Essential Digital Skills Entry Level 1 (KEN26S009)

Curriculum area: Digital Skills

• Start date: Wednesday, 6 January 2027
• End date: Wednesday, 5 May 2027
• Number of weeks: 15
• Time: 18:00 - 21:00
• Delivery type: Online
• Venue: Online Delivery
• Tutor: Dawn Sharples
• Free Course

This offering is not yet available for enrolment, please return within three months of the start date to enrol. Contact your local centre using the details below for more information.

About the course

This new qualification is a fully funded national entitlement which offers adults the opportunity to develop their digital skills based on the national standards for Digital skills. It covers 5 areas: Using devices and handling information, Creating and editing, Communicating, Transacting and being safe and responsible online.

How the course will be delivered

The tutor will use a variety of teaching methods to accommodate different learning styles and ensure that you achieve your full potential. The course will be taught in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, where individual needs are catered for. Teaching learning and assessment are carried out through formally taught sessions and demonstration, and supported with worksheets and exercises, home study, feedback and evaluation. In order to achieve this qualification you will be required to complete a skills based and a knowledge based online test.

*Your class is delivered online using Zoom which means you can learn from the comfort of your own home. Your Tutor will send an invitation to join the class each week. This will be by email on a secure link. The class is delivered in real time. To get the most from your online lessons, we ask you to follow these ten guidelines: (1) If you are not working from home, use a location where it is safe to connect. (2) It is better to join your class using a laptop or a tablet. We may be able to help by loaning a laptop if you do not have one. Ask your centre for details. Mobile phone screens are not big enough to read shared documents and it is harder to move between the activities, so we do not recommend using one for a class. (3) Find a suitable quiet space, have access to a desk or table, have resources such as paper and pen to hand to support your learning. (4) Be prompt – we aim to start and finish on time. (5) Please be aware of what your tutor and peers can see. Ideally blur your background or use one of the standard, freely available, backgrounds on Zoom. If you require support with this, please don’t hesitate to speak to your Tutor. (6) Please dress appropriately and do not share inappropriate websites or materials. (7) Turn your camera on at all times. This is a safeguarding requirement and being able to see each other’s faces and reactions will help you to get to know each other and work as a group. It will also help your tutor see if anyone doesn’t understand. (8) Please try to minimise any background noise. Mute your microphone if it is noisy at your end of the connection and avoid interrupting other people. (9) Engage with the learning activities and your tutor and peers. You will enjoy the class more and increase your learning if you are fully involved and open to the challenge. If you do not understand something, please let your tutor know either by saying something or by private message on Zoom. (10) If you are completing a qualification that is assessed through a multiple-choice final assessment, please be aware that the assessment must be completed at one of our Cumbria Adult Learning Centres.

What you'll need to bring

A Notebook and pen and glasses if you need them. You could also bring a memory stick (USB/flash drive) to save your work to if you like.

Entry requirements

The qualification is designed for students with little or no digital skills and there are no formal entry requirements. It is, however, useful for learners to be able to turn on and control a device, connect it to the internet and open browsers and applications. You will need to complete an initial assessment with the centre to ensure this is the right level of qualification for you. You may like to do Beginners Computers before starting this course or have already completed the Essential digital skills Entry 3 qualification.

Next steps

On successful completion of this course you can progress onto the Level 2 Digital & IT Skills Qualification, or many of our other Digital Skills courses and workshops.

Additional transferable skills:

Self Confidence, Independent Thinking Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Communication Skills

Contact us

Centre: Kendal Adult Learning
Contact number: 01539 713257
Email address: kendaladultlearning@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk