Tech Teach – Digital Literacy

Curriculum
Overview

This draft Mentor/Tutor curriculum allows a learner to work one-to-one

with a tutor to learn and explore digital tools. Many of the activities may
also be suitable for learners in small groups.

Using the curriculum

Mentors and Learners can choose which modules to complete. It is

recommended that each module be completed from start to finish and in
its entirety as activities build on previous lessons.

At the beginning of each unit there is a chart that identifies

• the targets/desired outcomes of the unit

• how the unit relates to employment (if this is a goal of the learner)
• questions/discussions to introduce the learner to the topic

When a learner has completed a module, they can complete an exit

assessment to earn a certificate of completion. They can schedule this
by emailing operations@literacylinkniagara.ca or calling 905-401-0878.

Notes to Mentors/Tutors

This curriculum has been written in a way that it can be read or

paraphrased during meetings with your learner. It is recommended that
you try each lesson and activity before meeting with your learner.

It is ok not to know all of the material. Be honest with your learner if

something is new for you. You are a guide to support and help direct
someone’s learning.

If you have additional tips or tricks, share them with your learner.
Please share all suggestions on the evaluation forms that will be sent to
you throughout this process.

Each learner has been given a notebook. They are not required to do any
writing, but may choose to write down the answers to questions that
come up during the process.

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Contents
Overview ......................................................................................... 2
Using the curriculum ...................................................................... 2
Notes to Mentors/Tutors ................................................................. 2
Contents ......................................................................................... 3
Module 1– Social Media ................................................................... 5
Lesson: What is social media? .......................................................................... 6
Activity – Social Media Scavenger Hunt ............................................................ 7
Lesson: Creating a profile on Facebook ............................................................. 9
Activity: Your face on Facebook ...................................................................... 10
Lesson: You tweet, you don’t Twitter .............................................................. 12
Activity: I thought it was called a number sign! .............................................. 14
Lesson: Beyond Social Networking ................................................................. 15
Activity: You using YouTube ........................................................................... 16
Lesson: Who are you online? .......................................................................... 18
Activity: Google you! ....................................................................................... 19
Lesson: Winning at Pinning! ........................................................................... 21
Activity: Pin to Win ........................................................................................ 23
Lesson: Wiki Wiki What? ................................................................................ 24
Activity: The ups and downs of wiki love ......................................................... 25
Lesson: Blog = web log .................................................................................. 28
Activity: BlogCatalog ..................................................................................... 29

Module 2 – Internet/Web-browsing ................................................ 30

Lesson: What is the Internet? ......................................................................... 31
Activity: Matchy Matchy ................................................................................. 32
Lesson: Smart Searching ................................................................................ 34
Activity: Searching Scavenger Hunt ................................................................ 35
Lesson: Who said that? .................................................................................. 36
Activity: Searching for the Source ................................................................... 37
Lesson: Delivered to your Door ...................................................................... 38
Activity: When a Deal isn’t a Deal ................................................................... 39
Lesson: Cookies you can’t Eat ........................................................................ 40
Activity: Emptying the cookie jar .................................................................... 41

Module 3 – Tablet/Smartphone Use and Applications .................... 42

Lesson: A little of the unknown ...................................................................... 43
Activity: Explore your device ........................................................................... 44
Lesson: Downloading ..................................................................................... 45
Activity: Downloading an app ......................................................................... 46
Lesson: Technology talks ................................................................................ 48
Activity: Think to Sync! .................................................................................. 49

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Lesson: Streaming .......................................................................................... 50
Activity: Listening live .................................................................................... 51
Lesson: Talk to me ........................................................................................ 52
Activity: Siri (not Simon) says ......................................................................... 53

Module 4 – Google Docs ................................................................. 54

Lesson: What is Google Docs? ........................................................................ 55
Activity: Create a Google Account ................................................................... 56
Lesson: Creating a document ......................................................................... 57
Activity: Build on your document .................................................................. 58
Lesson: Using a Template ............................................................................... 59
Activity: Tem ”play” ........................................................................................ 60
Lesson: When Microsoft Office looks in the mirror ........................................ 61
Activity: The Three Musketeers ...................................................................... 62
Lesson: Where is it? ..................................................................................... 63
Activity: Keeping it organized ......................................................................... 64

If you have a question about the lesson/activity or the mentoring

experience, please email operations@literacylinkniagara.ca or call 905-
401-0878.

4
Module 1– Social Media

Target of this unit

• To help you understand the purpose of social media
• To help the you gain social media skills to help reach their goals

Employment Link
Social Media is being used as a means of communicaBon and markeBng by
most employers

Connec8ng experience with learning

Ask the learner about the last Bme they sent someone a personal leDer or
made a personal phone call. How did they feel doing it? What were they
comfortable sharing? How would that change if they were sharing it on a
social media plaJorm?

5
Lesson: What is social media?

Social Media is a term you have probably heard often. But if asked to
describe what it actually is, many people would not have a clear answer.

Let’s work together to find out.

What does media mean? (Brainstorm with your learner.)

Media - the means of communication (such as radio and television,

newspapers, and magazines) that reach or influence people widely

What do you think social media means? (Brainstorm with your learner.)

Social Media - uses web-based technologies to make

communication interactive

Can you name some types of social media tools? (Brainstorm with your
learner.)

• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Blogs
• Foursquare
• Online Gaming
• Wikis
• Others?

Discuss the following types of people and how they might use social
media.

a) Business Person
b) Teacher
c) Teenager
d) Mother with young children
e) Senior

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Activity – Social Media Scavenger Hunt

Visit the following applications on a computer or tablet. Your mentor can

help you navigate the application.

