European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Platinum Edition

Citation

Dodwell, D. (2004), "European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Platinum Edition", Industrial and Commercial Training, Vol. 36 No. 3, pp. 128-129. https://doi.org/10.1108/00197850410532177

This CD is available from stores such as Waterstones and PC World in the UK. It is aimed at the individual home‐based learner, and as such should be a totally self‐contained and idiot‐proof learning and support package. The “Platinum Edition” gives you the option, for an extra £50, to purchase tutor support, registration, and ECDL tests. This option was not followed up by the reviewer. The main menu lists the components which include: the tutorials for each ECDL module, a progress tracking tool, online assessment for each module, the promise of online help and information on how to “get qualified”.

The initial instructions inside the CD cover are very promising. Clear step‐by‐step directions on the CD case explain how to load the CD, which takes you through the installation of Macromedia Flash if necessary, and then boots up the software. After that, you are at the mercy of the on‐screen instructions, with no written back‐up material to help you. The Welcome screen suggests you might choose four buttons (two of which are on the next screen!) – if the wrong one is selected the learner will start on a module without being aware that a navigation toolbar can be accessed at the bottom of the screen. The soundtrack is an essential part of the learning material, but nowhere in the start‐up screens does it mention that speakers or headphones should be used, and a novice learner could quite easily give up at the outset.

The ECDL modules are divided into topics and these are in turn subdivided into tasks, corresponding to the ECDL syllabus. Tasks can be worked through in any order and each lasts 5‐10 min (this was discovered by trial and error – it would be nice to be told how long each topic is likely to take). The learning starts with verbal information backed up with a visual on‐screen demonstration. This is followed with a chance for the learner to practice, with visual tips if they get anything wrong. The verbal instructions are on the whole very clear and easy to follow. The navigation toolbar (when found!) allows the learner to pause the learning, or to restart a topic. Verbal instructions are much less tedious than reading reams of text on‐screen. The disadvantage though is that if a sentence is not quite understood the whole topic needs to be restarted, rather than having the ability to “rewind” just 5 or 10s.

Having exited the software for a short break, it is then not clear how to get back in, as there are no desktop icons. In fact, the user needs to eject the CD and reinsert it in order to start up the software.

The package boasts the unique “inpace” tracking system that “monitors your course progress, telling you how many times you have visited each module and your total learning time”. This may be of academic interest, but the user needs to be taken to where they left off at the last session, and the tracking system does not record this. Neither does it consistently keep track of tasks completed, which is potentially rather demoralising for the learner.

Sooner, rather than later the user will choose the help button where they are assured that “the help system will enable you to get answers to some frequently asked questions”. This takes you to a screen where you are told “Don’t worry, help is always available” – but how? Only an experienced user would guess that the URL contained in the text might be a hyperlink to a web site. This link takes you to the atyourpace webpage, where unfortunately there appears to be little obvious guidance on how to access the promised help.

The assessment button takes you online to a 20‐question multi‐choice quiz for each module. Here the quality of the package could be improved. Although most of the questions are sound, parts of some of the questions are not visible without having to scroll down, there are some very obvious typos (“Legions” instead of “Legends”) and spelling mistakes.

atyourpace has some very promising elements, however the construction and quality of the package needs some improvement before the CD can deliver a truly user friendly package which the home based learner can use with total confidence.