Microsoft’s Digital Literacy Curriculum gives Welsh speakers a choice in a digital world
Microsoft, Welsh Assembly Government, partner to improve Welsh digital literacy
Microsoft’s Digital Literacy Curriculum gives Welsh speakers a choice in a digital world
Microsoft, as part of a long-term strategic partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government, today launched the Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum in the Welsh language. Available online from today, the curriculum supports the government’s commitment to Lifelong Learning and Skills in Wales, and will provide Welsh speakers with essential tools and support.
Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning & Skills, Jane Hutt said: “Today’s announcement is great news for Welsh language learners. The Digital Literacy Curriculum will be a great tool, equipping learners with skills they need in today’s electronic world and for this to be available in Welsh is excellent news. It is a tribute to how far the Welsh language has come in a short period of time that Microsoft has made it the first minority language to be used in such a scheme.”
As the first e-assessment learning course available in a minority language, the launch of the curriculum reflects the commitment of Microsoft, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Welsh Language Board to ensure access to ICT training materials, especially in areas where English is not the primary language.
Kristen Weatherby, UK Academic Programme Manager, Partners in Learning at Microsoft commented: “Microsoft’s Digital Literacy Curriculum will provide those people currently learning the Welsh language and existing speakers the essential tools to succeed in today’s knowledge-driven economy. We are proud to be working with the Welsh Assembly Government to help build a digitally literate workforce in Wales that is highly skilled and globally competitive.”
In completing the Digital Literacy curriculum, participants will learn the computer skills needed to get more out of life, from using the Internet to creating a CV and sending and email. The curriculum also provides important guidance on safety and security for people concerned about using PCs and the Internet for the first time.
Meirion Prys Jones, Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board added: “The Welsh Language Board is yet again happy to have contributed to a Microsoft Welsh language venture. Now all those who wish to improve their ICT skills can do so, free of charge, in Welsh. The Digital Literacy Curriculum is a great companion for the free Language Interface Packs for Microsoft Office and Windows on which we recently collaborated.”
The Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum also includes e-assessment facilities, the option to gain accreditation through OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA examinations) offline e-learning modules and a guide book to help people across Wales develop a fundamental understanding of computers.
The Welsh language Digital Literacy curriculum consists of five courses:
- Computer Basics
- The Internet and World Wide Web
- Productivity Programmes
- Computer Security and Privacy
- Digital Lifestyles
The Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum is part of a long-term partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver a ‘Partners in Learning’ programme for Wales. Since the partnership’s inception in 2005, a number of projects have been successfully developed in partnership with NGfL Cymru, the Welsh Language Board, Venture Wales and Cynnal.
Over the course of the partnership, Microsoft has invested £400,000 to support the development of the Partners in Learning curriculum in Wales, with the localisation of the Digital Literacy curriculum consisting of a £50,000 investment by Microsoft.
Microsoft’s Partners in Learning is supporting a number of Welsh language projects which are currently in development including a Sharepoint Learning Kit, Innovative Teacher Resources and an Online Business Simulation game, which will all be free to schools across Wales.