My First Class

I arrived in the gates of Muckross for the first time, in around 28 years, on the 10th of September 2007. The last time I was here, was when my dad used to be a commentator on sports day. Nostalgia is great. So after being introduced to the Principal, I was shown to the classroom. What hit me straight away was this ultra modern, bright, colour building filled with lively students lining the halls.

Then, I got to meet all of you. With a varying degree of computer knowledge, a self-confessed average of around 5 out of 10, we set out to learn the basics of web design. To say I was surprised at the attentiveness, was an understatement. It appeared our new class was going to go swimmingly. Well, I suppose sometimes, appearances can be deceiving.

What is ECDL Webstarter?

Introduction

Developed by the ECDL Foundation, ECDL WebStarter is a new certification designed to give you the skills required to design, create and maintain a Web site. ECDL WebStarter has been specifically designed for anyone who wants to acquire the skills to create and maintain a Web site without having to commit to the time and expense of a professional level Web design programme. The ECDL WebStarter certification requires approximately 20-30 hours of tuition followed by successful completion of a simple 45 minute test. ECDL WebStarter certifies that a Candidate:

• Understands key Web publishing concepts


• Has the core skills necessary to create a Web site


• Understands some of the basic principles of HTML


• Can perform simple HTML coding


• Can use a Web editor to create Web pages, create forms and tables, use frames and format text


• Can save and work with images on a Web site


• Can publish the site on the World Wide Web (WWW)


• Has a good appreciation of security issues and laws relating to Web publishing