multimedia elements can enhance a presentation
  • – apply settings to improve the attractiveness and delivery of presentations
  • – understand technical considerations such as equipment, lighting, and accessibility.
Module overview
Category Skill set
Formatting
  1. Text
  2. Paragraphs
  3. Styles
  4. Columns
  5. Tables
Referencing
  1. Captions, footnotes and endnotes
  2. Citations and bibliography
  3. Reference tables and indexes
  4. Bookmarks and cross-references
Enhancing productivity
  1. Using fields
  2. Forms, templates
  3. Mail merge
  4. Linking, embedding
  5. Automation
Collaborative editing
  1. Tracking and reviewing
  2. Security
Preparing outputs
  1. Sections
  2. Documents setup
  3. Spelling, thesaurus
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to create long and complex documents that could include advanced elements such as reference tables, graphs, links, or forms. After passing this module, candidates will also feel confident managing and collaborating on documents with others. They will be able to:
  • – work collaboratively with others to securely create and review documents
  • – recognise good practice in design and the importance of consistent formatting and styling
  • – know how to create a structure and apply the correct formatting to the elements on the page
  • – understand the importance of referencing and how to include it
  • – know how to enhance documents with automation and dynamic information.
Module overview
Category Skill set
Web concepts
  1. Key terms
  2. Web publishing
  3. Legal issues
HTML
  1. Fundamentals of HTML
  2. Using HTML
Web authoring
  1. Design
  2. Using the application
  3. Enhancing productivity
  4. Text input and formatting
  5. Paragraph formatting
  6. Hyperlinks
  7. Tables
Using objects
  1. Graphical objects
  2. Forms
Styles
  1. CSS concepts
  2. Using CSS
Preparing upload
  1. Check
  2. Publish
The main benefits of this module
  • – Understand the different services supported by the internet
  • – Recognise the planning and design aspects of creating a website
  • – Identify the different functions of a web authoring tool and how to use them
  • – Apply HTML and CSS to a website to enable the formatting of text, images, and other elements
  • – Understand how to publish a site and troubleshoot issues
The goals of this module
Successful candidates will be able to register a domain, set up a website, and maintain it using web authoring software. ICDL modules focus as much on skill acquisition as on the understanding of concepts. Having successfully completed this module, candidates will feel confident making changes to a website and using basic coding skills. The syllabus is standardised and vendor-independent, so skills are always transferrable.
This module answers key questions such as:
  • – What are the main concepts and terms of the internet?
  • – What are the basic principles of HTML and how are common HTML tags used to structure web pages?
  • – How is a website planned and designed? How are text and pages formatted?
  • – What is CSS and how is it used to style different elements of a website?
  • – What elements can be added to pages, for example, images, links, tables, and forms?
  • – How does national and international copyright law affect what can be published on a website?
  • – What goes into optimising a website for search engines?
  • – How is a website checked and published?
Module overview
Category Skill set
Getting started
  1. First steps
  2. Navigating
  3. Using layers/levels
  4. Drawing exchange
Main operations
  1. Create objects/elements
  2. Selection tools
  3. Manipulate objects/elements
  4. Using inquiry commands
  5. Properties
  6. Annotation (text and dimensions)
Advanced features
  1. Using blocks/cells
  2. Using OLE
Outputs
  1. Plot/print options
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to create, edit, and output a two-dimensional design or drawing. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident using a 2D CAD application to create high-quality designs. They will be able to:
  • – understand how 2D design applications are used to create and edit drawings
  • – recognise when to use layers and levels
  • – know the main operations of a 2D CAD application and how to use them
  • – apply advanced features, such as block and cells, to a project
  • – understand how to output a drawing for plotting or printing
Module overview
Category Skill set
Basic functions
  1. File management
  2. Model view
Main operations
  1. 3D coordinate systems
  2. Geometric design aids
  3. 3D geometrical drawing
  4. 3D surface modelling
  5. 3D manipulate object/graphic elements
  6. Create solids
  7. Modify solid objects
  8. Create and modify parametric objects
Advanced operations
  1. 3D views
  2. Photorealistic presentation
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to create, edit, and output a three-dimensional design or drawing. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident using a 3D CAD application to create high-quality designs. They will be able to:
  • – understand how 3D design applications are used to create and modify drawings
  • – use, save, and recall model view tools such as pan, zoom, and rotate
  • – know how to draw points, lines, arcs, splines, circles, and polygons and use surface modelling to extrude surfaces and create planes, edge surfaces, and surface revolutions
  • – create and manipulate object or graphic elements
  • – know how to create photo-realistic presentations by rendering a model or scene
Module overview
Category Skill set
Imaging concepts
  1. Digital images
  2. Graphic formats
  3. Colour concepts
Image capture
  1. Capturing images
Using the application
  1. Image creation
  2. Settings
  3. Enhancing productivity
Working with images
  1. Selection
  2. Image manipulation
  3. Layers
  4. Text
  5. Effects and filters
Drawing and painting
  1. Drawing tools
  2. Painting tools
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to open an image file, make edits to it, and output it for use in printing or publishing online. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident using an image editing application to work with different image formats. They will be able to:
  • – understand the different image formats and options available
  • – recognise the ways images can be edited, enhanced, and manipulated
  • – review the different functions of an image editing application and how to use them
  • – apply effect, filters, overlays, and other changes to images
  • – understand how to output an image correctly according to its intended use

