The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland's charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. Charity registered in Scotland SC003558. Registered office Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh EH3 6BB.
Essential digital skills
Once your learner has mastered the Foundation Digital Skills and feels confident using their device you can introduce new activities. This is where you can introduce online tasks that meet the learner’s interests and needs. You can link these activities to the Essential Digital Skills checklist. A person should have Foundation Digital Skills before progressing to Essential Digital Skills.
There are 5 skills in this framework:
- Communicating
- Handling information and content
- Transacting
- Problem solving
- Being safe, legal and confident online
Each of these 5 skills have ‘tasks’ that demonstrate a person has that skill. These skills can be separated into skills for life and skills for work. You can amend these tasks to customise them for different platforms that are relevant to your learners. Not all tasks will be relevant to your learners, so focus on those that matter the most to them.
"SCVO’s Essential Digital Skills toolkit was incredibly useful when carrying out this piece, especially the checklist. We slightly adapted the Checklist; visually we made more differentiation between work skills and life skills, so we could then take out that data and look at employability, in terms of home life and income maximisation. This work has provided an evidence base for more work in the future."
Every year, Lloyds Bank publishes its Essential Digital Skills Report. This report is full of information about the progress we’re making across the UK, and where we have more work to do. You can find the most recent version here.
You can use SCVO’s Digital Skills Check-up tool to measure your own or your learner’s digital skills. This tool allows you to email a PDF copy of your results to yourself, and will also generate resources based on your learning needs. We’ve selected a few of our favourite resources below, under each skill.
Essential Digital Skills for Life
Essential Digital Skills for Life are the skills that we use in our day-to-day lives in a digital world. They are the skills that some of us make take for granted, acquired over time with no formal learning. The skills are general and not specific to any platform or device. They are the skills that build our digital confidence and enable us us to adapt to new technologies.
In Scotland, 8% of people don’t have Essential Digital Skills for Life. The Lloyds report tells us that those without Essential Digital Skills for life are more likely to be:
- Unemployed
- Aged 65 or over
- Living with at least one impairment
Essential Digital Skills for Work
Essential Digital Skills for Work are the increasingly necessary tasks many of us need to be able to do our jobs. They have similar tasks to the Skills for Life, but in a work context. Skills for Life are a prerequisite for Skills for Work as they build the foundation.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland, 18% of people don’t have Essential Digital Skills for Work. Those least likely to have Essential Digital Skills for Work are:
- Older (55-64)
- Working part-time
- Working in the service industry
- Have no formal qualifications beyond high school
Essential Digital Skill: Communicating
Keeping in touch with friends, family and loved ones is a very popular motivator for getting a device and learning to use. There are a lot of ways to do this, text messaging, social media or emails. During the pandemic, video calling services such as Zoom, Teams and Google Meet have become increasingly needed as people worked remotely or were unable to travel.
| Life tasks | Work tasks |
| I can communicate online using messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Messenger and can send photos, videos and media links | I can log in remotely to my email and other work-related communication tools |
| I can post and reply to comments on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook in a respectful and appropriate manner | I can use my organisation’s email address book to send emails to colleagues and use the ‘cc’ and ‘bcc’ options when required |
| I can create video content to be shared on social media platforms such as YouTube, Tik Tok and Snapchat | I can use digital communication tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack to communicate with colleagues |
| I can use apps such as FaceTime, Zoom and Skype to make video and audio calls | I can use digital collaboration tools such as Sharepoint and Google Docs to collaborate on work with colleagues |
| I can set up an email account and use it to communicate, collaborate and share documents with others | I can use video-conferencing tools such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams to meet online and attend training sessions and other work-related online events |
Resources
- Using Online Communication Tools (Bank of Scotland Academy)
- Socialising Safely Online – Webinar Recording (Get Safe Online)
- Socialising Online (Learn My Way)
- Your guide to social networks, apps and games (NSPCC – Net Aware)
- Digital Communication (Barclay Digital Wings)
- Video Calling (Learn My Way)
- Getting Started with Zoom (GCF Global)
- Social Media Facts and Advice for Parents (Internet Matters)
- Microsoft Teams Video Guides (Microsoft)
- Microsoft Outlook Guide (Microsoft)
Essential Digital Skill: Handling Information and Content
Handling information and content is all about how you save, share and view different kinds of media online. This can be navigating a web browser, sharing pictures with family or watching your favourite TV shows on demand. Media can include documents, pictures or streaming services like BBC iPlayer or Netflix. In a work context, this may be more focused on how you save or share files in the cloud or log into a database from different devices.
