A summer program designed to provide high school students with an introduction to digital literacy, critical soft skills and on-line survey questionnaires to better understand each student’s learning styles and potential career options. Covers a wide range of topics. 

• Context: Provide an introduction to Digital Skills Literacy, as a combination of both learning and practical applications relating to computers and software. You will need to provide your own laptop or computer.

• Purpose: To provide overall preparedness for High School Students.

• Quantity: Follow the scope as shown below.

• Quality: Stay at a basic / intermediate level, but covering many different areas to increase your area of exposure.

• Resources: Carmine Ciriello and Rosie Ciriello will be your main contacts.

• Time : Various options will be made available. The daily blocks will include teaching / lecturing (together, on video or in-person), and the rest is homework/review (on your own).

Scope

1. Preparation (prior to the course)

• Learning style quiz

• Pre-course survey

• Prepare supplies: For on-line virtual offerings, student requires their own laptop / computer, video camera and microphone.

2. Learning and Exploration

• Microsoft Excel 

• Discover Yourself and Career Exploration through various interactive surveys.

• Basics of AI and Technological Safety

• Various soft skills, preparation for interviews and personal finance.

3. Course Curriculum

Pre-Defined Content

• Discover Yourself & Career Exploration

  • Self-assessments: skills, interests, strengths

  • Career clusters & industries

  • How interests map to career & study paths

• Task and Time Management

  • Task Assignment 

  • Time Management

  • Creating study schedules

• Excel Essentials

  • Basic formulas (SUM, AVERAGE, MIN/MAX, IF statements)

  • Formatting & conditional formatting

  • Creating simple charts and graphs

• Personal Finance

  • Understanding Income

  • Budgeting Basics

  • Banking and Debt

  • Applying for Bursaries and Loans

• General Soft Skills

  • Leadership

  • Influence

  • Giving/Receiving Feedback

• Practice / Mock Interviews

  • Elements of a good interview

  • Practice session for each participant

• AI Tools for Students

  • What is AI and Why it Matters

  • The 2 types of searches

  • Practical Applications; AI Safety

  • Misunderstandings and Limitations

  • Hands-on: Using AI to support your studies

• Technological Safety

  • Introduction and Threat Definition

  • Password Management

  • Post Hacking

  • Multi-Factor Identification

  • Using AI to help identify risks

  • Non-Email scams

Customizable Content (for the last half day)

Parents and students will be given an opportunity to suggest their own topics and/or choose from a list of existing topics for the last half day of the course.

• • PowerPoint Essentials

    • Introduction, including fonts and formats.

    • Insert: Pictures, Tables, Shapes and SmartArt.

    • Slide Show and View

  • Effective Presentations

    • Do’s and Don’ts for PowerPoint presentations

    • Do’s and Don’ts for Public Speaking

  • Canva & Digital Design

    • Intro to Canva: templates, graphics, fonts, layouts

    • Design principles: color, contrast, readability

    • Hands-on project: Create a poster, social media graphic, or presentation slide

    • Peer feedback & iterative improvement

  • Word Essentials.

    • Word Topics

    • Résumé & cover letter workshop (for jobs/volunteering)

    • Academic résumé / student profile: courses, grades, extracurricular, achievements

  • Introduction to Lean Management (Continuous Improvement)

  • Mental Health & Wellness

  • Other topics suggested by the parents / students.

  • Please note: Only the top voted topics will be included in the last session.

Confirmed dates for 2026:

• Mon, July 20 to Thurs, July 23 (4 days; 10am-3pm). Virtual - Google Meets.

• Tues, Aug 4 to Fri, Aug 7 (4 days; 10am-3pm). Virtual - Google Meets.

Cost: $500 + HST, per student

Includes PDF versions of all course material and a digital graduation certificate. Output will also include a PowerPoint document, summarizing key results from the various in-class exercises. Handy reference guide for both parents and student. 

Inquire about our various early bird and rebate programs.