10 Digital Literacy Programs

1. Cyber Security

Part of being digitally literate is being aware of the risks posed by our over-dependence on various technology tools and knowing how to avoid them. EdApp has put together a comprehensive course on Cyber Security to help curious minds like you learn the basics of cyber security and the most common cyber threats. It also aims to equip you with safety tips to protect yourself from the risks that come with business digitization.

This digital literacy program has eight lessons delivered in a microlearning format for higher engagement and retention. It starts with an overview of cyber security and the role it plays in keeping you protected from cyber threats you're most likely to encounter, like social engineering and phishing. This course also illustrates how to use email and the internet safely, so you’ll know how to keep yourself safe when navigating the digital world. 

The last part of this free cyber security course is mostly focused on the basics of password safety and management, and how you can create an effective document management strategy. These lessons are specifically helpful if your job requires you to store or manage vital information, or when you’re starting a new business. You only need at least 3-5 minutes to complete each lesson, which is perfect for your busy schedule.

• Cost: Free
• Scope: Cyber security and its importance, safe use of emails and the internet, most common cyber threats like phishing and social engineering, password safety and password managers, how to create effective document management

Created by EdApp

3. Digital Information Literacy by Coursera

Creating interesting digital artifacts like infographics, slide shows, and websites has never been easier – thanks to the availability of many tools and software today. Coursera’s Digital Information Literacy can help you gain digital literacy on these tools, making sure that you know how to use them effectively and responsibly. It also discusses the right way to obtain and evaluate digital information to secure the accuracy of the content of your digital artifact. 

You’ll need approximately 20 hours to complete this digital literacy program for adults. But after successful completion, you’ll receive a completion certificate that you can add to your credentials and share with your colleagues. 

• Cost: Free (limited time only)
• Scope: Digital artifact tools and software, obtaining and evaluating digital information

Created by Coursera

5. Defending Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all around us – from the navigation app that shows you the best route to the personalized advertisement you receive based on your exact buying preferences. 

EdApp’s Defending Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence serves as a great digital literacy program as it helps you understand the rights affected by AI. These rights include freedom of expression, the right to privacy, and the right to equality. 

The course also includes some real-world examples of the challenges caused by the online algorithms of AI. For instance, the risk of information eavesdropping from virtual assistants and unintentionally flagging content that displays the freedom of expression. Each lesson comes with some recommendations for how you and your employers can defend these rights in light of the growing use of AIs worldwide.

This course has been designed in collaboration with UNESCO and UNITAR and is part of their #EducateAll movement. It’s 100% free to take and share with your team. 

• Cost: Free
• Scope: Human rights in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), freedom of expression, right to privacy, right to equality

Created by EdApp

6. Use Digital Tools for Everyday Tasks

Google for Education offers a free course on the topic of the Use of Digital Tools for Everyday Tasks to help both students and professionals learn responsible communication techniques through digital tools. Here, you’ll learn how to protect your personal information using a Google Account. This program will also show you how to conduct an information search on the Internet and insert links from trustworthy sites into your digital documents to support your content. 

The last part of this course will teach you how to effectively use email to communicate with your friend, client, or colleague, a skill that’s deemed highly essential in workplaces. Training with Google is free of charge, although keep in mind that this course has no interactive element, so it may feel a bit static and monotonous.

• Cost: Free (limited time only)
• Scope: Responsible communication using digital tools, protecting information using a Google accounts, information search on the internet, email communication

Created by Google for Education

8. Global Digital Literacy

Computer learning software Alison has put together a course on Global Digital Literacy to educate professionals like you about the right use of online tools to source information and communicate with people. This program defines what digital literacy is and its importance on a global level. It sheds light on ways you can use your digital literacy to create digital content, solve problems, and drive positive changes in your workplace. Towards the last part of the course, there’s also an in-depth look at the DigComp framework, which identifies the factors that make up digital competence. 

This course is free to enroll in, study, and complete. In order to receive an official Alison Graduate certificate, you must pass the digital literacy quiz and receive a grade of at least 80% or higher.

• Cost: Free
• Scope: Digital literacy and its global importance, creating digital content and solving problems using digital literacy, DigComp framework

Created by Alison

10. Combating the Disinfodemic: Working for Truth in the Time of COVID-19

The spread of disinformation is one of the biggest concerns associated with the growing use of digital technologies and social media platforms. EdApp’s Combating the Disinfodemic course addresses the fast-growing disinformation during the time of COVID-19 and how it has affected the lives and livelihoods of people around the world. It was developed in collaboration with UNITAR and UNESCO, so you can be sure of the quality of the content included in this training. 

This digital literacy program starts with an introduction to the so-called “disinfodemic”, a parallel pandemic of disinformation that is prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the different types of disinfodemic and the key themes present in misleading and inaccurate content. To protect you from becoming a victim of fake news, this course also includes some tips on how to identify disinformation and assess the accuracy of the information you're seeing on the Internet.

Towards the end of this program, you’ll find a quick rundown of the recommendations of actions that international organizations, local government, and law enforcement agencies can take to combat the alarming increase of disinfodemic today.

Intending to make their courses easily accessible by everyone, EdApp has made sure that all of their courses, including this digital literacy program, can be downloaded for offline viewing. This gives you the flexibility to take this training anytime and anywhere, whether or not you have a current WiFi or data connection. 

• Cost: Free
• Scope: Introduction to disinfodemic, types and themes of disinfodemic, how to identify disinformation and assess online information, recommendations to combat disinformation

Created by EdApp