Basic digital skill teaching material for seniors (DIAL)

Aims of the tool

‘Computer Essentials’ module aims to:
- Work effectively on the computer desktop using icons, windows.
- Adjust the main operating system settings and use built-in help features.
- Create a simple document and print an output.
- Know about the main concepts of file management and be able to efficiently organize files and folders.

‘Hardware’ is an important module to help seniors citizens understand the basic practical aspects about mobile phones, general IT hardware (cabling) and networking. In addition, it is very important for seniors to teach them how to create pictures and videos and how to share them with friends and family and to explain them the different types of networks.

‘Communication & Collaboration’ module provides all necessary material in order to teach a senior citizen the basic concepts of internet communication, more specifically concentrating on social media. The material contain information about the concept of social media communication, its range and forms. Security section contains material about internet safety, for instance, securing social media accounts, managing account private settings, recognition of fake news and virus-contained messages. The social media section provides material about specific social media (Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype,Viber) activities, for instance, account creation, messaging, engagement opportunities, data sharing, contact searching and blocking and other basic skills that are necessary to facilitate senior citizen digital integration via internet communication.

The INTERNET module in the framework was based on Intellectual Output 1 survey results. The content of questionnaires is divided into four main modules Internet, Hardware, Communication & Collaboration and Computer Essentials. This module provides information about the ‘Internet’ such as personal security how to be secure, data management how to find information online or studying online and e-mail how to create an e-mail account and how to compose an e-mail.
More specifically, seniors should have knowledge of: creating strong passwords, what to post and not to post online, applying privacy settings, searching/evaluating/managing online information, creating an e-mail account, sending/receiving/deleting an e-mail etc.

Description of the tool

The modules are available online free of charge. The learners can take a test before and after the learning process in order to test progress of their digital knowledge. The Moodle platform materials will ensure basic learning outcomes that will help a senior citizen understand how to operate with such social media as Facebook, Whatsapp, Skype and Viber. The material contain information about account creation/deletion, online engagement, messaging options, privacy options, data sharing, activity log and notification settings, contact research/blockage, data archiving etc. The main goal of one of the topics is to present and make the senior participants comfortable with the desktop of a computer and its icons as well as the different parts of a window. They will have access to material related to the purpose of the desktop and the task bar, the identification and use of common icons as well as the use of a shortcut and all information to work with a window.

All four modules are divided into detailed sections and are available on Moodle platform.