Describe each one and include

- who might use the application

- how they may use it
- what privacy concerns you might have

Facebook

Who? How? What?

Twitter

Who? How? What?

YouTube

Who? How? What?

7
Wikipedia

Who? How? What?

8
Lesson: Creating a profile on Facebook

(adapted from Literacy Link Eastern Ontario – Digital Technology How To

Sheets)

Almost everyone, every organization and every company has a Facebook

page. Some even have it for their pets! If you don’t have a profile, now is
the time to dive into the world of Facebook. If you already have an
account, update or add to your profile, change your picture or adjust
your privacy settings.

1) Go to www.Facebook.com
2) Fill out the required information in the “Sign Up” box located on
the main page.
3) Click “Sign Up”.
4) Follow the instructions on the screen through the steps below
Step 1: Find Friends - can be done through Hotmail, Gmail, etc.
Step 2: Profile Picture - done by taking one with a webcam hooked
up to your computer or by finding a file on your computer.
Step 3: Profile Information - fill in your education, relationships,
favourite thing, etc.
5) Verify your account by going to your email service and clicking on
the “Get Started” button in your inbox.

You have created a profile page. This is different from a page associated
with a group or company. You have full control over your page including
what others see.

Each learner has been given a book to take notes. It is recommended

that you write down your username and password for any tools you
access in this book. You may also choose to store it in your phone.

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Activity: Your face on Facebook

Now that you have a Facebook profile, let’s spend some time exploring
the site. Find and describe the purpose of the

• globe
• smiley face
• two silhouettes
• padlock

Click on the padlock. Work with your mentor to change your

security/privacy settings based on what you’re comfortable with.

Directed exploring – review these steps

(adapted from LLEO – Facebook 201)

1) The search bar is located in the top center of the screen. If you
want to find someone or something in particular you can locate it
through the search bar. Adding your own location information
narrows down search results.

2) You can go back to check on your profile’s features at any time.

Do this by clicking on “Your Name” in the top right hand corner of
the screen.

3) In the top menu bar, there are 3 symbols. The symbol showing 2
people is your friend requests. The conversation bubbles are your
inbox and can also be used to send direct messages. The globe is
your notifications and shows you when someone has interacted
with you (for example, a tag in a picture, a comment on your wall,
etc.)

4) The main news feed, which is the home page, will have all the
updates from friends, liked pages and groups. Comments can be
added on anything by pushing “enter”.

To finish off the lesson, write a short “post” on your wall about joining
Facebook. If you post something and change your mind, you can click

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on the drop down arrow on the right upper edge of the post box. Select
“Edit post” or “Delete”.

11
Lesson: You tweet, you don’t Twitter

(adapted from Literacy Link Eastern Ontario – Digital Technology How To

Sheets)

“Tweeting” means you are communicating to the world using Twitter.

Celebrities, sports teams, and food companies have Twitter accounts.
Some celebrities have over 80 million followers waiting for them to tweet
about their daily activities. Tweets are a maximum of 140 characters.

You don’t have to tweet often to find Twitter interesting. Some people
choose to follow news agencies, local community organizations and
politicians. As more and more people tweet, Twitter is often the fastest
way to get information.

If you are ready to sign up, complete the following steps.

1. Go to www.twitter.com.
2. Enter the required information in the boxes displayed on the home
page and click “sign up”.
3. Follow the on-screen tutorial. You can “follow” pages of interest to
you, and connect with friends through email services such as
Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo by clicking “search contacts”.
4. To use all of the features on the website, you must confirm your
account. Check your email inbox for a conformation email from
Twitter, and click on the link provided. If there is no email, wait a
few minutes and check back or request it be re-sent on Twitter.
This option can be found in the yellow drop-down menu at the top
of the screen.

Once you’ve activated your Twitter account, you will have access to the
many features it has to offer. These features include tweeting, hashtags,
and keeping up- to-date on all your favourite celebrities, family and
friends. If you want more guides to help you get started, go to YouTube
and search “How to use Twitter” or “Twitter Tutorial – Getting Started”.

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Cheat sheet – Tweet Speak

Word/Symbol Means Example

@ The @ sign is used to "Hello @JaneDoe!"
call out usernames in
Tweets. People will
use your @username
to mention you in
Tweets, send you a
message or link to
your profile.
# A hashtag is any word #wethenorth
or phrase immediately
preceded by the # #MondayMotivation
symbol. When you
click on a hashtag, #NationalHotDogDay
you'll see other Tweets
containing the same
keyword or topic.
Retweet, RT A Tweet that you
forward to your
followers is known as a
Retweet. Often used to
pass along news or
other valuable
discoveries on Twitter,
Retweets always stay
the same as they were
originally tweeted.

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Activity: I thought it was called a number sign!

# used to mean number sign. Now they call it a hashtag! Use the
information below to tweet about each of the descriptions below. You
can write them in the box or tweet them using your new account. Try to
use the @ and # symbols in as many as you can.

The last movie you saw

A community issue

The weather

Your favourite restaurant

A friend or family member

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Lesson: Beyond Social Networking

Many people think of social media as a way to connect with friends,

colleagues and old classmates. This is actually only a piece of social
media known as social networking. Other types of social media include

• Collaborative projects - sites that allow people to work together to

create materials – example - Wikipedia
• Blogs and microblogs – informal journal that is regularly updated
typically written and maintained by one person or group – example
– Twitter (microblog)
• Content communities – sites where people connect and share
materials around a certain topic or media type – example -
YouTube
• Virtual worlds – online sites where users interact to create and
build a virtual environment using avatars (made up characters),
may or may not include a game component– example – World of
Warcraft

Discuss which types of these tools have you used before? What do you
know about each one? Who would be most likely to use and benefit from
these tools?

