Module 1

Basic Digital Skills

In order to participate in further education or in the workforce, you need to have basic digital skills. The first module in this course is designed to ensure you have the skills you will need to complete the Better Jobs Ontario application, and apply to and attend training or education. Your instructor will discuss digital training needs with you.

Skills you may need:

Basic Computer Skills: You should be able to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, and the internet with ease. This means you should know how to open, close, and save files, use a web browser, navigate web pages, and perform basic troubleshooting.
Online Communication Skills: You may to communicate via email, chat, or video conferencing. You should be comfortable using these tools and know how to communicate effectively in a professional manner.
Familiarity with Online Forms: You should be comfortable filling out forms, know how to save and submit them, and understand the different types of information that may be required.
Knowledge of Document Formats: You will need to know how to upload and download documents online. You should know how to save documents in different formats, such as PDF or Microsoft Word, and understand how to compress large files if needed.
Internet Security: It's important to be aware of internet security risks and take precautions to protect your personal information. You should know how to create secure passwords, avoid phishing scams, and protect your computer from malware.

Activity #1: Review the Presentation and Complete the Digital Activities

BJO Going online powerpoint.pptx

Activity #2: Uploading and Downloading Files

Filling out Better Jobs Ontario applications, training institution applications and other institutions such as banks and government services all require clients to upload and download documents. It is vital you gain these skills so your application can be assessed without issues.

Uploading means moving data from one computer system, usually your own, to another computer system, perhaps the college where you want to attend, via the internet. Examples might include photos, posts, digital copies of your transcripts or receipts etc. When uploading certain files it is important to label your file clearly. See the unit on File Organization for more tips and suggestions to keep your digital files organized.

Downloading is moving a copy of a file from a source on the internet to your computer via the internet. Such files might be songs, images, forms etc. Again it is important to label and save these downloads to your computer in a consistent and organized manner so that you can access them easily later.

Complete the tutorial on uploading and downloading at GCF Learn Free by clicking on the link below:

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/downloading-and-uploading/1/

Activity #3: Learn About File Organization

It would appear to be an easy task to save a file to a computer but with ever changing technology, multiple devices and users, saving files in an easily accessible manner can be challenging.

You can store saved files locally on your desktop computer, laptop or mobile device.

Or you can store files on the cloud. The cloud is the internet and saving files on the cloud makes them accessible from anywhere and does not use storage space in your personal system.

Watch the following to learn about the cloud:

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/understanding-the-cloud/1/

Regardless of where you store your files you want to be able to find them easily and quickly.

Below are suggested ways to keep your files organized.

1. Keep all your documents in one place such as “My Documents” then use folders and sub folders to further categorize. Think of this like storing all files in a filing cabinet. The “My Documents” location is the filing cabinet.

2. Use logical, clear names for your folders. Keep folders titles clear and simple. For example use “Taxes” instead of Revenue and Taxation or codes like CRA. Codes and abbreviations can be easily forgotten over time. These are the main folders in your filing cabinet.

3. Create sub-folders within your folders that are more specific. This is called "nesting" and it makes it easier to find information. Within the Tax folder you might have sub folders for each year, e.g., 2022, 2023 etc.

4. Follow naming rules when saving files. Special characters are not permitted by most computers. File names are limited to 260 characters by Windows so keep names clear and to the point. Use standard abbreviations, like "Jan" for January when possible.

5. Be specific. The goal is to understand the contents of the document without opening it. Calling a document “letter Jan 2022” does not specify much. What kind of letter? A better name might be, “notice of overdue taxes Jan 2022”.

For the purposes of Better Jobs Ontario documents, it is suggested you create a folder in your documents called “Better Jobs Ontario” to keep all the documentation, correspondence etc.

Within that folder create a “Documents” subfolder to keep all the files you will need to upload for your application. Name each file with your last name first initial and details. See example:

Smith J high school transcript

Smith J record of employment

Smith J labour market career assessment

And so on.

This way all documentation needed for Better Jobs Ontario applications and post-secondary applications etc. will be easily accessible for upload and reference, saving you time and stress.

6. File as you go. It is time saving in the long run to file and save documents correctly as you proceed. Orphan files, those that have saved to your desktop etc. require time and consideration to locate and save and can be easily missed or deleted.

7. Cull your files regularly. Delete old or no longer useful files on a regular basis. Some people create an “Old” or “Inactive” folder and move files there on a daily basis then cull that folder monthly. In this way the task is not very time consuming nor overwhelming.

8. Back up your files often. Backing up your computer refers to the copying of files or databases to a secondary location for preservation. This secondary location might be the cloud, an auxiliary storage such as USB.

Activity 4: Create a Better Jobs Ontario Folder

Create a folder called Better Jobs Ontario on your computer or on a cloud-based service. As you work through this course you will have several documents that you need to save to your folder.