| Life tasks | Work tasks |
| I can search for news and online information using a browser such as Chrome, Internet Explorer or Safari | I can follow my organisation’s IT policy when sharing, storing and handling information |
| I can clear my browser and online search history | I can log in and access online systems and databases remotely |
| I can use multiple tabs on my internet browser and use bookmarks to save and retrieve information | I can use my organisation’s cloud-based storage to securely save and retrieve information |
| I can use an online cloud storage account such as iCloud or One Drive and access it from different devices, such as a laptop or a smartphone | I can synchronise, store and share work-related information on different devices |
| I can access entertainment and music online using apps such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Spotify, Audible and Amazon Prime | I can update privacy settings on my documents to change access permissions |
Resources
- Watching and Listening Online (Learn My Way)
- Online File Storage (Digital Unite)
- Browsing and Searching (Digital Unite)
- Share SharePoint Files or Folders (Microsoft)
- Share Files from Google Drive (Google)
- Complete an Online Form (SQA Academy)
- Collaborate from Anywhere Using Microsoft 365 (Microsoft)
- OneDrive Help & Learning (Microsoft)
Essential Digital Skill: Transacting
Transacting’ sounds quite complex, but really all it means is being able to complete online transactions such as shopping online, online banking and registering and applying for services i.e. booking an eye test online.
Although this is often quite a simple skill to learn, you should be mindful that a lot of people can be wary of using online payment methods and may need a bit of time to get used to the idea. Some people may not want to use this at all, and that’s ok, everyone is different.
| Life tasks | Work tasks |
| I can use the internet to access online public and health services such as Universal Credit or NHS Near me | I can access salary, contract and job role information online, including password protected payslips |
| I can access and use online banking websites and apps | I can submit requests for annual leave, record absence from work or submit expenses claims online |
| I can set up secure personal accounts enabling me to purchase goods or services safely online | I can complete e-learning and online training courses required to do my job |
| I can complete online forms and upload documents and photographs when required to such as when applying for a passport or driving licence | I can complete and submit online forms in relation to my job role |
| I can use transport apps and travel websites such as Scotrail or Google Maps to make travel arrangements | I can upload documents, files and images where relevant |
Resources
- Using Online Forms (Learn My Way)
- Online and Mobile Banking (Learn My Way)
- Get Started with Google Maps (Google)
- How to Use NearMe (NHS NearMe)
- Using Public Services Online (Learn My Way)
- Online Banking: Is It Safe? (Age UK)
- Shopping Online Securely (National Cyber Security Centre)
- Online Shopping (Digital Unite)
- Universal Credit Helper (Hyde Housing/Connecting Scotland)
Essential Digital Skill: Problem-solving
Problem-solving is possibly one of the most commonly used digital skills, but we might not always be aware that we’re actually solving problems. A better phrase might be ‘looking for answers’. We all do it every day. If we don’t know something the answer is usually ‘Google it’.