15
Activity: You using YouTube

YouTube is a content community where people upload videos for others

to watch. You may have heard of YouTube stars. These are ordinary
people who have found fame uploading videos about themselves and
their hobbies. Advertisers use YouTube to promote new products and
services. Marketers use it to test new movie trailers or songs with their
audiences.

The nice thing about YouTube is that you don’t have to have an account
to use it. You can easily create an account like Facebook or Twitter, but
it’s not necessary to use the content. Benefits to having an account
include being able to follow a user and getting updates when they upload
new videos. You can save videos to watch in the future. It’s up to you if
you choose to create an account, but it isn’t necessary for this exercise.

Let’s open YouTube. Go to www.youtube.com.

On the home page you will find the most popular videos. These are the
videos people are watching right now. They are “trending”. Trending
videos are broken down into categories. The most popular video right
now is the largest screen on the page. Find the following information
about it and fill it in below.

Title

Length

Views

Creator

When it was
uploaded

This information is available for every video on the site. It’s important to
look at the creator of each video you watch to determine if it’s a source
you can trust. Remember anyone can put almost anything on the
Internet and no one ensures the information is true.

16
You can click the picture to open the video in a new page. Once on the
new page, you will most likely watch a short advertisement before your
video plays. You can click on the broken rectangle on the bottom right
corner to open the video in full screen. To get out of full screen, click
escape (esc) on your keyboard.

What did you think of the video? Did you like it? Why or why not? Do
you think it makes sense that it was viewed so many times?

Go to the top of the screen and use the search bar to look for a video that
may interest you.

Ideas for searching

(a) Cats in hats

(b) A favourite song
(c) A new movie trailer
(d) Cute babies
(e) Food hacks

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Lesson: Who are you online?

Many people are concerned about having a profile online. They want
their privacy. But in a world that is so digital, not having an online
identity can raise flags for employers or colleagues. Some estimates
show that more than half of employers look into their potential
employees up online before hiring them.

Before the Internet, most people had two lives, work and home. Now
these often blend together. It is important to think about what you put
on your personal social media pages and how that could affect your
professional life. Remember, once you put it out there, you don’t own it.
Even with strict privacy settings, you may still want to consider the
impact of an emotional statement or a picture of you in an unflattering
situation.

Discuss examples with your learner.

18
Activity: Google you!

The correct way to describe the way we all use the Internet is to “search”
for something. But let’s be honest, most of us “Google” it.

Go to www.google.ca. Type in your name.

What comes up? Visit the first 5 links and fill in the information in the
chart below.

1 2 3 4 5

Is it about
you?

What’s the
site?

What
impression
would it
give to an
employer?
Family
member?
Friend?

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Are you satisfied with your online identity based on your Google search?
Why or why not?

Ways to create or modify your online identity

(a) Change your privacy settings on social networking sites

(b) Write a book review on www.chapters.ca
(c) Write a product review on a mainstream retailer website
(d) Learn to blog or tweet

20
Lesson: Winning at Pinning!

There was a time when most people saved or “bookmarked” web links
that they needed for later on their Internet browser. Today, many people
prefer to “pin” these sites. In a nutshell, Pinterest allows you to save web
links using pictures instead of characters. It also allows you to search
for similar links or “pins” through their site. When saving or “pining” you
can sort the information into virtual boards that they can customize into
useful categories.

Let’s set up a Pinterest account so we can explore more. (Instructions

adapted from Real Simple -http://www.realsimple.com/work-
life/technology/how-to-use-pinterest)

1. Sign Up
Go to Pinterest.com and join now.

When you sign up, you’ll have the option to link either your Facebook or
Twitter account with your Pinterest account. Why should you consider
connecting? It’ll make it easier for you to find your friends, family
members, and favorite blogs and brands to follow on Pinterest. If you
prefer to start with just your e-mail address, you can always connect
your social accounts later.

2. Create Your Profile

When you create your account, think about the other social accounts
you have. Try to stick with the same username if you already have a
Twitter or Instagram account. That will make it easier for anyone who
follows you to find you on Pinterest. It also helps to use the same profile
photo—that way people know it’s you.

3. Check Your Settings

Once your account is active, the first thing you should do is take a look
at your email settings. Luckily, Pinterest’s options are straightforward
and easy to understand. Choose settings that work for you and remove
unnecessary emails if you find them annoying.

To find settings, press your name in the top right. Press the gear icon
beside the edit profile icon. Click edit settings.

4. Explore
Take some time exploring the site. You can’t break it. J

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How to Pin
1. Install the Pin It Button
The easiest way to add content from any site is to add the "Pin It" button
by clicking the addition symbol at the bottom right of your web browser.
Or visit the "Goodies" page on Pinterest to learn how to install it. You can
also add pins via the Pin It button on your favorite sites. It will usually be
close to the Facebook and Twitter share buttons.

2. Add a Pin
To add a pin to one of your boards, click on either the "Pin It" button in
your bookmark bar or on the website you're reading.

A screen will pop up asking you to select the image you want to pin (if
there's more than one photo on the page), after selecting the image you'll
get another window to create the pin. You'll do two things in this
window—choose which board to add the pin to and write a description of
the image you're pinning.

Select the board using the drop down menu in the window. If you want to
add your pin to a new board, you can create one directly from the drop
down menu as well.

Once you've selected the board, write a description of your pin—

something to help you remember why you added it to your boards.

