Embedded Files
Click on each section to see an overview of how these sites are organized and what topics are offered.
Digital Learn
Digital Learn
This is a project by the Public Library Association (USA). It is free to use and to share under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License which means as long as you say where you got it and do not charge money for it, you can share it.
Included in DigitalLearn.org is a collection of self-directed tutorials for end-users to increase their digital literacy, and a community of practice for digital literacy trainers to share resources, tools and best practices.
If you are new to computers, haven't used them for a while, are a little unsure and uncomfortable, or just need a bit of a refresher, we have the tools to help you tackle technology at your own pace and gain the confidence you need to succeed.
This site has 21 lessons covering these topics:
· Starting Out (basic computer use)
· Being Safe Online
· Job Skills (creating a resume and online job searching)
· Being Productive (Word, Excel and Cloud Storage)
· Connecting with Others (Skype and Facebook)
· Mobile Devices
· Online Shopping
Some are as short as 7 minutes and the longest lesson is 22 minutes long. That is the length of time each lesson will take to view if you play the video straight through. All the information is presented in videos but learners are asked to read certain screens without audio support. It will take longer if you complete the activities and assignments.
Each lesson page tells you how many activities (videos) there are and how long each one will take and gives the lesson a level. I think the level refers to computer skills but I cannot find anything on the site that tells us how levels are determined.
There are text versions of each lesson that instructors can use to plan lessons and learners can use as reading material.
An instructor will need to view the lessons first to see what the assignments are and to let learners know which on they should complete. Instructors may want to add assignments and activities. There is a companion site for trainers at https://training.digitallearn.org/
The trainers site lesson plans with PowerPoint presentations if instructors want to do any instruction on a topic. There are activity sheets and handouts that instructors can use with the learner videos.
Learn My Way
Learn My Way
Learn My Way is a website of free online courses for beginners, helping you develop digital skills to make the most of the online world owned by the Good Things Foundation for promoting digital skills for everyone in the United Kingdom.
The basics are available without creating an account on the old site:
Using your computer or device - Learn about using a computer or mobile device such as a phone or tablet.
Using a keyboard
Using a mouse
Using a touchscreen
Using a computer
Online basics - How to search and explore the internet, keep in touch with email, and use public services online - all while being safe and secure. Read more about Online basics
Using the internet
Using online forms
Using email
Using search engines
The beyond-the-basics topic are available on the new site -- new.learnmyway.com -- and require learners to create an account.
Wisconsin Technical Basic Computer Skills
Wisconsin Technical Basic Computer Skills
www.wisc-online.com/courses/computerskills
In this course, each numbered section covers related computer skills divided into Learning Activities and concluded with a test.
Learners need to create an account and be signed to track progress and earn badges but they can also access the courses as a guest if they do not want to make an account.
There is a Navigation tutorial to teach users about how to use the site.
Learners can do a pre-test to be placed in modules based on their test results or they can skip the pre-test and choose modules to work on.
Beside each topic, there is an indication of how long it will take to complete the module so learners can pace their learning.
1. Use Computing Devices
1.1 Use the Mouse
1.2 Identify Computer Devices
1.3 Operate a Computer and Printer
1.4 Use Computing Devices Test
2. Navigate an Operating System
2.1 Examine the Windows Operating System
2.2 Use Windows and the Windows 7 Operating System
2.3 Use Personalization Features & Access Software Programs
2.4 Navigate an Operating System Test
3. Use a Keyboard Effectively
3.1 Explore the Keyboard
3.2 Practice Keyboarding Mechanics
3.3 Use the Keyboard
3.4 Use a Keyboard Effectively Test
4. Create Documents using Word Processing Software
4.1 Explore Microsoft Word
4.2 Manage Your Documents
4.3 Edit Your Documents
4.4 Create Documents Using Word Processing Software Test
5. Demonstrate Basic Email Functions
5.1 Explore Email
5.2 Create and Send Email
5.3 Create Email Attachments
5.4 Manage Your Email Account
5.5 Examine Email Netiquette and Safety
5.6 Demonstrate Basic Email Functions Test
6. Perform Basic File Management Techniques
6.1 Create and Organize Files
6.2 How to Manage and Back Up Files
6.3 Search Files and Folders
6.4 Perform Basic File Management Techniques Test
7. Use the Internet
7.1 Access the Internet
7.2 Search the Internet
7.3 Use the Internet Test
8. Explore Social Media
8.1 Explore Social Media
8.2 Create an Online Identity
8.3 Social Media Communication and Etiquette
8.4 Explore Social Media Test
9. Manage Personal Data
9.1 Surf the Internet Securely
9.2 Identify Security Features and Threats
9.3 Use Security Software
9.4 Manage Personal Data Test
GCF Learn Free
GCF Learn Free
This is a program by the Goodwill Community Foundation and Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina. Everything at GCFLearnFree.org is free. There are 125 tutorials on a variety of topics. Most topics are about using digital technology. It is easy to get lost on this site – in a good way – by following links at the end of each tutorial.
