Digital Literacy & AI Skills Curriculum

Turn a device on/off and identify the main parts of the screen.

“The desktop is home. Icons open programs. Always shut down properly.”

Click, scroll, and type with basic accuracy.

“One click selects. Two clicks opens. Shift makes capitals.”

Adjust volume/brightness and locate accessibility settings.

“Settings has more options if you ever need bigger text or other help.”

Find and connect to Wi-Fi independently.

“Click the Wi-Fi symbol, find your network, type the password once.”

Use the essential features of a smartphone with confidence.

“Your phone is a small computer — the same basics apply.”

Open a browser and use tabs and the address bar.

“The address bar is where you type where you want to go.”

Understand the difference between a search engine and an AI chat tool, and when to use each.

“Search gives you links to check. AI gives you a direct answer to think about. Neither replaces the other.”

Open an AI tool and have a first successful interaction.

“AI can produce useful answers but can also be wrong, sometimes while sounding very confident. That's why we check.”

Recognize the signs of an unsafe website.

“Unexpected prize pop-ups, urgent warnings, and requests for personal information are warning signs. Don't click until you verify.”

Have a working email account and understand inbox basics.

“Your inbox is your mailbox. Folders keep it organized.”

Safely open, save, and add attachments.

“Save the attachments you need. Never open one from a stranger.”

Use AI to draft a real email, then edit it into your own voice.

“Let AI write the first draft. You make it sound like you before sending it.”

Join a video call and match tone to context.

“Match your tone to who you're writing to.”

Understand profiles, posting, and who can see what you share.

“Set your profile to private. Once posted, it can be copied forever.”

Create a strong password.

“Longer is stronger. Don't reuse the same password everywhere.”

Identify phishing attempts.

“Urgent + asking for personal info = red flag.”

Understand what privacy settings control.

“Privacy settings vary by app. Take a few minutes to review what's being shared.”

Identify what personal information should never be shared casually.

“If something asks for your SSN or bank info out of nowhere, stop and verify before typing anything.”

Apply a basic check before believing or sharing information found online.

“Before you believe or share something surprising, check another trustworthy source.”

Apply the same verification habit to AI-generated output.

“AI can be confidently wrong, just like a misleading headline can look official. The same check applies to both.”

Recognize AI-powered impersonation scams.

“Urgent + secrecy + money request = hang up and verify on a number you already have.”

Accurately complete an online form.

“Have your info ready. Review before you submit.”

Create, format, and save a document, then use AI to improve it.

“AI can help you write better and faster — you're always the one who decides what stays.”

Understand that cloud storage keeps files accessible anywhere.

“If your file is saved to cloud storage, you can usually access it from another device.”

Navigate a services portal and use AI to clarify confusing content while protecting sensitive information.

“AI can help explain a confusing letter, but strip out your personal details first.”

Create folders and name files clearly.

“Name your files clearly. Use folders.”

Enter data into a spreadsheet and total a column.

“Rows, columns, cells — and the SUM button does the math.”

Join a video doctor visit and use a patient portal.

“Charge your device, find a quiet place, write your questions down first.”

Bank and shop online without falling for fraud.

“Never click account links in texts. Credit card, not gift cards. Too good to be true means it is.”

Have an accurate model of how AI works.

“AI predicts. It doesn't know. That's the whole idea to remember.”

List multiple realistic AI use cases relevant to your own life.

“AI is a starting point, not the final word on anything important.”

Explain hallucination risk to someone else.

“Confidently wrong is still wrong. Always double-check.”

Write a specific, detailed prompt.

“The more specific you are, the more useful the answer.”

Understand that AI answers can be biased and unfair.

“AI output is not neutral truth. If it sounds like a stereotype, question it.”

Know your rights when AI is used in decisions about you.

“You can ask if AI was used in a decision about you, and you can appeal.”

Produce a real piece of writing with AI help.

“AI drafts. You finish it in your own voice.”

Use AI to break a task into steps.

“AI turns overwhelming tasks into simple lists.”

Use AI to get something explained more simply.

“Confused? Ask AI to explain it more simply — and ask again a different way if needed.”

Use AI to support a real job search task.

“AI is a practice partner, not a replacement for your own experience.”

Consistently verify AI output before using it for anything real.

“Before you use anything AI gives you for something real — check it.”

Create a one-page resume with standard sections.

“One page, clean format, action words. AI suggests; you decide.”

Evaluate an AI tool before signing up.

“If you wouldn't post it publicly, don't type it into an AI tool.”

Demonstrate core skills, including AI use, with support.

“You've done all of this before. Today is just practice.”

Know how to keep building skills after the program.

“Practice assessments are free and open to anyone.”

Know where to find ongoing low-cost internet.

“Here's exactly where to go if you need continued access.”

Leave with a written plan.

“You're leaving with a real plan, not just a memory of eight weeks.”