3. Create a New Board

To create a new board on your account, click the "Add +" button in the
upper right-hand corner of your main Pinterest page. This is the page of
your boards, not the home page. Select the option to “Create a Board.”
Give your board a descriptive name. The category options are set by
Pinterest, so select whichever is closest or choose "other" if there isn’t a
name that fits.

22
Activity: Pin to Win

Create a board on Pinterest. It may be for recipes, Do-it-yourself (DIY)

crafts, vacation destinations or another interest. Use the lesson to help
walk you through the steps.

23
Lesson: Wiki Wiki What?

Have you ever used Wikipedia to find out information about a certain
topic? Wikipedia houses information about almost everything. The
second half of its name, “pedia”, comes from encyclopedia. But what
does the “wiki” mean?

A “wiki” is a website that allows its users to add, design and structure its
content. Some wikis are closed or private. They can only be accessed
and edited by users given permission by an administrator. Employers
may use a “wiki” to allow their employees to work on documents
together. Others, like Wikipedia, are open to everyone and can be used
and modified by anyone.

Go to en.wikipedia.org. Click on “About Wikipedia” on the left hand

column. Read the overview.

Explore. Using the box in the upper right corner, search for

• the place you were born

• a celebrity
• a vegetable

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Activity: The ups and downs of wiki love

While Wikipedia has made it clear they are the key player on the block,
there are other open forum wikis out there. Visit the sites and fill in the
information in the chart below.

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

List 3 pros to using the site

List 3 cons to using the site

Who is the target audience? Would

you use the site?

25
Urban Dictionary

urbandictionary.com

List 3 pros to using the site

List 3 cons to using the site

Who is the target audience? Would

you use the site?

26
Foodista

foodista.com

List 3 pros to using the site

List 3 cons to using the site

Who is the target audience? Would

you use the site?

27
Lesson: Blog = web log

A blog is basically an online journal. They are almost always written

informally about the author’s life. Some people choose to blog about
specific hobbies – like gardening, cooking or crafting. Others choose to
blog about their status in the world – like a stay at home mom, parent
with young kids, empty nester or single in the city.

You don’t have to be a blogger to appreciate blogs. Many people “follow”

certain bloggers because they like their view or the materials they
provide. Some of the best and easiest recipes come from stay at home
mom bloggers. J

There are 3 main sites that provide blogging platforms

1. Wordpress – has free and paid options for hosting depending on

how much you want to customize your blog design
2. Blogger – free and linked to Google
3. Tumblr – half blog, half social networking site

Blogs are often stand-alone websites, but sometimes they are part of a
larger site. Retailers are often including blogs as part of their marketing
campaigns. They use them to show how real people use their products
and services. Can you think of a site that does this?

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Activity: BlogCatalog

BlogCatalog is a site that organizes blog links in categories to help you

connect to blogs you might find interesting.

Visit www.blogcatalog.com.

The main page features different categories of blogs. Each category is

labeled directly on the picture of the blog it is describing.

Scroll down the page and find a blog that looks interesting to you.

Click on the picture to open the link to the blog website. The link will
open on a new page in your browser.

Take a look at the layout and answer these questions.

1. What’s different between this page and other websites?

2. What is the writing style? Is it formal? Friendly? Easy or hard to

follow?

3. If you liked this blog and wanted to get updates, how would you do
that?

Close this page and return to BlogCatalog. Scroll to the top of the page
and click on the menu title “Catalog.” This will take you to the “Browse
catalog” page. Scroll down to see all the categories of blogs you can find
through the website. Click on a category that interests you.

You will be taken to a page that lists all the blogs in this category.
Unlike the home page, these show blog titles, not post (article) titles.
Choose one and work with your mentor to explore the site.

29
Module 2 – Internet/Web-browsing
Target of this unit
• To help you understand how to use the Internet safely
• To help you gain browsing skils to help reach your goals

Employment Link
Web browsing is used to find informaBon in most workplaces

Connec8ng experience with learning

Ask the learner about the last Bme they used the yellow pages
(phone book). Have them walk through the steps they would take
to find specific informaBon. Introduce web browsing as an
alternaBve to a phone book What steps will they take?.

30
Lesson: What is the Internet?

Videos are an entertaining way to learn! Go to youtube.com and search

History of the Internet by Life Noggin. Watch the video.

31
Activity: Matchy Matchy

Draw lines to match the terms to their definitions. (adapted from

GCFLearnFree, Introduction to Internet Safety,
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internetsafety/introduction-to-internet-
safety/1/)

Virus email chain letter that warns of

impending viruses and tries to
scare users into forwarding and
continuing the email

Phishing technique used to redirect a

legitimate website's traffic to
another illegitimate website in
order to gain access to a user's
personal information

Hoax keeps visitors from leaving a

website by locking them into a
window, opening multiple windows
on the desktop, or launching their
website in a window that can't be
closed

Spam self-replicating program that is

designed to infect a computer by
rapidly spreading from one file to
another, sometimes causing great
harm

Mousetrapping mail or instant message scams that

are disguised to look like official
communications from a legitimate
website

Clickjacking collects information about users

without their knowledge, often to
track browsing habits and to create
pop-up advertisements

32
Pharming unsolicited email or junk mail

Spyware technique that tricks users into

clicking on a malicious link by
adding an invisible link over what
appears to be a legitimate web page

33
Lesson: Smart Searching

You can find pretty much everything and anything on the Internet.
Amazing eh? Until you need to search for something specific. Then you
Google something and 2,887,999 links appear. How can you quickly and
efficiently find the information you are looking for?

