Module 1, Concepts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

Welcome to this online (e-learning) OpenICDL module.

You should progress through each topic one at a time.
Your knowledge will build effectively in this way.

There are various resources and activities you will encounter in this course:

• Web pages - these may open in a new window.
  (If they do, once you have read them you may close the window and you haven't lost your place).
  
  If you have a pop-up blocker active you may need to add this site (www.openicdl.org) to the allowed sites list.
  Refer to your pop-up blocker Help on how to do this.
  
  
• PDF documents - these can be opened using Adobe Reader (a free piece of software).
  You can download Acrobat Reader from www.adobe.com
  
  
• Presentations that will open in Open Office Presenter (or even Microsoft PowerPoint).
  They may open directly in your web browser when you click on them, although this depends on your computer and web browser setup.
  
  If you cannot open a presentation directly, try saving it to your documents area and then open it from there.
  
  
  
• Websites - links to other useful websites.
  
  
  
• Other resources such as images, soundclips, or Flash content may be included in courses.
  
  These OpenICDL courses are designed to work on any type of computer, and are tested by the course developers on:
• Computers running Microsoft Windows XP and Windows Vista
  
• Apple Mac OSX computers
  
• Ubuntu Linux computers
  
  
• Each system is tested with Open Office, Firefox, and Thunderbird.
  
  
• We also test using dial-up connections, so even if you do not have a super-fast broadband connection the course should still work at a reasonable speed
  

There are also interactive activities such as:

• Lessons
  The main content of each topic is presented in a series of lessons.
  You will need to complete each lesson before you can progress to the next.
  If you attempt to access a lesson it may tell you to complete a prior lesson first.
  
  
• Quizzes
  These can help you to test your knowledge as you progress.
  Quizzes may also be used as actual OpenICDL assessment.
  
  
• Choices
  These are quick 'votes' or 'poles' and are just for fun (they are not assessed).
  They let everyone see how others in the course answer some questions - interesting!
  
  
• Forums
  Each OpenICDL module has a News Forum where tutors may post important items and updates.
  Each course also has a general discussion forum - this area is important as you can post messages or questions here for the facilitators(s) - or even other students(!) to answer.
  (It's better than email because everyone in the course can share the answer).
  
  Don't be afraid to post questions into the Forum (even if you feel they are quite basic questions) - the Forum questions and answers help everyone!
  

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To help you track your progress through this course there is a tool which can help.: In the Administration block in the top left corner of the course, click on Activity Report, this will lead you to your statistics on this course. Click on the Outline Report tab and you can see how many times you have viewed a resource, the last time you viewed it, and any grades given.

Now and again you may see "Optional further reading..." This is not required for passing the ICDL curriculum, but is provided 'just for your interest'.

Note that at the end of each section there is a review activity.
This is very important as it allows a facilitator to monitor your understanding.

If you have problems accessing this course, you should first contact your facilitator - usually through the discussion Forum.

If you have technical problems, you can email helpdesk@hrdnz.com
(HRDNZ is the company that manages this www.OpenICDL.org website).

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Your first task before you start the course

In the General Discussion Forum, please take the time to introduce yourself.
Tell us how much computer experience you have and where you use the computer to study this course (e.g. at home or at work).
And answer any (or all) of the following questions:

• What was your first pet?
• Where were you born?
• What TV program do you dislike so much that it makes you scream and shout?
• What food could you not live without on a desert island?