PREFACE

The National ICT Competency Standard (NICS) - Basic

handbook lists and defines the most basic set of knowledge and
skills that all Filipino ICT practitioners (non-professional or
professional) across various agencies, industries and sectors, can
and should be able to demonstrate at given levels of proficiency.
It is intended as a baseline measure for the ICT literacy of high school students,
civil servants, and the vast workforce that benefit from the development of
information and communications technology in the Philippines.

The skills and knowledge defined in the NICS - Basic are the building blocks of
ICT competencies. They attest to, and prescribe the levels of fundamental skills
that the ICT –enabled human resource in the Philippines can contribute to the
global economy.

The NICS - Basic was based on a broad comparative research on current

industry practices in other countries, and was developed in consultation with
various government and private agencies, institutions, and stakeholders. It
deliberately avoids reference to specific vendors, versions, or equipment, thus,
making it adaptable to various platforms. Alternatively, it prescribes essential
standards that comply with universal requirements of competency drawn from
recognized international ICT competency development groups such as the
NWCET, ISTE, IFIP, ICDL, MCREL, EDC, and others.

Effectively, the NICS - Basic serves as a snapshot of existing industry

standards and as a blueprint for ICT capability building for forward-looking
agencies, institutions and organizations. Through the creative and productive
use of the standards to their own operations, organizations can use it as a
benchmark by which the basic competencies of their ICT workforce can be
assessed.

In its most basic form, NICS - Basic serves as a tool for gauging ICT literacy
levels using qualitative indicators of skills and knowledge in nine key areas of
competency, referred to as Skill Set Divisions, namely: ICT Basics, Word
Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentation, Information and
Communication, and Computer Ethics and Security. The standards and
indicators are presented using straightforward descriptions of the procedures
and steps involved in each operation. the facilitate understanding and
interpretation of the standards. The table of underpinning knowledge is an
inventory of the basic ICT concepts that comprise the core competencies in each
Skill Set Division.

The NICS - Basic is a milestone effort that ushers related initiatives to bridge
the digital divide that can be the standardization and leveling of the expectations
on ICT literacy across various industries, agencies and sectors.

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INTRODUCTION

The National ICT Competency Standard (NICS) - Basic defines the

knowledge and skills an individual must possess at a recognized level of
competence. It helps ensure that an individual has the necessary level of
knowledge and competence to use common computer applications.
Knowledge and skills in competency areas are presented generally with specifics
on essential areas of learning, but avoids reference to specific vendors, versions
or equipment. Thus, it allows flexibility in the adoption of the standard while
preserving the general requirements for competence.

The NICS - Basic is designed in such a way that it is common to all disciplines,
to all learning and working environments, and to all levels of education. It
provides a common framework of expectations between government & business,
educators, workers and students, such that:
• Government & business are assured of manpower with the guaranteed
ability to perform;
• Educators can discern the competencies on which curriculum is based;
• Workers understand what is expected to be performed and be more
efficient & productive; and
• Students know what they need to be able to do.

In addition, it initiates and extends mere literacy towards fluency with

technology focusing on understanding the underlying concepts of technology,
competence in the use of technology, and ultimately having the right attitude
with a sense of responsibility and applying problem-solving and critical thinking
to using technology.

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CONTENTS

DEFINITION OF TERMS.................................................................................1
UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE...............................................................2
ICT BASICS ..................................................................................................3
WORD PROCESSING .....................................................................................7
SPREADSHEETS..........................................................................................11
PRESENTATION..........................................................................................14
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION ........................................................18
COMPUTER ETHICS AND SECURITY .............................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................25

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Information & Communications Technology (ICT)

Information and Communications Technology" (ICT) is defined as the totality of
electronic means to collect, store, process and present information to end-users
in support of their activities. It consists, among others, of computer systems,
office systems and consumer electronics, as well as networked information
infrastructure, the components of which include the telephone system, the
Internet, fax machines and computers

ICT Literacy
More than being able to use the computer; having knowledge or competence in
ICT; the degree to which individuals are familiar with computer operating
systems and applications.

