Microsoft has teamed up with UK online centres, learndirect and OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations) to launch the Digital Literacy curriculum, which provides a free entry-level resource for individuals seeking to develop basic computer and technology skills. The Microsoft Digital Literacy curriculum is a free, easy-to-access course, available online for individuals seeking to develop basic computer and technology skills. It helps people to develop the essential skills they need to use computers with confidence – whether at work or for personal use. The Digital Literacy Curriculum comprises five modules: • Computer Basics that will introduce learners to the fundamentals of computing, explaining the components of a computer and exploring how to use basic operating systems. • Learners will be shown the ins and outs of The Internet, finding out everything from browsing web pages and navigating web sites to using search engines and exchanging emails. • There are Productivity Programmes providing information on the fundamentals of word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software and databases to use in business, education and at home. • Digital Lifestyles will introduce learners to digital technologies such as how to manage their photographs, videos and music. • Computer security and privacy will help build confidence in computing by explaining the risks and threats to computer security and privacy so that learners will be able understand and prevent them. The curriculum is appealing because it offers flexibility for learners; a stepping-stone to higher qualifications; a bridge back into other learning and formal accreditation with OCR. Availability of the curriculum has been extended by a software donation from Microsoft to UK online centres in the voluntary and community sector. Around 500 eligible UK online centres are expected to apply for their share of the estimated £3-6 million software donation over the next six to twelve months

Policy Context

Alignment with the government's skills agenda has been key to the roll-out of this programme and to the readiness of the Minister for Skills, David Lammy, to launch the programme in April. At the launch, he said: "this curriculum goes to the heart of the Prime Minister's mission to skill up the nation". The Digital Literacy Curriculum offers approachable, entry-level materials to draw people into ICT literacy and to help close the nation's skills gap, supporting the government's "Skills for Life" goals and targets set by the Leitch Review of Skills. The requirement for such a course is self evident: according to an ICM survey commissioned by Microsoft, almost a third of the UK adult population say they have poor or no computer skills and one in six workers today feel they lack the IT skills needed to do their job adequately. In the UK over 80% of jobs require the use of computers and the Digital Literacy curriculum can lead to a recognised qualification with OCR which can extend job opportunities for individual learners. The curriculum is also easy to support in the workplace and, for any organisations using Microsoft technologies, a "web-part" will soon be available which turns the free materials into an assignable and trackable learning resources. As this rolls out we will be able to track completion rates and to see the impact we are having on the 6 million people currently in the UK's workforce with no ICT skills. OCR has also begun discussions with the accreditation authority, the QCA, to establish a pre-16 qualification associated with Digital Literacy. This will significantly boost take up in schools where the curriculum has a role to play in supporting the government's programmes for ICT in teaching and learning and the Universal Home Access programme

Description of target users and groups

The Digital Literacy curriculum is designed for anyone with basic reading skills: it has been written at a reading level similar to that of most newspapers around the world. Target learners include: - Individuals not currently in work who may be wanting to build skills or to become a more capable digital citizen able to use online services and to enjoy social software for communication and recreation - |Those currently in work and needing ICT skills for their current role or future job prospects - Students in formal learning

Description of the way to implement the initiative

The implementation of the programme depends on established partners with particular - and complementary - expertise and specialism, in order to ensure the accessibility, training and examination aspects of the Curriculum are world class. learndirect is the UK's largest publicly funded e-learning network. It provides local learning and testing centres where government funded tutors can support the curriculum. learndirect also runs the national telephone helpline to help people find a learning centre near their home. UK online centres are local and community based centres providing millions of people with access to technology and support in using it. They offer free or low cost access to the internet and email, deliver online courses such as the Digital Literacy curriculum and encourage people to progress onto further learning. OCR is a leading UK awarding body and have achieved accreditation for an Entry Level 3 certificate for the curriculum, which sits within the National Qualifications Framework. . Microsoft produced and hosts the curriculum which is provided free and is supported by excellent tutor-based materials and guidance. Microsoft also provided a strategic grant of software to ensure community and voluntary centres can teach digital literacy in the most local of settings.

