Adult Skills and Community Learning

Course content

It's thought that one in five adults lack the basic digital skills they need for everyday life and work. To fill this gap we've created our functional digital skills for work and life course. This will help you gain basic digital skills and knowledge needed for work, study, or for daily digital tasks. These tasks could include ordering prescriptions, filling in forms online or uploading a meter reading.

The entry level 3 course is aimed at adults who have limited digital skills and knowledge and don't know key terms. It will:

  • Help you to develop a positive attitude towards the use of digital skills.
  • Allow you to apply knowledge and skills to real life scenarios. Some of these may be new and not familiar to you.
  • Allow you to do tasks online. This may be to complete online forms, upload documents or use comparison sites.

During the course there will be plenty of hands-on tasks where you'll engage with real time and simulated tasks. These will help you with online transactions and build your confidence as you develop your digital skills.

This course will help you to:

  • Develop essential digital skills necessary for work, life, and further study.
    • use tools that change font size and allow voice commands that help make things easier for you to use.
    • understand that the internet allows you to access data and content. That you connect to the internet through Wi-Fi. How to connect your device to a safe and secure Wi-Fi network.
    • know how to keep passwords and personal data safe.
  • Develop transacting skills necessary for work and life.
    • understand how to set up an account online.
    • access and use public services online, including filling in forms
    • understand different payment systems, such as credit/debit card, direct bank transfer, and phone accounts. This is so you can make payments for goods or services online
  • Interact with digital devices and handle data correctly.
    • understand and evaluate what data or content may, or may not, be reliable
    • understand and conform with your work policy for IT use.
  • Create, edit, and store digital content.
    • understand what cloud storage is and use it to organise files
    • synchronise and share data across different devices
    • use Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, or similar, to create a shared working document
  • Share content and talk to others using digital devices.
    • talk with friends and family using messaging and video tools including WhatsApp or email.
    • use digital tools to meet with, share and work with colleagues
    • share documents with others by attaching them to an email
  • Be safe, confident, and responsible online
    • use the internet to find things out that helps you solve problems
    • use online tutorials, FAQs, chat tools and advice forums to solve problems. These will also improve your skills in using devices, software, and app's
    • understand the risks and threats involved online and the importance of working securely
    • understand that online activity produces a permanent record which could be accessed by others. These can then be used both now and in the future

You'll also develop the following skills for work:

  • Work as part of a team, sharing ideas and helping peers to complete a task
  • Have a positive attitude to plan your own work and complete it within a timeframe
  • Be a good listener and follow instructions
  • Be resilient and have the ability to stick with a task, even if things don’t go to plan
  • Literacy and numeracy skills will be supported throughout the course

Course delivery 

  • 2 x 3 hours face to face sessions per week over 11 weeks
  • Classroom based delivery. You'll be encouraged to practice your digital skills away from the sessions
  • At least 30 minutes of tasks to be completed after each session
  • You'll be given access to Teams for Education. This is an online tool where you will access resources, take part in discussions, and submit work when applicable
  • This is a nationally accredited course therefore you are required to complete an assessment at the end. We'll support you to prepare for this. Please let us know if you have any concerns about this. On completion you'll receive a  Functional Digital Skills at Entry 3 certificate.

What do you need?

  • Access to a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or computer. This is not essential although desirable
  • Folder, paper or notebook and pen
  • Time. At least one hour a week to complete tasks set during each session

Entry requirements

It's vital that you:

  • Have a commitment to learning and want to improve your digital skills

Learners will have already completed at least one of the following with Adult Skills and Community Learning:

  • Information Advice and Guidance and initial assessment on the BKSB or Microsoft software
  • Getting Started with Digital Skills course, or Setting Up Microsoft 365 course

The level that you study at will be determined by your initial assessment results.

You'll be given an Office 365 account. It's vital you have your own mobile phone that can receive text messages to activate this.

Course fees

This course is free for all learners aged 19+ with no or low digital skills.

How to apply

Progression

  • Digital and IT Skills Level 1 or 2