ICT Literate
Individuals who are able to demonstrate the right knowledge, skills and attitude
in the use of ICT

Standard
Conventionally, a standard is defined as an accepted or approved example or
technique against which other things are judged or measured, or which sets out
a set of criteria that serves as a guideline for how something should be done;
accepted level and scope of attainment of proficiency; a reference point against
which other things are judged or measured. In the handbook, the term is used
to refer to concise statements that describe the key area of competency.

Competency
Knowledge, skill, ability, or characteristic associated with high performance on a
job. Some definitions of competency include motives, beliefs, and values.
Competencies can also help distinguish high performance from average and low
performance; a desirable quality or behavior; a performance indicator

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UNDERSTANDING THE STRUCTURE

The NICS - Basic is a wealth of information presented in a very compact form

comprising the following elements:

Standard Title
The Standard Title is a concise statement that describes the key area
of competency.

Standard Descriptor
The Standard Descriptor is a brief description of the skills set covered
by the standard.

Statements
Statements describe in outcome terms the key areas of competence
covered by the standard. Statements are focused on performance
and are demonstrable.

Indicators
The Indicators identify the actions an individual would normally take
to perform the area of competence detailed in the relevant statement.
They are specific evidence of the achievement of a defined skill or
knowledge level or the competent completion of a task.

Underpinning Knowledge
Underpinning Knowledge identifies the essential areas of learning and
understandings that underpin the area of competence described in the
standard. It also indicates broad areas of learning and development
that an individual might consider to strengthen this specific area of
competence.

Sample Entry
Standard

Standard
Descriptor

Statements

Indicators

Underpinning
Knowledge

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SKILL SET DIVISION A ICT BASICS

Competency Descriptor:
This standard covers the main concepts of ICT at a general level. It presents
the requirements to understand the components of a personal computer, how
information networks are used in computing, and management of files and
print documents.

Standard 1: Explain the terms Information Technology & Communications

Technology

Indicators:

• Define Information Technology, Communications Technology and other ICT-

related terms
• Identify the different types of computer
• Discuss the uses, characteristics, and advantages of a computer

Standard 2: Identify the different hardware and software components of a

computer and how they work together

Indicators:

• Identify the different parts of a computer system

• Identify the different parts associated with input, process, output
• Know the different capacity of storage, processing, resolution, etc.
• Identify the different kinds of optional peripherals for specific use

Standard 3: Differentiate the different types of software

Indicators:

• Identify the most commonly used software

• Identify the appropriate software

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Standard 4: Discuss Networking / Communications Technology

Indicators:

• Differentiate the types of communication technology

• Define and identify the different communication devices
• Differentiate and categorize the different networking media
• Discuss the steps for connecting to the Internet

Standard 5: Operate a computer

Indicators:

• Identify and differentiate the parts of a computer

• Identifies the functionalities of the operating system
• Boot-up and shut-down a computer

Standard 6: Arrange and customize the desktop

Indicators:

• Arrange desktop icons by name, size and type

• Add and remove desktop icons
• Change desktop properties

Standard 7: Manage applications

Indicators:

• Install/uninstall an application
• Locate an application
• Start an application
• Close an application
• Switch between open applications

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Standard 8: Manage files

Indicators:

• Identify and differentiate the types of files/documents and associated

program
• Create and delete folders
• Move, delete, restore, copy, paste files
• Share folders
• Apply appropriate file and disk management techniques
• Use appropriate directory and file names
• Backup data periodically to a storage media

Standard 9: Manage a printer

Indicators:

• Setup a printer
• Connect to a network printer
• Cancel a file for printing
• Arrange print queues
• Print a test page

Standard 10: Troubleshoot the computer

Indicators:

• Test computer using standard diagnostic tools/software

• Reinstall software as needed
• Recover data and/or files
• Restore system to normal operating standards
• Prepare failure/trouble reports
• Access in-house or external support as needed
• Use the Control Panel for basic PC configuration

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Underpinning Knowledge:

• Information Technology
• Types of computers/History of Computing
• Communications Technology
• History of Telephony
• Components of a Computer System
• Input and Output Devices
• Computer Storage
• Multimedia System
• Types of Software
• Local Area Networks
• Wide Area Networks
• Parts of a Computer
• Mouse Operations
• Parts of the Screen
• File Management Application
• Moving and Copying Files
• Deleting Files
• Directories
• File Sharing
• Printer Setup
• Managing Print Queues
• Printer Sharing

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SKILL SET DIVISION B WORD PROCESSING

Competency Descriptor:
This standard covers the requirements to demonstrate the ability to use a
word processing application on a computer. It presents the tasks associated
with creating, formatting, and printing word processing documents.

