ISSofBC recently launched their Digital Literacy Curriculum Resource website to aid English language instructors and those in the Settlement field in helping newcomer clients overcome digital literacy barriers.

The Digital Literacy Curriculum Resource consists of 7 Modules covering a range of digital skills which are essential to building a foundation of digital literacy for newcomers working at Literacy to CLB 6 levels of English. Each Module contains a fully developed digital literacy lesson, digital task with self-assessment tool, PBLA task with assessment tool, and extra practice activities that learners can use on their own time to practice and strengthen digital skills once core instruction has been delivered.

The modules cover: mouse and navigating, keyboarding, online skills – basic, online skills, email, mobile phones, and safety and security.

The recommended starting place includes:

• The Best Practices document is a set of key guidelines and practical suggestions for incorporating digital literacy support and instruction into current LINC programming and/or setting up a stand along digital literacy course for newcomers.
• The Instructor Manual describes the curriculum resource in detail.
• Videos of Instructor Guidelines are also available.

The core resources – needs assessment materials, teaching materials and extra practice activities for students – are all password protected to ensure they are used as intended. Three separate passwords are needed to access these resources. If you work for a publicly funded organization and would like to request access, contact ISSofBC.

The ISSofBC Digital Literacy Curriculum Resource is made possible through funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the hard work and contributions of a number of dedicated people at ISSofBC, consultants at University of British Columbia (UBC) Learning Exchange, and partner organizations Burnaby English Language Centre (BELC) and Vancouver Community College (VCC).