Entrepreneurial

Module overview
Category Skill set
Digital marketing concepts
  1. Key concepts
  2. Planning
Web presence
  1. Web presence options
  2. Website considerations
  3. Search engine optimisation
Social media setup
  1. Social media platforms
  2. Social media accounts
Social media management
  1. Social media management services
  2. Marketing and promotion activities
  3. Engagement, lead generation and sales
Online marketing and advertising
  1. Online advertising
  2. E-mail marketing
  3. Mobile marketing
Analytics
  1. Getting started
  2. Web analytics
  3. Social media insights
  4. E-mail marketing and online advertising analytics
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to define different elements of digital marketing, understand what goes into a campaign, and identify the typical goals used. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident carrying out digital marketing tasks effectively and efficiently. They will be able to:
  • – understand the key concepts and terms used in digital marketing
  • – recognise the importance of different tactics and when to use them
  • – identify different tools and platforms and know what they are used for
  • – outline the considerations and options for creating campaigns
  • – understand insights and analytics and what services are available to measure them.
Module overview
Category Skill set
Project management tools
  • Key concepts
Project creation
  • Working with projects
  • Starting a new project
Tasks
  • Creating tasks
  • Scheduling and relationships
  • Constraints and deadlines
  • Notes, hyperlinks
Resources and costs
  • Resources
  • Costs
Project monitoring
  • Critical path
  • Monitoring progress and rescheduling
Prepare outputs
  • Setup
  • Print
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to use software to help with project management, including monitoring constraints, resources, and time. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident launching, supervising, and closing-off projects. They will be able to:
  • understand the conceptual principles of project planning and how software can support them
  • recognise the constraints and deadlines of a project
  • identify project resources and costs, and understand their relationships and impacts on each other
  • know how to create, modify, maintain, and monitor all the elements of a project
  • understand how to output from project management software to effectively report on projects

eCommerce (Coming soon)

CRM Systems (Coming soon)

