Jules Nicholas Head of ICT Certifications Earned Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³)   Employer Papakura High School Location Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand

In his own words: "Not only do students earn their units, but they are getting an internationally recognized qualification. What our students gain from earning this certification can be used elsewhere."

Exceptional-teaching Approach Results in International Certification for Papakura High School Students
IC³ aligns with New Zealand government standards for information technology literacy and is required for students to achieve National Certificate of Computing and grade-level advancement

Papakura High School information and communication technology (ICT) courses offer students a world of opportunity in at least three critical areas: they earn the internationally recognized Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³ ®) credential, they qualify for credits required to move to the next grade level, and they earn New Zealand's National Certificate of Computing Level 2. With a strong desire to see students achieve these successes, teachers at Papakura High School have implemented an individualized-teaching approach that has generated great results and given students academic and vocational prospects not previously available to them.

BACKGROUND
Papakura High School is a large, co-educational secondary school for students in Years 9 through 13 in Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand. Of the school's 1,400 students, many are Maori and Pacific Island students without access to computer technology at home.

"The school's focus is raising achievement," said Jules Nicholas, the head of ICT at Papakura High School. "All of our courses are aligned with the national unit standards, so students can be assessed on and earn credits for their learning."

Following guidelines established by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Papakura High School requires Year 9 students to take an information technology (IT) course, which in many cases represents students' first exposure to computers. The course focuses on introductory work with Microsoft® Word, Excel, PowerPoint® and Publisher as well as typing and other basic computer literacy skills.

Students in Years 10-13 have the option to become even more proficient users of computer technology, and this aggregate study often results in students earning the IC³ credential. Nicholas said IC³ aligns with government standards required to achieve the National Certificate of Computing Level 2 and advance to the next grade level.

PROCESS
To achieve optimal success, teachers at Papakura High School focus on individual student needs and use assessments and courseware to support their teaching efforts. "Some students have had more computer access than others, so we focus on differentiated learning using pre-assessments to determine how well individuals perform specific tasks," Nicholas explained. "From pretests we learn what to emphasize with the whole class and what needs less explanation."

Nicholas and the other teachers in the ICT department then customize their teaching based on each student's assessment outcomes. "Our structure is very individualized. We gear learning to each student and don't worry about where they are in relation to the rest of the class."

Papakura High School ICT classes consist of approximately 25 students. "We start by putting a stand-alone computer out, which the students look at and touch," Nicholas said. "This exercise especially helps with the Computing Fundamentals IC³ module. It's a whole-class-learning exercise."

Later, students demonstrate their aptitude by earning at least 80 percent scores on IC³ practice tests. After reviewing online learning courses and passing other progress checks, students may take one of the IC³ exams. A $60 course fee covers the cost of two of the three IC³ exams. "The government also gives the school funding because we use online learning. This contribution pays for the third exam," Nicholas said.

CERTIFICATION
In the first year of IC³ availability, 10 Papakura High School students have earned the IC³ credential. "My class had a 60 percent pass rate," Nicholas reported. "Computing Fundamentals is the most difficult module."

RESULT
"Not only do students earn their units, but they are getting an internationally recognized qualification," Nicholas said. "What our students gain from earning this certification can be used elsewhere. They have to have ICT literacy skills of a certain level when they leave our school. If they also have a certification, they are that much ahead."

Nicholas considers the investment in the certification a good one for the school and students alike. "The certification resulting from this $60 investment definitely is a good return. Students often use their ICT skills across the rest of the school's curriculum. The ones who've learned and progressed through IC³ do well in other courses and help other students. This success breeds success."

Scott Stirrup, 17, is a Year 12 student at Papakura High School. He earned IC³ while taking the high school's Computing National Certificate course. Stirrup plans to someday work in the computing industry and enjoyed going through the IC³ program. "This certification gives me experience with what one can do with computers," he said.

Not only did preparing for IC³ teach Stirrup more about computers, but it also has helped him in his other classes. "It boosts my marks and makes my coursework more presentable," he said. "It's also made me more confident in what I can do with computers."

Other Papakura High School students are excited to work toward IC³ certification as well. In fact, courses mapping to IC³ scheduled for the next school year are already completely full. "We have more than the number of students that we can take," Nicholas said. "We'll be turning students away."

One of the most exciting results of IC³ at Papakura High School has been the empowering confidence students experience when they earn the certification.

"Two students passed the Living Online module last week," Nicholas said. "They were over the moon and very happy with themselves. IC³ gives them opportunity. We see them start to take responsibility for their learning. We teach them to set and achieve goals. It opens them up to new learning, and they can access it. They have new skills that open them up to a whole new world."