Free computer classes — beginner to AI-ready in 8 weeks.
36 short, self-paced lessons that start at "how do I turn this on" and finish with using AI to write a résumé. No tuition, no experience needed, no credit check. Online from anywhere in California, with live support for San Francisco cohorts — and a certificate when you finish.
- Cost
- $0 — always free
- Length
- 8 weeks · 36 lessons
- Time
- 1–2 hours a week
- Finish with
- Verified certificate
Get the next class date before it fills
San Francisco cohorts fill quickly. Enter your email and we'll tell you the moment the next class opens.
Who these classes are for
Complete beginners
If you have avoided computers your whole working life, start at Week 1. Nothing is assumed and nothing is rushed.
Seniors and older adults
Plain language, big steps, and lessons you can repeat as often as you want. Many participants are 55 and older.
Job seekers and career changers
Online applications, email, spreadsheets, video interviews, and AI tools that speed up a résumé or cover letter.
Eight weeks, one skill at a time.
- 01
Week 1: Computer basics
Turning it on, mouse and keyboard, desktop, files and folders, saving your work.
- 02
Week 2: Getting online
Wi-Fi, browsers, searching well, telling good sources from bad ones.
- 03
Week 3: Email that works
Setting up an account, writing and replying, attachments, keeping an inbox under control.
- 04
Week 4: Staying safe online
Strong passwords, scams and phishing, privacy settings, protecting your money and ID.
- 05
Week 5: Everyday digital tools
Documents, spreadsheets, video calls, cloud storage, printing and scanning from a phone.
- 06
Week 6: Forms, portals, and services
Online job applications, benefits and health portals, uploading documents, digital signatures.
- 07
Week 7: AI you can actually use
What AI is and isn't, writing prompts, using AI to draft a résumé, cover letter, or email.
- 08
Week 8: Your plan from here
Digital skills on a résumé, next-step training and jobs, a written plan you leave with.
What you need to start
- To be 18 or older and living in California
- An email address — we will help you create one if you don't have one
- Any device: phone, tablet, borrowed library computer, or laptop
- About one to two hours a week for eight weeks
What you leave with
- A verifiable certificate of completion you can share on LinkedIn
- Working email, file, safety, and document skills you use the same day
- Practical AI skills — drafting, summarizing, and job-search help
- A written next-step plan and a coach who knows your goals
Questions people ask before enrolling
Are the computer classes really free?
Yes. There is no tuition, no registration fee, and no credit check. Futurenomic Resources is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the class is paid for by grants and donors, not by participants.
Do I need to own a computer to take the class?
No. Lessons work on a phone, a borrowed library computer, or a laptop. Participants who need a device can be considered for a Chromebook through our device program while supplies last.
What if I have never used a computer before?
That is exactly who Week 1 is written for. It starts with turning a computer on, using a mouse and keyboard, and understanding what files and folders are. No prior experience is assumed.
Do you offer computer classes for seniors?
Yes. Adults of every age enroll, and many participants are 55+. Lessons are self-paced, use plain language, and can be repeated as many times as you like. An instructor and an AI tutor are available when you get stuck.
How long is the course and how much time does it take each week?
The course runs 8 weeks with 36 short lessons — roughly one to two hours per week. Lessons are self-paced, so you can do them at night, on weekends, or in one sitting.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. Participants who complete the required 8 hours of coursework receive a verifiable certificate of completion that can be shared on LinkedIn or attached to a job application.
Are the classes online or in person?
Both. The coursework is online and self-paced, and San Francisco cohorts include live support sessions. You can complete everything online from anywhere in California.
What languages are the classes in?
Course materials are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Not the right fit? Other free options
We would rather you learn somewhere than nowhere. Public libraries across California run free drop-in computer help and one-on-one tech coaching, and county workforce centers offer free computer labs and job-search assistance. If you want a structured eight-week course with a certificate and a coach, that's what we built.
Seats are limited to 20 people per class.
Enrollment takes about two minutes. If the next class fills, we hold your place for the one after.
Want the next class date by email?
We'll email you when the next free class opens. One email, no spam.