You can get better results by

• putting quotes around your search terms to tell the search engine
to find a specific phrase just the way you wrote it like “Martha’s
Top Ten Apple Pie Recipes”
• using the minus sign (-) to tell the search engine what terms to
leave out – example – if you are looking for pie recipes but hate
apples you would type “pie recipes -apple”
• leaving out punctuation since its ignored
• leaving out common terms like a and the since its often ignored
unless it’s a title – For the movie the Fast and the Furious you
would type “Fast Furious”
• using base words so relevant pages aren’t excluded – example –
run instead of running, dog instead of dogs
• searching a specific site using a search engine – if you want to find
blenders at Canadian Tire you type “site:www.canadiantire.ca
blenders”
• searching for similar sites by using the related function -
“related:www.youtube.com” can be used to find sites similar to
YouTube

34
Activity: Searching Scavenger Hunt

Use your new searching skills to answer the following questions using
www.google.com. Remember it’s not the answer that matters, it’s how
you found it.

1. 1,024 Gigabytes is equal to one what?

2. Which city is located both in Asia and Europe?

3. Who was the author of "The Amityville Horror" published in 1977?

4. In what city does SpongeBob SquarePants live?

5. What is a group of owls called?

6. What is a traditional fermented Korean side dish made of seasoned

vegetables and salt?

7. A puggle is a cross between which two dog breeds?

8. The Roman numeral "D" stands for what number?

35
Lesson: Who said that?

There was a time where the first place we got information was from the
evening newspaper. Then it was from a news broadcast. Now it’s often
from whoever got to Twitter fast enough.

In a world moving so fast, it can be easy to forget that not all information
is rated equal. Just because someone said it first, doesn’t mean they got
it right or are telling the truth.

A great example is the “microwave your spoon” hoax. Popular on the

Internet, it encouraged people who wanted to quickly remove ice cream
from the carton to microwave their metal spoon for thirty seconds. There
was a spike in broken microwaves.

It can be hard to tell fact from fiction on the Internet. But using the
following steps can help you analyze online information:

Read the URL (weblink)

Is spelling correct?

Does the title fit with the site?

Examine the content

Is it written in an appropriate format?

Does it have factual support?

Ask about the Author

Is there a description of their connection to the topic?

Look at the Links

Are there more links to connect the user with more

information about the topic?

Do these links seem legitimate?

36
Activity: Searching for the Source

Open an Internet browser and search for “Top Internet Hoaxes.” Visit the
first 5-10 sites. Answer the following questions

1. What about these stories made so many people believe them?

2. Were there any clues that these weren’t real? What were they?

3. Which story was the hardest to believe?

4. Which story seemed most believable?

37
Lesson: Delivered to your Door

(adapted from GCFLearnFree, Protecting Your Financial Transactions,

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internetsafety/protecting-your-financial-
transactions/2/)

Before sending any sensitive or financial information online, you want to

know that you are using a secure site. Secure sites make sure all
information you send is encrypted—or protected—as it travels across the
Web. The https address heading and your browser's security symbol are
two signs indicating you are on a secure site.

Web addresses either begin with http or https. If the address is https, the
information you send to it is protected. It will look like gibberish if seen
by cybercriminals.

Your browser will use a security symbol or lock to show that the website
is a secure site. As seen in the examples below, the look of each
browser's symbol can be slightly different, and it is usually located in the
address bar.

There are 6 steps you can take to protect yourself when shopping online.
1) Research the company or seller
a. Does the company/seller have a brick and mortar
storefront?
b. If ordering from Etsy or another third party shopping site,
does the seller have reviews or references?
2) Closely examine the product
a. Does it look like it is good quality?
b. Does it match its description?
3) Understand the terms and costs
a. What is the refund policy?
b. Who is responsible for the return costs?
c. Is there a restocking fee?
d. Can it be returned to a brick and mortar store?
4) Pay with a credit card – this can help with refunds and security
issues
5) Save and print a record of the transaction
6) Enjoy your purchase!

38
Activity: When a Deal isn’t a Deal

Choose a store that you know like Chapters or Canadian Tire. Find their
website using Google.

Go through the first 3 steps in the lesson.

Choose a website with multiple sellers like etsy.com or ebay.com. Select

a product off the home page. Go through the first 3 steps in the lesson.

39
Lesson: Cookies you can’t Eat

(adapted from GCFLearnFree, Staying Safe While Browsing,

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internetsafety/staying-safe-while-
browsing/4/)

Did you know that your actions and what you click on might be tracked
when you browse the Internet? Sometimes it is done for website
efficiency, other times it's used to collect data to personalize your
experience, and in some cases it's used for spying or cybersnooping.

Here are a few examples

A website places a cookie on your computer to remember certain

data so it can run smoother when you go back to the site. It may
remember your preferences, history or even your password.

Websites like Amazon, eBay, and Netflix collect data about your
preferences. This way they can make suggestions to you for
products or movies they think you might like.

Ever wonder why an ad keeps popping up for you to buy that dress
or power tool you were “googling” last night? It’s not the universe
telling you to buy it. Google tracks and analyzes activity to provide
data to companies.

Some governments may collect data about your online activity in

case it is needed for criminal investigations or national security
purposes.

Read the fine print. Sometimes when you sign up for a new social
media site or email campaign, you are giving permission for a
company to collect your data.

If you share a computer, other people can spy on your activity by

reviewing your browsing history.

Most malware or spyware is used to track and obtain sensitive

information. This could be credit card numbers and bank account
passwords that can be used for identity theft crimes.

It is important to have be aware of this tracking and practice safe

browsing habits.

