Before this course: Power User Skills: shortcuts and automation (course 13.8.3). You already use shortcuts, desktops, clipboard history, batch renames, remaps and simple automations on your own computer. Course 13.8 taught files, search and screenshots, and course 13.8.2 taught settings, updates, Wi-Fi, storage and backups. Now you teach those skills to other adults, often people who are nervous, short on time or new to the language. Menu names can differ by version: when a name is not where this course says, use the search box in Settings and check the official help page. A line marked "Tip" is practical teaching advice, not a research finding.
The digital skills teacher's job
A swimming teacher does not swim for you. They stand in the water next to you, show one move, and let you try it. A digital skills teacher does the same with a computer.
Two public frameworks help you decide what to teach and in what order:
| Framework | Who publishes it | How it is built |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Digital Skills framework | UK government (GOV.UK) | A base layer of digital foundation skills, then five skills: Communicating, Handling information and content, Transacting, Problem solving, Being safe and legal online. Each skill has "Skills for life" and "Additional skills for work"; safety uses one combined "Skills for life and work" section. |
| DigComp 3.0 | European Commission Joint Research Centre | Five areas: Information search, evaluation and management; Communication and collaboration; Content creation; Safety, wellbeing and responsible use; Problem identification and solving. 21 competences in all, and four proficiency levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Highly advanced. |
- The UK framework says it is for everyone in the UK who supports adults to improve their essential digital skills. You can still borrow its structure anywhere as a checklist.
- DigComp 3.0 is the fifth version of the framework.
- Tip: start every learner with a short intake: what device they use (Windows, Mac or Chromebook, phone or tablet), what they want to do (for example "video call my grandson", "apply for a job online"), and what worries them.
- Tip: write one goal per session in the learner's own words, then map it to a framework skill so you can see the gaps.
- Make an intake sheet: name (or a code), device and system, goal in their words, what worries them, what they can already do.
- Turn the five UK skills (or the five DigComp areas) into a checklist with 3 to 4 small tasks each, for example "send an email with an attachment".
- Meet one volunteer learner and fill in the intake sheet together.
- Ask the learner to try three tasks from the checklist while you watch. Do not help unless they ask.
- Tick what they did alone, what they did with help, and what they could not do yet.
- Agree on one goal for the next session.
- Check: you have a filled intake sheet, a ticked checklist and one goal written in the learner's words.
Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.
Read the video script
[Host] "Teaching computers to adults starts with one question: what do you want to do?"
[Text on screen: Communicating / Handling information / Transacting / Problem solving / Being safe and legal online] "The UK framework splits digital skills into five parts, plus the basics."
[Screen: intake sheet with a goal written in the learner's words] "Write their goal in their own words. Then find the gap."
[Host] "You are not there to show off. You are there so they can do it alone."
Build your skills checklist from one of the two frameworks and run an intake with one adult volunteer (a family member is fine). Keep the sheet for your final project, with private details removed.
ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude
Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.
For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.
I'm learning "Digital Skills Teacher: teach adults" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "The digital skills teacher's job". What the lesson teaches: - Framework - Who publishes it - How it is built - Essential Digital Skills framework - UK government (GOV.UK) - A base layer of digital foundation skills, then five skills: Communicating, Handling information and content, Transacting, Problem solving, Being safe and legal online. Each skill has "Skills for life" and "Additional skills for work"; safety uses one combined "Skills for life and work" section. - DigComp 3.0 - European Commission Joint Research Centre - Five areas: Information search, evaluation and management; Communication and collaboration; Content creation; Safety, wellbeing and responsible use; Problem identification and solving. 21 competences in all, and four proficiency levels: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Highly advanced. - The UK framework says it is for everyone in the UK who supports adults to improve their essential digital skills. You can still borrow its structure anywhere as a checklist. - DigComp 3.0 is the fifth version of the framework. - Tip: start every learner with a short intake: what device they use (Windows, Mac or Chromebook, phone or tablet), what they want to do (for example "video call my grandson", "apply for a job online"), and what worries them. - Tip: write one goal per session in the learner's own words, then map it to a framework skill so you can see the gaps. The exercise I'm working on: Build your skills checklist from one of the two frameworks and run an intake with one adult volunteer (a family member is fine). Keep the sheet for your final project, with private details removed. I'm stuck. Please: 1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example. 2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step. 3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "The digital skills teacher's job" from the course "Digital Skills Teacher: teach adults". Here's what the lesson says: A swimming teacher does not swim for you. They stand in the water next to you, show one move, and let you try it. A digital skills teacher does the same with a computer. The activity: Build your skills checklist from one of the two frameworks and run an intake with one adult volunteer (a family member is fine). Keep the sheet for your final project, with private details removed. Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words. Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time.
Sources
- GOV.UK, Essential digital skills framework: www.gov.uk/government/publications/essential-digital-skills-framework/
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, The DigComp framework: joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/projects-and-activities/education-a
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp): joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/projects-and-activities/education-a
Teach hands-on: the learner drives
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Set up accessibility tools for learners
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Teach scam safety
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Give remote help safely
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Write handouts anyone can follow
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Assess, review and lead a programme
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Final project
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Quiz
What are the five skills in the UK Essential Digital Skills framework?
Communicating, handling information and content, transacting, problem solving, and being safe and legal online.
How many proficiency levels does DigComp 3.0 have?
Four: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Highly advanced.
Who should hold the mouse in a hands-on lesson?
The learner.
In the Gluu Essentials study, what went up and what did not change?
Skills went up; confidence (including in spotting scams) did not change.
Why is that study not proof that the programme works everywhere?
It had no control group and many people missed the follow-up.
How do you open the accessibility settings on Windows with the keyboard?
Windows logo key + U.
Which keys turn ChromeVox on or off on a Chromebook?
Ctrl + Alt + z.
What should you always teach before leaving a learner with a new accessibility tool?
How to turn it off.
Name CISA's four core safety steps.
Avoid and report phishing, use strong passwords, use multifactor authentication and a password manager, update software.
When is it safe to let someone connect with Quick Assist?
Only when you started the contact yourself.
What contrast ratio does WCAG 1.4.3 ask for normal text?
At least 4.5:1.
Where should menu names in your handouts come from?
The official Microsoft, Apple or Google help pages.
Final exam
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Certificate
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