If learners prefer to learn using a tablet, Kindle or smartphone, there are apps available at https://www.gcflearnfree.org/mobileapps.
There are teaching guides. Here is the technology one: https://www.gcflearnfree.org/gcfteacherguides/technology/1/
The technology guide includes “eight learning plans you can follow and adapt for instruction in a classroom, with a small group, or with individuals.”
Some of the tutorial sections are text heavy and some literacy learners may find it challenging to access the information. Some have a video as well as text and some are mostly by video. You can tell which ones have video by the TV symbol.
When you view a section of the tutorial, you get a check mark so you can tell which ones you have looked at.
You can open an account to keep better track of what you have done but you do not need to.
This site also offers online courses. You do need to start an account to take the courses.
GCF Learn Free Technology Basics
GCF Learn Free Technology Basics
www.gcflearnfree.org/subjects/technology
Intimidated by computers? New to email and the Internet? Curious about operating systems and online safety? We’ve got the information you need to better understand computers and how they work in our Technology Basics series. Learn more about using web browsers, navigating Windows 10 and OS X, and staying safe online here. You’ll be tech savvy in no time!
Topics:
Computers, Email, Internet, Online Safety
Operating Systems: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Here are a few of the other topics available –
Social Media
Blog Basics
Facebook
Facebook for iPhone
Google Hangouts
Instagram
LinkedIn Basics
Meetup
Pinterest
Skype
Snapchat
Twitter
WhatsApp
YouTube
WordPress Resources
Devices
Android Basics
Chromebook Basics
iPad Basics
iPhone Basics
Mobile Device Tips
Digital Skills
Search Better
Tech Savvy Tips
Use Info. Correctly
Get Stuff Done
Photos and Graphics
Digital Photography
Image Editing 101
Photoshop Basics
Beg. Graphic Design
Using the Cloud
Dropbox
Etsy
Google Account
Google Docs
Google Drive
Google Maps
Google Sheets
Google Slides
Google Tips
Microsoft Account
OneDrive
Prezi
GCF Learn Free Microsoft Office Series
GCF Learn Free Microsoft Office Series
www.gcflearnfree.org/subjects/office
Office Tips
Excel Formulas
Excel Tips
Word Tips
PowerPoint Tips
Office 2016
Access 2016
Excel 2016
PowerPoint 2016
Word 2016
Office 2013
Access 2013
Excel 2013
PowerPoint 2013
Word 2013
Office 2010
Access 2010
Excel 2010
Outlook 2010
PowerPoint 2010
Publisher 2010
Word 2010
Office 2007
Access 2007
Excel 2007
PowerPoint 2007
Word 2007
Office 2003
Access 2003
Excel 2003
Office 2003 Basics
Outlook 2003
PowerPoint 2003
Publisher 2003
Word 2003
Office XP
Access XP
Excel XP
Office XP Basics
PowerPoint XP
Word XP
Office 2000
Access 2000
Excel 2000
Office 2000 Basics
PowerPoint 2000
Word 2000
The Digital Skills Library
The Digital Skills Library
Activities from the sites listed above are also accessible through the Digital Skills Library where they have been indexed and are searchable.
Five More
Five More
Digital Literacy from Meta (Facebook)
Digital Literacy from Meta (Facebook)
from Youth and Media at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
www.facebook.com/safety/educators
Find lesson plans designed by experts to help young people develop skills needed to navigate the digital world, critically consume information and responsibly produce and share content. Designed to be interactive and engaging, these lessons involve group discussions, activities, quizzes, and games that have been built in consultation with teens. Use them either collectively or individually in the classroom, as part of after-school programs, or even at home.
This curriculum is created for teens but much of the material will work well for adult learners of all ages. This is not a curriculum for independent learning - it uses discussions and project work to engage learners in exploring and thinking critically about how they use technology in their daily lives and for learning. It is more about the why and the how than the what of computer basics.