Technology solution

The Digital Literacy curriculum is available online or it can be downloaded for use on a PC without connectivity. Since Digital Literacy simulates software user environments, from a learning perspective, it does not require a specific application software or operating system to be installed for use. However, the practice exercises in the instructor’s manual assume that students have access to Office and Windows. Instructors report that greater retention of ICT concepts occurs when students are able to reinforce learning with hands-on practice. The only software required to run either version of Digital Literacy is a minimum of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6, which is available to users of Windows XP Service Pack 2 and later. The curriculum also works with Microsoft Internet Explorer 7. If you plan to use the Microsoft Word download versions of the curriculum, you must have Microsoft Word 2002 or later installed. Since Digital Literacy simulates software user environments, pedagogically, it does not require a specific application software or operating system to be installed for use. In addition, we have maintained generic language and descriptions of applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software and databases to use in business. Technology choice: Standards-based technology, Mainly (or only) open standards, Accessibility-compliant (minimum WAI AA)

Main results, benefits and impacts

Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. As a responsible industry leader, one of the company's central aims is to help close the digital divide. Microsoft is also a centre of excellence for the development of curriculum and examinations relating to desktop and technical skills and has been able to draw on this expertise to develop a free, online digital literacy curriculum to provide entry level ICT skills. We have spoken about three features of the programme which are key to its success: our partnerships; our integration with government policies and objectives and the “viral” appeal of the programme. The Digital Literacy partners will meet quarterly to review progress and to understand how the overall programme is faring. We share data representing take-up, completion and successful qualification and reflect on the qualitative feedbback from each part of the delivery chain - and reactions from stakeholders. At launch, 300 centres were equipped to teach Digital Literacy and we expect this will ramp up fast to circa 1,600 (from a total of 7,500). We anticipate we will support circa 200,000 students per annum. Additionally, the impact of the programme will be tracked in national surveys and tracking around social inclusion. UK online centres have a rolling study of the social impact of digital inclusion and the data around online delivery of government services. This will help us track the broader impact of this programme across our communities. There are three main innovations associated with our Digital Literacy Curriculum. It offers a personalised experience which takes account of busy routines and different learning styles. The content is innovative, including modules on safety and security and "digital lifestyles" which are not common in entry-level materials. And deployment in the workplace can take advantage of a new "webpart" which provides a "mini-VLE" for the curriculum. Prior to launch, Microsoft worked with UK online centres and e-Skills UK on issues of usability and accessibility. There is no “cap” in terms of the number of people who can be supported or the length of time the curriculum will be available. We have built sustainability into the programme by: • Microsoft making a long term commitment to keep the curriculum free, updated and hosted globally • learndirect ensuring disadvantaged learners have access to tutor support funded by government • UK online centres upgrading the IT provision in their community and voluntary centres (using the MS grant) to ensure the curriculum is available to the hardest to reach learners • OCR developing a nationally recognised qualification and driving the take up in workplace settings

Return on investment

Return on investment: Larger than €10,000,000

Track record of sharing

Information about the programme and the partnership which delivers it has been shared with: - The "Skills for Life" team in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (England) - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland education depts - Microsoft Academic managers in 162 countries Because the Digital Literacy curriculum is also available in 17 other languages, we are finding that many discussions which draw on our experiences are ongoing.

Lessons learnt

Partnerships are vital. None of the partners for this project could have delivered the programme on their own. Together they brought the curriculum, the learning environments, the tutoring and the certification which the individual learners needed to have as a coherent offer. Raising awareness about the programme for the key target audiences is a challenge. Great channels exist - but the cost can sometimes be prohibitive. We found that local radio was a very effective route to the right listeners. In one day we recorded interviews used 300 times across the country with an audience of 24 million. Being prepared to develop and evolve the offering is also vital. Early in the process we received great feedback. For example, although the target audience was initially post-16 learners, we discovered very quickly that the curriculum was popular in schools. And so we have now applied for a pre-16 accreditation and aim to offer this from January 2009. Continuous learning and development is vital for maintaining the energy and currency of the project. Scope: National