Learn Online and Connect

This project is a partnership between Lead Scotland who understand the barriers to learning essential digital skills experienced by disabled people and carers and the Open University (OU) who will host an accessible online Lead Scotland course on their OpenLearn Create platform. We will widen access to learning and reduce isolation by connecting disabled people with each other and with opportunities to learn and progress.

We will bring together and support disabled people to learn essential digital skills whilst they co-produce an online learning resource which will become hosted on the OU platform. The project will engage 70 disabled people during the development and trialling phase and 150 learners per year for a further 2 years. These 70 people consist of: 5 participants as the core group leading the project supported by a paid staff member working discretely on this project. A further 15 disabled people shaping the content/course design, a further 50 from across Scotland, trialling learning resources, simulating the online experience. As well as the legacy of 150 Lead learners per year undertaking the course one to one and in small groups we will actively encourage partners to support their clients through the programme.

Lead Scotland will loan devices if people don't have access to their own from our pool of equipment. Not only will participants build knowledge, develop understanding and motivation, improve their confidence and skills along the way, but they can claim involvement on their CV from this course becoming hosted on the OU OpenLearn Create platform as an active legacy from this work. The course will be accessible to learners throughout Scotland, beyond the 370 Lead learners identified above.

Course outcomes will be decided by the group and course production will be facilitated by a Lead Scotland staff member and volunteers, with guidance and technical support from the OU. Outcomes are likely to cover cyber security, free accessibility options to learn how to personalise your device. The course will have video content and mixed methods of assessment so that people can check their understanding and gain a digital badge.

This course will be for disabled people, written by disabled people, which will stand it apart from other basic digital skills courses.

This project widens access to learners who stand to gain from signing up to other free courses, once they have the initial knowledge, digital skills, confidence and trust to go online and connect.