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Course overview
1. Essential Digital SkillsThe Essential Digital Skills qualification will develop skills in the following five areas:
1. Using devices and handling information
2. Creating and editing
3. Communicating
4. Transacting
5. Being safe and responsible online
At entry 3 the focus will be on developing skills for life and introducing learners to skills for work. At level 1 the focus will be more on skills for work with a secondary focus on skills for life.
The course will be delivery through a blended model, which will include a mixture of independent online and face to face learning. The majority of the course will be delivered via an online learning platform and we have built in essential face to face progress lessons to support you on your journey to achieving a new qualification.
2. GCSE English
During the GCSE in English Language course, you will develop English skills which are fit for the modern world. The course is designed around 3 components:
• Fiction and Imaginative Writing
• Non-fiction and Transactional Writing
• Spoken Language Endorsement
Throughout the course, you will read a wide range of text to develop your skills to analyse and evaluate 19th-century fiction extracts, as well as studying a range of 20th and 21st-century non-fiction texts including literary non-fiction. In addition, you will gain a sound knowledge of spelling, grammar and punctuation and effectively use grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language.
Your tutor will support you throughout your journey on the GCSE course, but it is important you have a real commitment to achieving the qualification. Whilst studying you will be expected, to attend weekly 3 hour lessons and complete an additional 4 hours of weekly self-study learning through homework and online resources made available to you by your tutor. You will be required to attend two formal exams that will take place at the end of May and beginning of June, the exact dates will be communicated to you when you start your course.
3. Study Skills
The Study skills aspect of the course is designed to enhance you ability to retain and recall the information required to complete your online assessements and pass your exams.
You will focus on four studies areas,
Unit 1 Spelling
Unit 2 Plaigersim
Unit 3 Reading and Understanding
Unit 4 Critical thinking
What else do I need to know?
It is essential you have access to your own device such as a Smart Phone or table and computer to enable you to access the course content and achieve the qualification.What are the entry requirements?
This qualification is designed to support learners who are returning to study, to help them to develop the study and learning skills required to progress onto Level 3 courses.
By achieving the Preparing Adults for Level 3 learning qualfication, learners are demonstrating that they are able to study for a sustained period at an appropriate level and it is anticipated that this will optimise achievement on a course to which the learners may progress.
The qualification will comprise of three key components,
1. Entry 3/Level Essential Digital Skills
2. GCSE English
3. Study skills
1. Entry 3/Level Essential Digital Skills ,
You will need to complete the Essential Digital Skills Introductory course and able to complete the following tasks confidently before enrolling on the entry level qualification:
• Turning on a device (including entering and updating any account information safely, such as a password)
• Use the available controls on a device (such as a mouse and keyboard for a computer, or touchscreen on a smartphone or tablet)
• Use the accessibility tools (including assistive technology) to make devices easier to use (such as changing display settings to make content easier to read)
• Interact with the home screen on a device
• Connect to the internet (including Wi-Fi) safely and securely, and opening a browser
• Open and access an application on a device.
You will then complete a 'on course' diagnosstic assessement to ensure the course content is tailored to your current academic ability.
2. GCSE English
For our GCSE you will be required to hold at least a Level 2 Functional Skills English qualification or GCSE English grade D/3. Your existing knowledge of GCSE English will be will be assessed through a variety of assessments prior to the course starting, these will be used to ensure you have sufficient skills to complete and achieve a good GCSE English language grade in 16 weeks.
3. Study Skills
No formal qualfications are required in order to study this element of the course.
By achieving the Preparing Adults for Level 3 learning qualfication, learners are demonstrating that they are able to study for a sustained period at an appropriate level and it is anticipated that this will optimise achievement on a course to which the learners may progress.
The qualification will comprise of three key components,
1. Entry 3/Level Essential Digital Skills
2. GCSE English
3. Study skills
1. Entry 3/Level Essential Digital Skills ,
You will need to complete the Essential Digital Skills Introductory course and able to complete the following tasks confidently before enrolling on the entry level qualification:
• Turning on a device (including entering and updating any account information safely, such as a password)
• Use the available controls on a device (such as a mouse and keyboard for a computer, or touchscreen on a smartphone or tablet)
• Use the accessibility tools (including assistive technology) to make devices easier to use (such as changing display settings to make content easier to read)
• Interact with the home screen on a device
• Connect to the internet (including Wi-Fi) safely and securely, and opening a browser
• Open and access an application on a device.
You will then complete a 'on course' diagnosstic assessement to ensure the course content is tailored to your current academic ability.
2. GCSE English
For our GCSE you will be required to hold at least a Level 2 Functional Skills English qualification or GCSE English grade D/3. Your existing knowledge of GCSE English will be will be assessed through a variety of assessments prior to the course starting, these will be used to ensure you have sufficient skills to complete and achieve a good GCSE English language grade in 16 weeks.
3. Study Skills
No formal qualfications are required in order to study this element of the course.
What financial support is on offer?
Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group is pleased to be able to offer financial support to help students meet the costs of attending College.
If you are on state benefits or are on a low income you may be entitled to fee remission towards your course. *This is at the Colleges discretion.
If you are on state benefits or are on a low income you may be entitled to fee remission towards your course. *This is at the Colleges discretion.
What can I do next?
The course is designed to provide you with qualifications you need to meet the entry requirements needed to enrol on an Access to HE course as a route to university.
How do I find out more?
For further details please contact Anthony Walton by emailing anthony.walton@nscg.ac.uk or by calling 01782 254196
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