UPCOMING MEETINGS

Thursday, September 17th, 2026

Beginning Computer Skills for Adult Learners

12:00 - 1:00 PST

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Where do you start with adult language learners with little prior computer or tech experience? National curricula like NorthStar Digital Literacy or Dart are helpful, but often do not provide enough scaffolding and practice of the foundational tech skills for emergent readers, speakers, and tech users.

 

Literacy Source has created a Beginning Computer Skills class that aligns primarily to the Gateway Skills identified in the Bridges Digital Skills framework, as well to the digital skills used in most of our in-person and on-line classes. In this workshop, we outline the units and some of the instructional routines we use in our Beginning Computer Skills class.

 

The Beginning Computer Skills class focuses on teaching the foundational or gateway computer skills of typing, mousing and navigation, using a web browser, email and passwords, and Zoom video conferencing (which is in the Communicative Skills domain in the Bridges Framework). These skills are included in the course because they are the Gateway skills adult learners need to use technology independently, and to access online learning, such as adult education classes. They're also transferable to a number of other domains, such as using a housing portal, communicating with a health care provider, and many other 21st century digital literacy tasks.

 

In this workshop, we give a brief outline of some of our instructional units. We also will model some of the ways that we create digital resilience routines that support learners in deepening their digital skills and their ability to do digital tasks independently. Participants will come away with specific curriculum ideas and instructional routines for teaching beginning computer skills to adult (or youth) learners.