Everyone needs to feel safe and confident online. Supporting people to learn digital skills means they are more included in everyday life.
Lots of people need a helping hand to learn new technology and get online safely and confidently. Teaching people digital skills makes sure they have the tools and knowledge needed to do essential activities like connect with loved ones, bank online and avoid scams.
The good news is you don’t have to be a tech expert. We’re here to help.
Anyone can help people to learn something new about getting online. You just need to be patient, friendly, and remember to keep your hands off their device.
People retain knowledge and skills better if they put into practice what they’re learning. Taking a hands off approach when you’re showing someone how to use a device or navigating the internet will help them feel more confident at picking up their device and giving things a go when you’re not around.
The person you’re sitting with will be more motivated to learn how to use their device if you show them how it will have a positive effect on their everyday life.
Does the person like gardening? Show them a gardening website. Cooking? Show them some cooking tutorials on YouTube.
Relating skills back to real life examples will also help motivate people to learn more.
Patience is key when showing someone anything new for the first time, and using a device and the internet is no different. People learn in different ways and at different speeds. Some will pick it up straight away while others like to go over things a few times to make sure they’ve got it right. Appreciating this and congratulating them on little milestones will help keep people on track and their confidence increasing.
Top Tip: Check out our summary of resources available to help someone learn.
If someone’s never used a device or the internet before, they won’t become confident using it on their own straight away. As with any new skill, it takes time to develop the knowledge needed to feel good about using the internet. Managing their expectations will help prevent them from feeling like they’re not understanding it quick enough or that it’s too much to learn.
There are lots of resources and tools on the internet to help people get to grips with their device and the internet. Have a look around and see what you can find to help them broaden their knowledge and increase their confidence.
Top Tip: Check out our summary of resources available to help someone learn.
Teaching anyone a new skill can be challenging. It requires patience and time. Sometimes it can be difficult to find enough of both. Fortunately, there is free, local support.
The Be Connected Partner map has details of community organisations in the Be Connected Network that all share a passion for digital inclusion. You can use the map on the Be Connected website to find organisations near you that are part of our Network.
You can also contact us to be connected with a community organisation in our network, or to find out more about becoming a digital mentor.
Our network run digital inclusion programs that support people to get online safely and confidently. Community organisations in our network get access to free resources, information, training and grant funding so they can run programs that support their community.
You don’t need to be an organisation focused on technology to support people.
You don’t need to have an IT expert on your team to deliver our programs.
You just need to be motivated, looking to inspire others and have a friendly and welcoming attitude to teach and support people.
We have a diverse network of partners around Australia who are passionate about digital inclusion and supporting people in their communities. To join our network just need to follow some simple steps and add your organisation information.
We have small grants to support organisations to help people in their community. Every grant has different objectives and groups you have to support. You can be part of many of them at the same time.
We have a whole range of free resources to help you, your team, volunteers, and digital mentors to support people and prepare great digital skills sessions. They’re ready to use, so you can just pick them up and go.
Digital mentors are the people helping others to learn. Every month we host free training and webinars to help you get started as a digital mentor in our programs. We also have webinars so you can learn from other network partners experiences and get new ideas.
Use our free teaching resources and learner library to help the people you love to get online.
Be the first one to receive all the information about our webinars, programs, news, and announcements in our fortnightly network partner newsletter.
