Free course

Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world

Free statement of participation on completion
Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world
Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world
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This free course, Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world, will develop your confidence and skills for life online, whether study, work or everyday life. It explores a range of digital skills and practices, including digital identity, digital well-being, staying safe and legal, finding and using information and online tools, and dealing with information overload. The importance of developing a critical approach to life online is emphasised throughout, whether consuming or creating information. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your own situation and to apply what you learn to real-life scenarios, using a digital skills plan to keep a record of progress.

In this video, the course is introduced by Open University Chancellor and digital literacy champion Martha Lane Fox. Martha discusses the importance of digital skills in all areas of life and how this course will give you a unique opportunity to improve your digital literacy in an ever-changing world.


Transcript

Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world is a free course which lasts about 8 weeks, with approximately 3 hours' study time each week. You can work through the course at your own pace, so if you have more time one week there is no problem with pushing on to complete another week's study. You can also take as long as you want to complete it.

Enrolling on the course will give you the opportunity to earn an Open University digital badge. Badges are not accredited by The Open University but they're a great way to demonstrate your interest in the subject and commitment to your career, and to provide evidence of continuing professional development. 

Once you're signed in, you can manage your digital badges online from My OpenLearn. In addition you can download and print your OpenLearn Statement of Participation - which also displays your Open University badge.

The Open University would really appreciate a few minutes of your time to tell us about yourself and your expectations for the course before you begin, in our optional start-of-course survey. Once you complete the course we would also value your feedback and suggestions for future improvement, in our optional end-of-course survey. Participation will be completely confidential and we will not pass on your details to others.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course you will be able to:

  • understand and be confident in your online identity
  • choose and use the appropriate online tool for the task in hand
  • use technology confidently and critically to achieve your study, work and life goals
  • reflect proactively on your level of digital confidence, and identify steps for further development.

Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world

Earn this free Open University digital badge if you complete this course! The badge can be displayed, shared and downloaded as a marker of your achievement. The badge is awarded for completing the course and passing the quizzes.

First Published: 02/06/2020

Updated: 13/07/2020

You can start this course right now without signing-up. Click on any of the course content sections below to start at any point in this course.
If you want to be able to track your progress, earn a free Statement of Participation, and access all course quizzes and activities, sign-up.

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