Standard 1: Manage documents

Indicators:

• Create a new document

• Save the newly created document
• Open, edit, save and close existing document

Standard 2: Format text

Indicators:

• Change font face, style, size, color

• Change character spacing
• Use text effects

Standard 3: Format paragraph

Indicators:

• Align/justify text
• Center text
• Change paragraph spacing
• Indent paragraphs
• Apply numbering and bulleting

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Standard 4: Format document

Indicators:

• Insert line and page breaks

• Specify pagination
• Change margins
• Specify paper size and orientation
• Specify paper source
• Add headers, footers, line numbers, footnotes, and Table of Contents

Standard 5: Move and copy text

Insert text
Delete text

Indicators:

• Move data within the document

• Copy data to duplicate text within the document
• Select text
• Select group of text
• Select a paragraph
• Select an entire document
• Insert a character, word, sentence or small amount of text
• Insert a new paragraph
• Insert special characters/symbols
• Delete a character, word or sentence
• Delete an entire paragraph

Standard 6: Insert tables

Indicators:

• Insert standard table

• Specify number of columns and rows
• Change cell attributes
• Add borders and shading
• Apply automatic formatting

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Standard 7: Insert pictures and images

Indicators:

• Insert pictures and images from the gallery

• Insert pictures and images from a saved file
• Re-size pictures or images

Standard 8: Preview a document

Indicators:

• Open and print preview document for printing

• Zoom-in and zoom-out document
• Switch to one-page, multiple-page or full-screen views

Standard 9: Print a document

Indicators:

• Open document for printing

• Specify printer
• Change other printer options and properties
• Specify page range and number of copies

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Underpinning Knowledge:
• Opening and Closing an Application
• Closing an Application
• Managing Documents
• Fonts
• Paragraph Formatting
• Outlines
• Page Numbers
• Page Breaks
• Margins
• Headers and Footers
• Paper Size and Orientation
• Moving and Copying Text
• Selecting Text
• Tables
• Pictures and Images
• Print Preview
• Printing documents

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SKILL SET DIVISION C SPREADSHEET

Competency Descriptor:
This standard covers the requirements to demonstrate the ability to use a
spreadsheet application on a computer. It presents the tasks associated with
developing, formatting, modifying, and printing a spreadsheet; generating
and applying standard mathematical and logical formulas; and creating and
formatting graphs/charts.

Standard 1: Manage workbooks

Indicators:

• Open and close a workbook

• Open multiple workbooks
• Create a new workbook
• Save a workbook using a different name
• Switch between workbooks

Standard 2: Select cells

Enter data in a cell
Insert and delete cells
Insert and delete cells
Insert and delete rows and columns

Indicators:

• Select a cell, a range of cells, range of non-adjacent cells, entire worksheet,

entire row, entire column
• Enter data in a cell
• Enter data in multiple cells
• Insert rows or columns
• Delete rows or columns

Standard 3: Handle worksheets

Indicators:

• Insert worksheets
• Delete worksheets
• Copy a worksheet
• Move a worksheet
• Rename a worksheet

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Standard 4: Format data

Indicators:

• Format numbers using different number style

• Apply font formatting options
• Apply alignment formatting options
• Sort data
• Filter data

Standard 5: Format cells

Indicators:

• Add border effects to a range of cells

• Adjust cell content orientation

Standard 6: Format worksheet

Indicators:

• Change worksheet margins

• Change worksheet orientation
• Adjust page scaling to fit worksheet contents on one page or on a specific
number of pages
• Add, modify headers and footers
• Insert page numbers, date, time, etc.

