The Passport to the Digital Word introduces 16 topics, from online safety to finding healthy aging resources, to online fun.
Calling San Francisco seniors and people with disabilities! There’s a whole digital world waiting for you. Learn how to get started and safely find your way to information, connections and fun online with our Passport to the Digital World.
We’ll be launching the Passport on May 10 as part of the Library’s Connect with Tech Week. Join the party on May 10 from 12:00-1:30pm at the Main Library Learning Center on the 5th floor. (Please let us know if you’re coming so we can have enough food and drink!)
Introducing Digital Learning Resources
With the Passport to the Digital World, seniors and people with disabilities can learn at their own pace and in a location that feels best for them – in a SF Connected computer lab, at their SF Library branch, with a friend. There are classes and one-on-one tutoring available throughout San Francisco.
The Passport includes 14 “places” to visit in the online world: Getting Online (device and web browser basics), Navigating the Web Safely, Finding Tech Support, Writing and Sending Email, Listening to Music, Trying Social Media, Video Chatting, Playing Games Online, Shopping Online, Finding Healthy Recipes, Finding Food, Finding Transportation, Researching a Medical Condition, and Reading or Watching the News. There are also two bonus “places” to encourage learners to learn find other topics. Each topic includes two or three tasks for learners to master for a “stamp” on their passport.
For more on the topics, see the Online Learning Resources webpage. The resources page is currently available in English, and will soon be available in Spanish and Chinese.
Celebrating Accomplishments
As participants complete tasks, trainers at participating organizations will “stamp” their passports for them. We will celebrate progress with parties in the fall and spring.
We will invite participants to join their Digital World neighbors to celebrate progress and learn from each other. The parties will include recognition and certificates for those who complete their passports, as well as raffles for passport holders at all stages of learning.
San Francisco Organizations Join Forces to Increase Digital Literacy
The Passport is organized by the SF Tech Council, an organization of government, non-profit, and business leaders working to advance digital inclusion through policy, Council-led initiatives, and program support for older adults and people with disabilities. The Council’s Access and Learning Workgroup created the Passport to the Digital World to:
- Increase beginning computer users’ interest in all of the exciting things available online
- Share and publicize the many learning and technology access resources available to San Francisco seniors and people with disabilities
- Help participants find the resources and classes they need to get connected and safely navigate the internet
- Help organizations and tutors to find and share our teaching resources
- Provide a set of specific skills for each
As we launch the Passport, our partners include the Community Living Campaign, Community Technology Network, Felton Institute, and San Francisco Public Library. We welcome additional partners! If interested, please contact info@sftechcouncil.org to join the initiative, get a teaching packet, and more resource links.