40
Activity: Emptying the cookie jar

Cookies can be great! They can save you time and help remember
preferences on sites you visit often. They can also be not so great, when
you aren’t aware of what, who, or how your information is being tracked.

How you manage and delete cookies from your computer depends on the
browser you use. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Google Chrome
all have different methods.

For this activity, you will be searching YouTube to help find the
information for your browser.

1) Determine which browser you are using

2) Go to youtube.com

3) Search “Manage Cookies (browser name)” or “Clear Cookies

(browser name)”

4) Choose a video

5) Follow the steps

41
Module 3 – Tablet/Smartphone Use
and Applications
Target of this unit
• To help you understand how to use a Tablet or Smartphone
• To help you gain skills necessary to navigate applicaBons

Employment Link
Many business are creaBng their own apps or using applicaBons for
human resources management

Connec8ng experience with learning

What websites do you visit frequently?
Do they you if an app exists for the site? What would look different
about it?

42
Lesson: A little of the unknown

When personal computers entered workspaces and home environments,

they required little to no intuition. Directions were “step-by-step.” Since
they couldn’t do much, they were used for clear purposes.

Today we use computers differently. One person may use it to shop,

balance their chequebook and connect with others socially. Another may
use it for career purposes, to gather data using surveys, create reports or
design marketing materials.

Add the fact that we now have mini handheld devices that are faster,
smarter and become more intuitive every few minute, our use of
technology has changed. We enter into a relationship with technology
that is unique, limitless and somewhat scary.

Technology should work for you. Unless you drop it, immerse it in water
or leave it outside too long in the sun or snow, you probably won’t break
it. This module will help you navigate your “mini” computer and all the
“apps” or applications that can make your life easier, more fun or more
connected.

43
Activity: Explore your device

Go to YouTube.com and search for a video about your device. Try terms
like “how to Microsoft Surface” or “learn iPad”. Choose a video to watch
to learn more about your device.

Explore your device. Answer the questions below.

1) How do you turn the device on? How do you turn it off?

2) How do you browse the Internet?

3) Is there a calendar?

4) What is 18 x 63? Use your device to figure it out.

5) How do you change the picture on the background screen?

44
Lesson: Downloading

You may have heard the terms “uploading” and “downloading.” What do
you think they mean?

Uploading means that you take something like a picture or document

and you transfer it to another device, computer or network. You may
upload a picture onto a social media site or upload a video of your pet
singing a song to YouTube.

Downloading means that you choose a picture, document or other media

type from another device, computer or network to transfer onto your
personal device. You may download a song from iTunes, a movie from a
website or an app.

An app is a computer program that runs on mobile devices like a tablet

or smartphone. Your tablet or phone may come with preloaded apps.
These may include email apps, calendar apps and Internet browsing
apps. You can also download apps. Some cost money, while many are
free.

For the most part, apps breakdown into two camps: Apple and Android.
While many apps are available on both platforms, some are limited to
one or the other. The type of app you can download depends on which
type of device you have. Apple products use apple apps while all others
use Android apps. Which type of device do you have?

45
Activity: Downloading an app

Let’s download an app. You can try Flipp, a flyer/coupon app that is
available on all platforms or another app of your choosing. Choose the
directions below depending on whether you have an Apple or Android
device.

Apple (adapted from PC Advisor, How to Download and Install an App on

iPhone or iPad, http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-phone/how-
download-install-app-on-iphone-or-ipad-3267397/)

Step one
From your device, find the 'App Store' icon and tap it to access the store.
You can browse the 'Featured' and 'Top Charts' categories to find an app
you like the look of. Alternatively, use the Search button at the bottom of
the screen to look for specific apps. As you type, the app store will offer
suggestions. You can choose one of those or continue typing.

Step two
The App Store will display a list of matching apps. Simply tap an app to
see a further description of it. You can then tap the 'buy' or 'get’ button,
which is displayed on the right-hand side of the app description screen to
download it. You'll be prompted to enter your iTunes password. Once it
downloads, you can click open.

Step three
A new icon of the app you're downloading will be displayed on your
device's home screen, along with a progress bar. Once the download is
complete, the app is available to use.

Android (adapted from PC Advisor, How to Download and Install Apps on

an Android Device, http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/mobile-
phone/how-to-download-and-install-apps-on-an-android-device-
3267411/)

Step one
Find the Market app. If there is an icon labeled 'Market' on the home
screen, tap it. If not, open the Applications menu and scroll until you see
the Market app, then tap it. The Android Market application will run.

46
Step two
Now you can search for your app. Tap the magnifying glass icon at the
top right of the screen then start typing the name of the app. Hit enter.
A new window opens and it lists a lot of different apps.

Step three
Tap the name of the app and the application window opens. You can see
information about it. Scroll down the page and you can see screen shots
and some user reviews.

Step four
Towards the top of the page is the word 'Install'. Beneath it is the word
'Free' indicating if there is a charge for this app. Tap 'Free' or ‘buy’ and a
new screen appears asking you to accept the permissions the app needs.
Tap 'OK'.

Step five

A message saying 'Your item will be downloaded' appears, and in the top
row of the screen a download symbol appears. Wait for that to disappear,
and you'll see a notification that the app has been installed.

Step six
Go to the apps list and find the application. Tap its icon and the
application will run. If you want it on a home screen, tap and hold the
icon and drop it when it appears on the home screen.

47
Lesson: Technology talks

Did you know that you can access your email on multiple devices
including your tablet or smartphone? Better yet, if you have a digital
calendar or social media account you can access that information too. In
today’s world, we can get most information on whatever device is closest
to us or charged.

But you don’t have to use your browser on your tablet or smartphone to
access your email, do your banking or scroll the latest tweets on Twitter.
Most likely there is an app for that.

