Welcome to OpenICDL

The International Computer Driving License (ICDL) is an international qualification in end user computing. The ICDL qualification provides accreditation in the package of a students choice.

The Modules covered are as follows:

• Module 1 – Basic Concepts of IT
• Module 2 – Using a Computer and Managing Files
• Module 3 – Word Processing
• Module 4 – Spreadsheets
• Module 5 – Database
• Module 6 – Presentations
• Module 7 – Information and Communications.

There are two options available for studying an ICDL qualification:

1. Self-paced study - Download the software and courseware, study at home in your own time.
2. Instructor lead training - Enroll to an ICDL registered training center, study in a teacher student class environment.

Both options lead to testing by a registered examiner. If you choose 'self-paced study,' you must obtain an ICDL Skills Log Book before contacting an Examiner.

If you choose 'Instructor lead training' then your ICDL training center will provide you with an ICDL Skills Log Book and can help you with arranging an examiner.

In addition to your own study efforts, the ICDL Foundation provides sample tests for the ICDL standard and advanced products that can help you to check your knowledge against the syllabus.

DIDASCA Donates "The Smart ECDL"

DIDASCA has contributed "The Smart ECDL," a work written in the Italian language. The Smart ECDL is the very first learning material featuring StarOffice 7 / OpenOffice.org 1.1.4, written according to syllabus 4.0, that has received official approval by a national ECDL foundation licensee.

"We want to contribute 'The Smart ECDL' material to the OpenECDL and OpenICDL projects and make it available for free to everybody." says Prof. Silverio Carugo, Rector for DIDASCA.

Current electronic version of The Smart ECDL modules is available from The Smart ECDL Web Site Electronic.

"DIDASCA's contribution of the "The Smart ECDL" manuscript significantly bolsters the project and enhances the initial contribution made by the ICDL Foundation. We are working with Prof. Carugo to find ways of porting the manuscript to Docbook and translating it into the English language." says Sean Wheller an OpenICDL project contributor.

OpenICDL Welcomes Translate.org.za

Translate.org.za a non-profit organization producing Free and Open Source software that enables and empowers South Africans has joined the OpenICDL project for the purpose of supporting efforts to translate OpenICDL courseware.

"The OpenICDL project has made available files for translation. We have created a project for OpenICDL translation in our Pootle system, a free and open source, advanced web-based translation software." explained Dwayne Bailey. "Pootle is free and easy to use. It makes it possible for anyone to translate the OpenICDL courseware. We hope to translate the courseware to all of the 11 Official South African languages and encourage people will join us and to translate into other languages."

"From the ICDL Foundation perspective, we encourage people to contribute, copy, share and make as much use of the materials as possible." remarks Jonathan Miller of the ICDL Foundation. "The more languages the courseware is available in, the more people can be empowered. Already we see translations in Polish, Spanish, Afrikaans and Vietnamese are underway."

Open source computer drivers license goes live - tectonic - Richard Frank (August 23 2005)

There are any number of ways to get involved with the project. Below is a list of some ideas that we would like to realize, but your personal itches are also welcome.

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  Update ICDL OpenOffice Modules -- Modules, 3, 4, 6 are aligned with OO.o 1.X. We would like to update and align them with OO.o 2.X.
  
  

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  OpenOffice Base -- Module 5 OpenOffice.org Base is now in development. Help us improve and polish this, the latest addition to the project.
  
  

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  Create OpenICDL Ports -- Currently ICDL Module 2 is aligned with Mandrake. We would like to update this and add ports for other distributions. At present we have one port for RedHat/Fedora en route, perhaps you would like to do one for another distribution. Perhaps even one with a GNOME desktop.
  
  

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  Translations -- Help translate OpenICDL Release 1.0 courseware into your language. The POT files can be found in Rosetta and Pootle. We would like to see OpenICDL available free and open in as many languages possible so we have made it as widely available as possible. With two translation systems we double our chances of success, but we need to be careful of duplicate efforts when it comes to specific languages. Before starting to translate we need to check both systems to determine whether or not a translation has been started.
  
  

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  Extend Module 7 -- Add courseware for your favorite web browser or email client to module 7.