Standard 7: Create formulas and functions

Indicators:

• Generate formulas using cell references

• Use relative and absolute cell referencing
• Generate formulas using arithmetic and logical functions

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Standard 8: Create and format charts/graphs

Indicators:

• Create different types of charts/graphs based on given data

• Add a title, label to the chart/graph
• Format the chart/graph by applying colors
• Change the chart type
• Resize, delete charts/graphs

Standard 9: Preview a worksheet

Print a worksheet

Indicators:

• Preview a worksheet
• Print a cell, a range of cells, or an entire worksheet

Underpinning Knowledge:
• Opening and Closing an Application
• Closing an Application
• Managing Workbooks
• Selecting a cell or a range of cells
• Selecting rows and columns
• Entering data
• Manipulating rows and columns
• Moving and Copying worksheets
• Formatting Numbers
• Font Formatting
• Data Alignment
• Borders and Shading
• Data Orientation
• Worksheet Margins
• Worksheet Orientation
• Headers and Footers
• Page Numbers
• Page Scaling
• Formulas
• Functions
• Mathematical Operators
• Cell References
• Charts/Graphs
• Print Preview
• Printing worksheets

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SKILL SET DIVISION D PRESENTATION

Competency Descriptor:
This standard covers the requirements to demonstrate the ability to use a
presentation tool on a computer. It presents the tasks associated with
creating, formatting, modifying, and preparing presentations using different
slide layouts for display and printed distribution.

Standard 1: Discuss basic presentation skills

Indicators:

• Choose a presentation technique

• Set objectives
• Analyze the subject matter
• Present with your audience in mind
• Decide on structure

Standard 2: Apply appropriate visuals and design considerations

Indicators:

• Ensure that the design is simple, clear, and bold

• Apply appropriate font, font style, color, and font size
• Apply appropriate slide rules

Standard 3: Manage presentations using a presentation tool

Indicators:

• Open and close a presentation

• Open multiple presentation
• Create a new presentation
• Save a presentation using a different name
• Switch between presentations

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Standard 4: Create slides
Use different slide views

Indicators:

• Insert a new slide

• Rearrange slides using Slide Sorter View
• Switch from one view to another

Standard 5: Apply slide layouts and templates

Indicators:

• Add new slide with a specific layout

• Change between built-in slide layouts
• Apply a design template

Standard 6: Format text

Indicators:

• Add text to the presentation

• Apply text formatting
• Apply text alignment
• Apply bulleting

Standard 7: Insert pictures and images

Indicators:

• Insert a picture or an image into a slide

• Resize pictures or images
• Delete pictures or images in a slide

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Standard 8: Insert drawn objects

Indicators:

• Add different types of drawn objects to a slide

• Format a drawn object
• Rotate or flip a drawn object
• Resize a drawn object

Standard 9: Create charts/graphs

Indicators:

• Input data to create a built-in chart/graph

• Change the chart/graph type
• Format a chart/graph

Standard 10: Create a slide show

Apply slide show effects

Indicators:

• Add preset text, image animation effects to slides

• Change preset animation effects
• Add transition effects between slides

Standard 11: Prepare outputs

Indicators:

• Create speaker’s notes

• Create handouts
• Change slide setup
• Hide or show slides
• Start a slide show

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Standard 12: Print slides

Indicators:

• Print entire presentation

• Print selected slides

Underpinning Knowledge:
• Opening and Closing an Application
• Closing an Application
• Managing Presentations
• Inserting and Deleting Slides
• Slide Views
• Rearranging Slides
• Slide Layouts
• Design Templates
• Text Formatting
• Paragraph Formatting
• Cliparts
• Drawing Toolbar
• Built-in Objects
• Creating charts/graphs
• Slide Animation
• Slide Transition
• Speaker’s Notes
• Handouts
• Starting Presentations
• Printing Objects

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SKILL SET DIVISION E INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATION

Competency Descriptor:
This standard covers the requirements to understand the concepts and terms
associated with the Internet and electronic mail together.