The experience of using a website will be similar, but probably not the
same as using the app. The language will be the same. But many apps
limit the actions you can do on your smartphone or tablet. They may
have a similar design, but they are often designed to be read on smaller
screens.

48
Activity: Think to Sync!

Think of a website you visit frequently. Maybe it’s Facebook, Twitter,

YouTube or your email. For this activity, it should be something where
you have an account that makes the experience uniquely yours.

Using the instructions from the last activity, download an app. Follow
the instructions to link your account after downloading. Fill in the
following chart about the web vs. app experience.

Website Application

Experience of logging
on

How it looks on your

tablet or smartphone

Similarities

Key differences

49
Lesson: Streaming

Sometimes we don’t need to download. We can do what is called

“streaming.” Streaming means that you transfer data so that it can be
accessed as a steady stream. Most Internet users do not have fast
enough access to download large files quickly. Streaming allows the user
to start using/seeing the data before the full file has been received.

Examples of streaming include listening to the radio over the Internet

and watching a live sports event on your computer.

Streaming is often used to connect with live events, but this doesn’t have
to be the case. The major difference between streaming and downloading
is that the user does not have to wait for a file to download and take up
space on their computer or device when it’s being downloaded.

There are positives and negatives to streaming content.

Positives include

• quick access to lots of material

• ability to connect with multiple people and groups
• opportunity to witness something as at happens

Negatives to streaming content include

• being unable to censor what is being watched

• having to download a program to stream content
• troubles with technology

Nothing is worse than watching a championship sports game only to

have the stream freeze in the final moments.

50
Activity: Listening live

For this activity, we are going to listen to music. There are two types of
music listening on your device – live and recorded. For this activity, we
are going to try both.

Let’s start by listening to music on a recorded playlist. Using your app

searching skills, find and download the “Google Play” app. This app
allows you to choose different types of “playlists” to stream. Once
downloaded, explore the app. Can you find a type of music you like?
How did you find it? Stream and listen.

Many local radio stations are allowing users to stream on the Internet.
Open your Internet browser and search for a radio station. Some
Toronto stations that offer streaming include Edge 102.1 and 99.9
Virgin. Can you figure out how to stream the content that is live on air?

51
Lesson: Talk to me

Short hand is obsolete. Cursive handwriting is used less and not taught
in many elementary schools. Today much of what we read is typed. We
use our fingers to find the keys. But could this be the next tool to
become history?

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you have probably heard of Siri. She is
the lady that lives in your device.

If you have an android phone or tablet, you will most likely need to use a
downloaded app to add “personality” to your device. Open your Internet
browser and search for “Siri for Android”. Read articles about app
suggestions. Choose one and download it.

Siri (or an android alternative) takes away the need to type to connect
with your phone. With the press of the button, the user can ask a
question, write an email or text message or navigate your phone. All
without typing a single word.

Go to www.YouTube.com and search for “Siri use”, “Siri tricks” or “Siri

tips”. Or if you have downloaded an app, change “Siri” for the name of
the app. Watch a video to learn more about what Siri can do for you.

52
Activity: Siri (not Simon) says

Can you get Siri (or an alternative app) to

• find directions to a specific place?

• give you the date and time?
• tell you the closest pizza parlour?
• type a text message or email?
• open a website?

What are the pros to using Siri (or an alternative app)?

What are the cons to using Siri (or an alternative app)?

53
Module 4 – Google Docs
Target of this unit
• To learn how to use Google Docs

Employment Link
Many employers are using Google Docs or similar file sharing
programs

Connec8ng experience with learning

Offices used to have several filing cabinets. Now people are storing
fewer and fewer paper documents.
Where is the informaBon stored?

54
Lesson: What is Google Docs?

Google Docs is a free file-sharing program. It allows you to access your

documents anywhere and on multiple devices including computers,
tablets and smartphones.

You can choose to use it on your own or invite others to share and work
on documents. Users can edit in “real time” which means that the
document will change immediately.

One of the best features about Google Docs is that you never have to
save anything. The program saves itself!

It works with Microsoft Word. If you have documents that you have
created in Microsoft Word you can upload them into Google Drive. This
also works for Microsoft Excel.

Let’s take a look at Google Docs to find out more. Go to

www.google.ca/docs/about/. Click on the “Go to Google Docs” button.

55
Activity: Create a Google Account

You need to have a Google account to use Google Docs. Having an

account is free. It gives you access to an email address. It also acts as a
key to all of the Google programs including Docs, Drive and Keep.

After you have hit the “Go to Google Docs” button, it will ask you to put
in your email and password. If you do not have these, click “Create
Account” at the bottom of the screen.

To create an account, you will be asked for some basic information about
yourself. You will need to select an email address and a password.

You should use an email address that is clear, recognizable and

reasonably short. If you are a job seeker, consider using your name with
your middle initial. Leave out your birth year if you don’t want
employers to know how old you are. Try to use something that would be
appropriate for all audiences.

Follow the steps to complete your account.

56
Lesson: Creating a document

With your account, you are now ready to start a document. Click the
“Go to Google Docs” button. The page will open up a set of pictures
under “Start a document.” On the top row to your left, you will see a box
that says “blank”. Click it. You have now created your first document.

Let’s explore. If you have ever used Microsoft Word, the icons and
headings may be familiar to you. If not, this may look completely new!

On the top left hand corner, you will see a blue box with 3.5 lines on it.
This is your home button. If you click it, it will take you back to the start
page.