Computational

Module overview
Category Skill set
Formatting
  • Cells
  • Worksheets
Formulas and functions
  • Using formulas and functions
Charts
  • Creating charts
  • Formatting charts
Analysis
  • UUsing tables
  • Sorting and filterings
  • Scenarios
Validating and auditing
  • Validating
  • Auditing
Enhancing productivity
  • Naming cells
  • Paste special
  • Linking, embedding and importing
  • Automation
Collaborative editing
  • Reviewing and security
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to use enhanced spreadsheet capabilities to produce better reports with deeper data analysis. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident managing complex data with spreadsheets and collaborating with others. They will be able to:
  • – understand advanced formatting options, including conditional formatting and customised formatting
  • – recognise which functions to use in formulas, and troubleshoot errors
  • – identify the correct chart to display a specific data set, and create or edit such a chart
  • – know how to analyse, validate, audit, and protect data
  • – understand time-saving features such as linking data, paste special, filters, and macros
Module overview
Category Skill set
Formatting
  • Cells
  • Worksheets
Formulas and functions
  • Using formulas and functions
Charts
  • Creating charts
  • Formatting charts
Analysis
  • Using tables
  • Sorting and filtering
  • Scenarios
Validating and auditing
  • Validating
  • Auditing
Enhancing productivity
  • Naming cells
  • Paste special
  • Linking, embedding and importing
Collaborative editing
  • Reviewing and security
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be proficient using the advanced features of spreadsheet tools for the analysis of financial data. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident using spreadsheets to carry out logical, statistical, financial, and mathematical operations. They will be able to:
  • – understand functions such as those associated with logical, statistical, financial, and mathematical operations
  • – use tables and lists to analyse, filter, sort, validate, and audit data, as well as create and use scenarios
  • – apply advanced formatting options such as conditional formatting, customised number formatting, and chart formatting
  • – use linking, embedding and importing features as well as comparing and merging spreadsheets
  • – understand the productivity and security features of spreadsheet tools.
Module overview
Category Skill set
Concepts and statistical analysis
  • Key concepts
  • Statistical analysis
Data set preparation
  • Importing, shaping
  • Filtering
Data set summarisation
  • Pivot table data aggregation
  • Pivot table frequency analysis
  • Filtering pivot tables
  • Using pivot charts
Data visualisation
  • Concepts and setup
  • Visualisation
  • Publishing and sharing
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to prepare data for statistical analysis. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident using spreadsheets and other tools to present data sets in charts or tables, or using visualisation techniques. They will be able to:
  • – understand the main concepts of data analytics in business
  • – apply statistical analysis concepts to data sets
  • – know how to import data into a spreadsheet and prepare it for analysis with cleansing and filtering
  • – use pivot tables and pivot charts to summarise data sets
  • – understand data visualisation techniques and tools, and how they are used to create reports and dashboards
Module overview
Category Skill set
Computing terms
  • Key concepts
Computational thinking methods
  • Problem analysis
  • Algorithms
Starting to code
  • Getting started
  • Variables and data types
Building using code
  • Logic
  • Iteration
  • Conditionality
  • Procedures and functions
  • Events and commands
Test, debug and release
  • Run, test and debug
  • Release
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to plan and create simple programmes. The computational thinking skills developed in this module are transferrable to other types of role. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident analysing problems and writing, testing, and modifying algorithms. They will be able to:
  • – understand key concepts in computing and the typical activities involved in creating programmes
  • – recognise and use computation thinking techniques such as problem decomposition and pattern recognition
  • – identify problems and develop solutions
  • – write and build with code
  • – apply project management methodologies such as test, debug, and release
Module overview
Category Skill set
Understanding databases
  • Key concepts
  • Database organisation
  • Relationships
Using the application
  • Working with databases
  • Common tasks
Tables
  • Records
  • Design
  • Relationships
Retrieving information
  • Main operations
  • Queries
Forms
  • Using forms
Outputs
  • Reports, data export
  • Printing
Main learning outcomes
On completion of this module the candidate will be able to:
  • – Understand what a database is and how it is organised.
  • – Create a simple database and view the database content in various modes.
  • – Create a table, define and modify fields, and create relationships between tables. Enter and edit data in a table.
  • – Use filters and queries to retrieve specific information from a database.
  • – Create a form to enter, modify, and delete records and data in records.
  • – Create routine reports and prepare outputs ready for print or electronic distribution.
Module overview
Category Skill set
Database concepts
  • Database development and use
Tables and relationships
  • Fields/columns relationships and joins
Queries
  • Query types
  • Refining a query
Forms
  • Controls
Reports
  • Controls
  • Presentation
Enhancing productivity
  • Linking, importing
  • Automation
Main learning outcomes
On completion of this module the candidate will be able to:
  • – Understand key concepts of database development and usage.
  • – Create a relational database using advanced table creation features and complex relationships between tables.
  • – Design and use queries to create a table, update, delete and append data. Refine queries using wildcards, parameters and calculations.
  • – Use controls and subforms to enhance forms and improve functionality.
  • – Create report controls to perform calculations. Create subreports and enhance report presentation.
  • – Enhance productivity by working with macros and use linking and importing features to integrate data.

ICDL for Teachers

Module overview
Category Skill set
Key concepts
  • Benefits
  • Pedagogy and ICT
Planning
  • Lesson planning considerations
  • Safety, security and well-being
Selecting ICT resources
  • ICT resources for teaching and learning
  • ICT resources for assessment
  • Sourcing, evaluating ICT resources
Managing the learning environment
  • Classroom technologies
  • Learning platforms
Main learning outcomes
Successful candidates will be able to plan ICT- enhanced lessons using a range of resources and technologies. After passing this module, candidates will feel confident making informed decisions about integrating technology into their lessons plans. They will be able to:
  • – understand the key concepts and benefits of using ICT to support and enhance teaching
  • – outline considerations for planning an ICT-enhanced lesson
  • – understand safety, security, and well-being considerations when using ICT in education
  • – outline ICT resources that can be used to support and enhance teaching, learning, and assessment
  • – understand how to source, evaluate, and use ICT resources.
ICDL ATC (Accredited Test Centre)

Why certify with ICDL?

  • ICDL certification is internationally recognised by employers and institutions.
  • ICDL modules are developed with input from computer users, subject matter experts, and practising professionals from all over the world.
  • The regularly updated syllabus content reflects day-to-day tasks and responsibilities typical of job roles.
  • ICDL modules focus on skills acquisition as well as an understanding of concepts.
  • ICDL syllabus content is vendor-independent so that skills and knowledge are transferable.
  • ICDL has rigorous Quality Assurance Standards (QAS) and regular quality audits are conducted internally and externally.
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