Standard 1: Discuss Internet and World Wide Web

Indicators:

• Define and understand the terms: Internet, WWW, HTTP, URL, home page,
web page
• Understand the format of a web address
• Know what a browser is and what it is used for
• Understand the terms cookie, cache, and proxy

Standard 2: Access the Web

Indicators:

• Open and close a browser

• Change the browser home page
• Go to a URL
• Activate a hyperlink
• Refresh a web page
• Delete the cache

Standard 3: Use Bookmarks

Indicators:

• Bookmark a web page

• Display a bookmarked web page

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Standard 4: Search the Web

Indicators:

• Select a specific search engine

• Type a search criteria
• Combine selection criteria in a search

Standard 5: Download web pages

Indicators:

• Download text file, image file, sound file, video file, software, from a web
page
• Save a web page to a location on a drive
• Print a web page

Standard 6: Send and receive email

Indicators:

• Create and secure a personal email account through the Web

• Open and close an email application
• Open a mail inbox
• Open one or several mail messages
• Close a mail message
• Open and save a file attachment to a location
• Reply to a message
• Create a new message
• Attach a file to a message
• Insert a mail address in the To, cc, bcc field
• Insert a title in the Subject field
• Send a message using groups

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Standard 7: Create an Address Book

Indicators:

• Create a new address book

• Add a mail address to an address book
• Delete a mail address from an address book
• Update an address book
• Create groups

Standard 8: Organize messages

Indicators:

• Create a new folder for mail

• Move messages to a new folder
• Sort messages
• Delete messages

Standard 9: Print messages

Indicators:

• Preview a message
• Print a message or selected contents of a message

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Underpinning Knowledge:
• Internet Basics
• Web Browsers
• URLs
• Hyperlinks
• Search Engines
• Downloading Web Pages
• Saving Web Pages
• Printing Web Pages
• Creating Messages
• Replying to a Message
• Forwarding Messages
• Groups
• Attachments
• Contacts
• Creating Folders
• Moving, Copying, and Deleting Messages
• Sorting Messages
• Previewing Messages
• Printing Messages

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SKILL SET DIVISION F COMPUTER ETHICS AND
SECURITY

Competency Descriptor:
This standard covers the requirements to understand the important security
and legal issues associated with using the computers.

Standard 1: Understand personal property and user rights

Indicators:

• Recognize that when an individual creates something on a computer, the

created work is that person’s property
• Recognize that when an individual creates something on a computer, only
that person has the right to change it

Standard 2: Understand the concept of software piracy and violation of

copyright laws

Indicators:

• Explain the concept of software piracy

• Recognize that software piracy is illegally copying software
• Recognize that piracy is a violation of copyright laws
• Identify examples of copyright violations

Standard 3: Recognize examples of copyright violations, computer fraud

and possible penalties

Indicators:

• Identify examples of computer fraud

• Identify possible penalties of copyright violations and computer fraud
• Recognize that computer hacking is an example of computer fraud
• Recognize that intentional virus setting is an example of computer fraud
• Recognize that invasion of privacy is an example of computer fraud

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Standard 4: Apply common courtesies and acceptable use policies while
telecomputing

Indicators:

• Use common courtesies associated with telecomputing

Standard 5: Explain the concept of Security

Indicators:

• Define Security
• Identify the different security threats
• Identify the different security techniques
• Explain the use anti-virus software

Standard 6: Recognize and respond to ethical situations and cyber security

issues involving computing devices of all forms

Indicators:

• Recognize the privacy issues associated with computers, such as password,

user ID, and access rights
• Recognize the purpose and value of backing up data, software to a
removable storage device
• Discuss the possible implications of theft , misuse of confidential files, and
loss of files

Standard 7: Apply fundamental principles of computer security

Indicators:

• Take responsibility to secure own computer

• Scan computer for viruses

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Underpinning Knowledge:
• Threats to Computer Systems
• Privacy and Confidentiality
• Data Integrity
• Data Consistency
• Threats to Information
• Virus
• Worms
• Spyware

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REFERENCES

Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL)

International Society for Technology in Education – National Educational

Technology Standards (ISTE – NETS)

International Federation for Information Processing

International Computer Driving License. International Computer Driving License

Syllabus Version 4.0. Dublin 4, Ireland: European Computer Driving License
Foundation Ltd.

Education Development Center (2002). IT Career Cluster Initiative Foundation

Knowledge and Skills. Ohio Department of Education

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