The topics are:
Security
Community Engagement
Privacy & Reputation
Safety & Wellbeing
Information Literacy
Positive Behavior
Identity Exploration
Content Production
Norquest College Basic Computer Skills
Norquest College Basic Computer Skills
www.norquest.ca/about-us/resources/basic-computer-skills.aspx
These videos will help you learn basic computer skills through stories and practice. Each video is short. After watching the stories and doing the activities, you will know how to use your computer for learning.
The lessons start by telling you how many parts are in the lesson and how long it will take you. The lessons will not keep playing if you click on another tab in your browser and in some lessons you cannot advance until you have completed a video (you can fast forward, of course) or activity. This can make it time-consuming to review the material. There are no instructor resources.
I find these lessons do not work in Firefox for me but work well in Chrome.
You can download the SCORM files and add these activities to a SCORM compliant learning management system (Brightspace or Moodle).
Some of the topics are specific to Norquest College but here are topics that can work for learners everywhere:
Body and machine (this lesson uses a video that has no audio - the GCFL version is here)
Mouse operations
Mouse practice
Touchpad operations
Log in log on
Using a keyboard
Navigating on screen
Photo sharing
Active learning in a webinar
More webinar activity (whiteboards)
Using the shift key
Shutting down your laptop properly
No food or drink on your laptop
Carrying your laptop safely
Cleaning your laptop
Cord management
Forms
Completing online forms
Online forms
Drop down
Radio button and checkbox
Putting it all together
21 Things for Students
21 Things for Students
21Things4Students is an online resource to help students improve their technology proficiency as they prepare for success in the real world. Teachers value 21Things4Students because it's experiential, relevant, applicable and adaptable. Students say they love this class!
The lessons use video with close captioning with PowerPoint and PDF versions and links to resources. Students go on Quests to explore topics. It is designed for children but there is a lot of good material here for use with adult learners. I put it in the tutorials section rather than the curriculum section for that reason because LBS instructors may prefer to use some material rather than the whole curriculum.
The companion site - 21 Things for Teachers - provides a single site of free resources and tutorials which meet the international educational technology standards, and offer any-time training to be used for professional development. Its resources are designed to serve a variety of models for professional development. It is designed to help educators make connections between technology tools and best practice instructional strategies. It provides a chance for you to collaborate with fellow teachers in a cohort or as an individual to learn more about 21st century technology skills in a supportive environment with a highly skilled instructor.
The International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) awarded the 21things4students site the ISTE Seal of Alignment for 2017-2019 indicating the site resources meets the technology standards for students.
The ISTE team did a comprehensive review of the 21Things and the Quests. Their summary conclusion states:
"CONCLUSION - Reviewers concluded that collectively, the 21things4students resource is an impressive resource that provides a comprehensive ladder of skills critical for students to be successful in the digital learning landscape. Students who complete the 21Things curriculum will be in an excellent position to further develop their skills and grow their effective use of technology as a tool for learning."
Shop With Trust (old school)
Shop With Trust (old school)
www.shopwithtrust.com/computer/Beginner/Internet-Help-for-Beginners.html
These are online text-based lessons that require pretty good reading skills.
12 Lesson Tutorial
Lesson 1: Computer Mouse - How to use it and when to push the buttons
Lesson 2: Hyperlinks - How to open a new web page
Lesson 3: Back Button - How to return to the previous web page
Lesson 4: Windows - How to manage windows on your screen
Lesson 5: Web Browser - What are Internet Explorer, Firefox & Safari?
Lesson 6: Address Bar - How to enter a web address
Lesson 7: Web Page vs. Web Site - Learn the difference between the two
Lesson 8: Menu Bar - Access to everything you need
Lesson 9: Bookmark Favorites - Save your favorite web sites
Lesson 10: Drop-Down-Lists - How to make selections on web sites
Lesson 11: Javascript - Why some web sites do not work for you
Lesson 12: Web-Accessibility - Problems reading web sites
Follow up lessons:
When you have completed the 12 lessons and begin building comfort using the internet, we highly recommend you take the Internet Security for Beginners tutorial. We also provide an Email for Beginners tutorial and Advanced Lessons to take advantage of features on your computer and the internet that will improve your overall experience.
NorthStar Learning Guide
NorthStar Learning Guide
www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/external-resources
This guide contains instructional materials designed to help learners build the basic computer skills defined by the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessments.
Each module links to resources from other curricula such as GCFL. Some are video-based and some are text-based ... and some have gone missing.
Text-based resources
Text-based resources
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