Skills Assessment and Audit Tools
Session 2.4: Auditing skills
Skills assessment and audit tools
In order to effectively embed e-learning into your organisation, it is important that you identify existing ICT and e-learning skills both for you individually and for your colleagues.
It is important for you to identify which skills and knowledge you need to develop further in order to effectively embed e-learning, and to effectively cascade your knowledge and skills to your colleagues. However, it is also important that you are aware of the skills that you already have.
To assess the skills development needs of your colleagues you might find it helpful to invite them to complete a skills audit in order to establish which existing skills and knowledge in your organisation will be helpful for embedding e-learning into your practice.
The overview provided introduces some tools and approaches to auditing and assessing ICT and e-learning skills. This overview does not present an exhaustive list, it rather presents a selection of tools available.
Skills assessments as part of wider programmes
The examples provided are tools for skills assessments and audits as developed as part of wider initiatives/programmes.
ECPD (e-learning skills)
The Learning and Skills Network (LSN) has been developing the eCPDframework, which is being piloted between July 2006 and February 2007. The eCPD is a framework that aims to combine the 'learning by doing' element of practical e-learning, curriculum development with the opportunity for professional achievement through the completion of specific units. Part of the eCPD will be a self-assessment tool. For more information on the eCPD visit the LSN website (
Questionnaires
To help you consider what skills and knowledge need to be developed within your organisation, you will need to identify what staff already know. One way of doing this is with questionnaires. However sometimes it is difficult to get good information from questionnaires. This could be for the following reasons:
- difficulty in designing a questionnaire that takes account of the wide range of IT knowledge among staff, eg one staff member has an MSc in computer science, and another never uses a computer and does not know what a ‘file’ is
- staff having difficulty in self-assessment of their level of skills
- staff not able to assess their training needs for equipment they have never seen or used
- staff assuming that any training provided will be ICT skills such as Computer Literacy and Information Technology (CLAIT) or the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).
The conclusion seems to be that there may be a need to provide basic knowledge to your colleagues before asking them to carry out self-assessment, and that the results of questionnaires will still need to be checked with staff before training is designed and delivered, possibly through the use of pilot events. If you do use questionnaires remember that:
- shorter questionnaires that ask simple questions are effective in identifying initial priorities and areas that staff would be interested in
- longer questionnaires will be more useful when staff have developed their awareness and knowledge of ICT, and are actively seeking learning opportunities.
The format for answers includes: simple tick boxes, numeric or verbal scales to indicate level of skill, importance to the colleague’s roles and responsibilities, or priority for additional training. The more detailed responses became more valuable as staff members’ knowledge and interest develop.
E-skills passport (ICT skills)
The e-skills passport is an online tool that enables individuals and organisations to assess current IT skills, identify gaps, set learning targets and record improvement. The e-skills passport aims to enable users to record achievements and re-visit their goals as skills improve. Organisations can use the e-skills passport to get a snapshot of workforce IT skills and to target training accordingly. At the heart of e-skills passport is an employer-defined framework of skills, which is linked closely to the IT User National Occupational Standards, upon which most IT training in the UK and all UK IT qualifications are based. For more information on the e-skills passport visit the e-skills passport website ( and the e-skills passport resources website (
Further skills development
As a result of a skills audit you might identify specific knowledge and skills that you need to develop further. There is a wide range of training courses available for the development of ICT skills, both by public and commercial providers. You might find that for specific development needs (eg training in use of specific software for web-design) you will have to find very specialised training courses. However, the list provided presents a small selection on training courses that might be suitable for further developing your skills:
ICT skills development
CLAIT (
CLAIT is a nationally recognised qualification in using computers. CLAIT qualifications are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Level 3 is advanced and considered to be equivalent to NVQ 3 (National Vocational Qualification) and A-level standard.
ECDL (
The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is an internationally recognised qualification in IT skills, certifying to a set standard the skills people already have, or the skills they attain through training.
ITQ (
ITQ is a unit-based IT user qualification and training package that has been created to ensure staff are trained in the IT skills they need to carry out their roles. It is primarily aimed at ICT users and not professional IT staff and allows different units to be taken at different levels. The ITQ resources website offers a list of useful resources around the ITQ.
E-learning skills development
LeTTOL (
Learning To Teach On-Line (LeTTOL) is an online distance education course aimed at teachers, lecturers, trainers, content developers who wish to transfer their existing skills to an online environment. It is accredited by the National Open College Network.
E-Guides training programme 2007 - 2008