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Black Belt Broadband Toolkit · Page 17

Digital literacy and skills

Build confidence one task at a time. Free lessons can help you use a device, stay safe online and apply digital tools at home or work.

← Back to the toolkit

Choose a starting point

Start with a device

  • Use a mouse, keyboard or touchscreen
  • Open a browser and search
  • Create and use email
  • Join a video call

Take care of daily tasks

  • Use a patient portal or telehealth visit
  • Find reliable information
  • Complete online forms
  • Recognize scams and protect accounts

Build work skills

  • Search and apply for jobs
  • Write and format documents
  • Use spreadsheets for records
  • Share information in online meetings

Free lessons from DigitalLearn

DigitalLearn offers short, self-paced lessons on computer and internet basics, email, mobile devices, online safety and everyday applications. Select a lesson that solves a task you need to do this week. Pause and replay it as often as you like.

Start learning at DigitalLearn ↗

A simple first week: Day 1, learn to navigate a website. Day 2, practice a search. Day 3, try email. Then choose one lesson about an activity that matters to you.

Why these skills matter

A 2023 analysis by the National Skills Coalition and Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found digital skills in 92% of the job postings it studied. Earlier research found that about one third of workers lacked foundational digital skills. The analysis also linked jobs requiring at least one digital skill with higher average pay than jobs requiring none. These findings describe the national labor market, not a guaranteed wage increase for any individual.

At home, the same basic skills help with schoolwork, health care, banking and staying in touch. Training is useful even if you already have internet access.

Keep practicing with local help

  1. Choose one task that matters to you.
  2. Take a short lesson and practice the task on your own device.
  3. Ask a library, school, workforce partner or SCABCD/TUCE outreach contact about local help when you need it.
Sources and further reading