To the right of the blue box, you will see “untitled document.” This is
where you can add a title by clicking on the words. Click to highlight
and then type the name of your document. Call it “The Amazing Things
I’ve Seen.”

Under the title is a line of words starting with “file”. These are the menu
headers. Click and hover over any of them to open a drop down menu.
Try a few to see what drops down.

There is a line of icons and short words under the menu headers. These
icons allow you to make changes to your document like font,
indentations, and format.

The large white rectangle on the screen is your page. If you were to print
your document, what is within these boundaries is what would print.

57
Activity: Build on your document

Click on the top of your page. Retype the title of your document.

Click “enter” or “return” to move to the next line. Click “enter” or

“return” again to leave a line space between your title and the body of
your document.

Type at least 3 amazing things you have seen in your life. Each should
be on their own line. They can be anything you want.

How will people know the difference between the title of your document
and the body of your document? Let’s play with the font on the title to
make it stand out.

Move the cursor to the left or the right of your title. Click and hold down
the left mouse button. Drag the cursor across your title. Release the
mouse button.

Move your mouse button along the line of icons until the word “font”
pops up. Left click your mouse to open a drop down font menu. Select a
font that looks fun for your document.

Move your cursor to the box on the write of “font”. It should be a

number. Left click your mouse to open a drop down font size menu.
Select a font size that is higher than the current number.

You have now created your first document with a title and body. And
you don’t even have to remember to save it!

58
Lesson: Using a Template

A great feature of Google Docs is that you can build a document without
having to create it from scratch.

Google Docs has templates that you can edit with your own information
and ideas including letters, resumes, posters and brochures.

Open Google Docs. Under “Start a Document” you will see the “blank”
template we used for the last lesson. Next to it are the most recent
templates other users have accessed. To the upper right of these
templates, you will see the word “more” with an up and a down arrow.
Click “More” to open up all the templates available.

Scroll through the templates and choose one that looks interesting by
clicking on it.

59
Activity: Tem ”play”

Let’s play with the template. Most of the words on the document are
probably non-sense words except for the titles and headings. You can
move your cursor to the left or the right of the words you want to replace.
Then click the left mouse button and drag the cursor over the words.
Release the mouse. This is called “highlighting.” Start typing your new
words.

You can change the title by clicking on the template title at the top left of
the page and using the highlighting technique.

Try to change the font style using the highlighting technique. Change
the font size in parts of the document if you wish.

You can bold, underline or italicize the font using the icons to the right of
the font size. You can also change the font colour. Remember to use the
highlighting technique and play around with the text.

Let’s play with justification. Justification means if the words are aligned
to the left, right or center of the page. Highlight a section of the
document. On the icon menu line there are 4 icons that are each of 3 or
4 parallel lines. One will be selected. This shows the current
justification. Choose one of the other 3 icons. What happens?

Continue to edit your document until it becomes something uniquely

yours.

60
Lesson: When Microsoft Office looks in the mirror

Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint are the three main programs to
make up what Microsoft calls its Office Suite. Employers, schools and
individuals all over the globe use these programs.

Google Docs has mirrored these documents. The last two lessons have
shown you the basics of “Docs”, a free program like Word. Google offers
the user “Sheets”, as free program like Excel and “Slides”, a free program
like PowerPoint.

Although this module won’t teach you the basics of “Sheets” and “Slides”,
we want you to open and explore both programs. Try them both out.
You can access them by clicking on the blue box with the 3 white lines at
the top left corner of the screen. A drop down menu will show you the 3
programs. Select which one you would like to explore first. Scroll
through the templates to get an idea of what is available. Then choose
one to explore.

61
Activity: The Three Musketeers

Complete the following chart after you have explored “Sheets” and
“Slides”.

Docs Sheets Slides

What is the
same about the
programs?

What are the key

differences?

What type of
documents
could you create
with this
program?

62
Lesson: Where is it?

So you have created these documents…but where are they? Unlike

traditional software, your documents are not stored on your computer.
They are stored on Google Drive.

Google Drive or “Drive” is a web-based program that stores your

documents. You can access them from a computer, tablet or
smartphone as long as it is connected to the Internet.

Drive will ask you to enter your email and password to access your
documents. You can share your documents with other users. This way
you can all edit the same document by using Drive.

You automatically have access to Drive when you register for your Google
account. To open it, click the box of 9 boxes icon at the top right hand
side. A drop down menu will appear with all of the Google programs you
can access with your account. Click on Drive.

Drive will open. Three main columns should appear. On the left is the
menu column. The middle is your documents. The right is a list of
recent activities.

The left menu column allows you to change the files that appear on the
middle column. This can be helpful if you only want to view photos,
access documents someone else has shared with you or see recent
documents you have created or worked on.

You can upload Microsoft files to drive by clicking on the red “New”
button at the top of the menu column. A drop down menu will appear.
You can add an entire folder of documents or a single file. You can also
use this to start a new document by clicking on the Docs, Sheets or
Slides icons.

The search box at the very top middle of the screen allows you to search
your files using key words. This is helpful when you build up a large
number of documents.

63
Activity: Keeping it organized

Docs can be used for many types of documents including personal and
professional. It can be helpful to create folders of document types to
keep you organized.

On the second line of the page is a menu titled “My Drive.” Click on it to
open a drop down menu. Click on the words “New Folder.” A box will
pop up asking you to name your folder. Name your folder “Personal.”
Click “Done.”

Your folder should appear on the screen above your documents. You can
drag documents to the folder by clicking on the document and holding
the left mouse button down. Move the cursor to the file folder. The
folder will turn blue. Release the mouse button and your file will be
placed in the folder.

To access the documents in the folder you can double-click on it.

64