Problem-solving may seem fairly obvious, but for someone who has never been online before they may not be aware of the different ways they can find answers to their questions. Of course, we also need to be mindful that not all information you find online is reliable or trustworthy!
| Life tasks | Work tasks |
| I can use websites, chat bots, online tutorials, FAQs and advice forums to solve problems online | I can use the internet to find solutions to work-related problems |
| I can find and use online alternatives to my usual sites and apps if they are unavailable | I can use applications such as Excel or Google Sheets to collate and analyse information |
| I can use online language and translation tools when required | I can use applications such as PowerPoint and Google Slides to present information |
| I can use the internet to find advice and guidance on important issues such as public health information | I can use online productivity tools such as Trello to plan out projects and create action plans |
| I can use online tools such as Google Maps to find the best route depending on my mode of transport | I can use online information to find and use media and accessibility settings on my device |
Resources
- Using Live Chat (Digital Unite)
- How to Use Your Computer’s Built In Help (GCF Global)
- Using Search Engines (Learn My Way)
- Google Translate Help (Google)
- Excel Help & Learning (Microsoft)
- PowerPoint Help & Learning (Microsoft)
- Google Sheets Training & Help (Google)
- Google Slides Training & Help (Google)
- Getting Started with Trello (Trello)
- Microsoft 365 (Microsoft)
Essential Digital Skill: Being safe, legal and confident online
Being online is essential in the 21st century, but there are risks that pose danger to people without digital confidence. Part of being a digital champion is embedding the importance of staying safe, legal and confident online.
Fears around privacy and security is still one of the prevailing reasons people are offline, and so the importance of supporting learners to understand how to protect themselves and stay safe, legal and confident online could make the all the difference in their learning journey. The top tip for digital champions to is to bring online safety into every session and help it become second nature.
Top Tip
Rather than using scare stories, digital champions should draw comparisons between the online world and the real world. For example, explain to your learner that their device is just like their house: burglars would look for easy access points (like open windows and unlocked doors) but won’t break into a secured house. Their device is just the same – by maintaining strong passwords and ignoring suspicious emails, hackers will move on to someone else.
Digital Champions can use a risk assessment process to review online safety considerations. Here are some questions you may wish to answer when considering online safety:
- Which offline risk factors may be associated with increased online risk for this individual?
- How (digitally) resilient is this individual?
- What protective vs risk factors are there in relation to the people and environment surrounding this individual?
- What support does this individual need to achieve the greatest benefits to them of being online, whilst reducing risk?
- Do I have all the information I need to do this assessment? How should I engage with partner organisations?
A risk assessment could help identify if additional safeguards may be required. These safeguards should be informed by the outcome of your risk assessment, and could include (but are not limited to):
- Individually tailoring advice and guidance, such as in relation to a specific online risk;
- Offering additional technical safeguard support, e.g. help setting up certain parental controls;
- Devoting additional time or resources to supporting a particular individual or family;
- Sharing information with partners including local authority, school, community planning partnership etc, to understand potential risks and agree external partnership safeguarding inputs if required.
| Life tasks | Work tasks |
| I can create and use strong and secure passwords online and know not to write them down or share them with others | I can identify and report suspicious communications such as phishing emails |
| I can check if online information is true or false and can recognise suspicious web links and emails | I can keep the information I use to access my online accounts secure, using different and secure passwords for websites and accounts |
| I can use privacy settings to control what people can see online, including on social media | I can use privacy settings and follow my organisation’s social media policy |
| I can update my operating system and security software on my device to keep it protected | I can check if online information is true or false |
| I understand that my online activity produces a permanent record which could be accessed and used by others now and in the future and understand that I must not share other people’s data online without their consent | I can follow my organisation policies on backing up data and updating software |
Resources
- Online Safety (Learn My Way)
- Keeping Your Information Safe Online (OpenLearn & LEAD Scotland)
- How to Stay Safe Online (Digital Unite)
- Staying Safe Online (Scottish Government)
- Creating Strong Passwords (GCF Global)
- Online Safety and Privacy: Guide for Digital Champions (One Digital)
- Top Tips for Staying Secure Online (National Cyber Security Centre)
- Creating a Positive Online Presence (YoungScot)
- UK Safer Internet Centre
- Password Safety, Device Updates and Backups (Get Safe Online)
That's the end of the Digital Champion Guide. Before you leave, you can check out the last part of the Digital Motivator Guide: measuring impact or use the navigation panel to revisit any content from either guide.