Discover online learning courses including expanding your technology skills, becoming a digital champion as well as free and paid-for courses,

1. AbilityNet LIVE! Online Learning
Sarah Botterill, Free Services Marketing Manager;
Kevin Maye, Learn My Way; Kathy Valdes, Managing Director,
Digital Unite; Michele Brooker, East Sussex Libraries Service
05 May 2020

2. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Housekeeping
• Live captions are available during the webinar
• Please use the Q&A window to ask questions
• We have turned the chat window off for ease
• Slides, a transcript and recording will be made available post-
webinar – you will be notified via email
• There will be a feedback form to ask any follow up questions

3. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Welcome: Online learning
• Introduction to AbilityNet and how we can help; AbilityNet LIVE!
• Online learning: who it’s for, and what to expect
• Basic digital skills (Learn My Way; Digital Unite)
• FREE online courses (what’s available?)
• Paid-for learning courses
• Video learning platforms
• Using your local library, and BBC Sounds
• How AbilityNet can help you continue your learning

4. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
About AbilityNet
• Our mission is a digital world accessible to all
• Supporting people at home, at work and in education
• Network of 300+ trusted (DBS-checked) volunteers
• Normally, face-to-face advice but it’s business as usual for us with
remote support and you can still call FREE on 0800 048 764
• FREE online support through My Computer My Way,
My Study My Way and via a series of FREE factsheets

5. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Making a difference to our clients
• 80% of clients said that they were “better able to use technology”
thanks to help from our volunteers
• 78% find it easier to manage daily life
• 86% felt more knowledgeable
• 76% felt more independent
• 69% felt less isolated

6. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
For details of future webinars
https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-
resources/webinars

7. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
The benefits of online learning
• Continued Professional Development (in work, or during furlough)
• Students at University or preparing for university
• For personal development including understanding COVID-19; short
courses available to support with mental health as well
• Scheduled learning can provide focus and a sense of routine (also
good for people who might struggle with mental health)

8. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
How does online learning work?
• Many platforms are MOOCs (Massive Online Open Course)
• No need to walk into a room so no feelings of judgement
• Many give you the option to ‘audit’ the course – access to materials
for the duration of the course and not assignment grading
• Assignments often have deadlines (don’t take on too much)
• Courses are typically repeated
• Free and paid-for, short and longer courses available

9. Learning digital skills online

10. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Learn My Way (Kevin Maye)
• What is Learn My Way (https://www.learnmyway.com/)?
• What are some of the key areas people can learn
about, (e.g. basics, internet skills, public services).
• Can people really become more confident in online
skills by using an online learning platform?

11. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
Examples of courses on Learn My Way
• Use your computer or device
inc. mouse and keyboard skills)
• Online basics (using the internet
and using email)
• Office programs (creating
presentations and documents)
• Video calling, using Facebook

12. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
Poll 1

13. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• BT Skills for Tomorrow
• Offers free webinars (e.g.
preparing for a career in
today’s digital workplace;
making the most of furlough
• Courses include: Keeping
yourself safe online, Using
public services online
BT Skills for Tomorrow

14. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• What is your role in terms of helping people embrace online
learning?
• Who are you supporting, and how?
• What are some of the barriers to online leaning?
• Is it possible to overcome these in an online learning environment?
• What assets do you have for people interested in learning online?
Digital Unite (Kathy)

15. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• Digital Unite Champion's Network
o Award-winning online training platform for people who help others with digital
skills i.e. Digital Champions
o Helps staff and volunteers build digital skills confidence to teach others
o 500+ guides and teaching resources; badges and CPD accreditation
o Web app, learning community and mentor support with project toolkits
• 20 online self-study courses + hundreds of resources
• Example courses: Supporting complete beginners, overcoming accessibility
barriers, internet safety, engaging older people
How Digital Unite can help

16. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
1.Free membership of Digital Champions Network for individuals
http://www.digitalunite.com/news-reviews/free-digital-champion-training-during-covid-19
2. Free digital skills guides relevant for right now
http://www.digitalunite.com/news-reviews/covid-19-guides-resources
3. Dedicated guides for helping someone with digital skills remotely
http://www.digitalunite.com/news-reviews/covid-19-how-help-others-remote-digital-
champion
www.digitalunite.com / www.digitalchampionsnetwork.com
Free online training and support

17. Online Learning: Free and paid-for

18. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• FutureLearn (https://www.futurelearn.com/)
• Jointly owned by The Open University and The SEEK Group
• Courses from universities and cultural institutions worldwide
(includes British Council, the British Library, the British
Museum, and the National Film and Television School)
• Short courses and online degrees (free and paid-for)
• Earn professional or academic credentials
FutureLearn (run by Open University)

19. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• Business and management
• Creative arts and media
• Healthcare and medicine
• History
• IT and Computer Science
• Language
• Law
Categories of courses available
• Literature
• Nature and Environment
• Politics and society
• Psychology and mental health
• Science, Engineering and
Maths
• Study Skills and Teaching

20. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• Building a future with robots
• Concepts in Sustainable development
• COVID-19, Tackling the Novel Virus
• How to teach online
• Supporting people with health conditions into work
• Understanding ADHD
• Work-Life balance and the impact of remote working
Example courses available

21. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
Poll 2

22. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• OpenLearn offers FREE
courses from the OU
• Work at your on pace; over
1,000 available courses
• Statement of participation; also
offers ‘badged’ courses that
demonstrate subject interest
and a commitment to learning
OpenLearn (Open University)

23. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• Money and Business
• Education and Development
• Health, Sports and Psychology
• History and The Arts
• Languages
• Nature and Environment
• Science, Maths and Technology
• Society, Politics and Law
Subjects covered by OpenLearn

24. Tech at Home| 05 May 2020
• Covid-19 nursing and healthcare: learning to help you in practice
• Eating for the environment
• Effective communication in the workplace
• Forensic psychology
• How does the human body fight a viral infection?
• Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
• Understanding autism
Example courses from OpenLearn

25. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• Celebrated its 50th birthday in 2019
• Distance and online learning courses; full- and part-time, includes
post-graduate courses as well as short courses
• A to Z of subjects available on its website.
• Or search by qualification:
o Certificate of Higher Education
o Diploma of Higher Education
o Honours degree
Open University (paid-for courses)

26. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
Example Courses, and pricing OU
• Diploma of Higher Education in Computing & IT and Psychology
• Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling
• Diploma of Higher Education in Health and Social Care
• BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (Chemistry)
• Fees paid on a module-by-module basis
• 60 credits £3,096
• 120 credits (equivalent to a year's full-time study) is £6,192.

27. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• Offers a variety of short paid-for courses
• Claims 150,000 courses online
• Supports 65 different languages
• Categories of learning: Development, Business, IT and
software, Design, Marketing, Personal Development,
Photography, and Music
• Many courses discounted at this time

28. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• Become a SuperLearner 2: Learn Speed Reading & Boost Memory
(£12.99)
• Python Bootcamp: Go from zero to hero in Python 3 (£129.99)
• Tableau 10 A-Z: Hands-On Tableau Training For Data Science!
(£12.99)
• The Ultimate Drawing Course - Beginner to Advanced (£17.99)
• The Complete Video Production Bootcamp (£17.99)
Individual courses available

29. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
Poll 3

30. Video and other resources

31. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• What is your role?
• What’s the most rewarding thing about it, and the most challenging?
• How are you supporting people with access to online learning
resources?
• How can people access their local library services using their
computer?
Accessing your online library (Michelle)

32. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• East Sussex Library and Information Services Online Library Services (or
check out your local Library)
• Ebooks: https://eastsussexlibrary.overdrive.com/
• •Audiobooks and EMagazines:
https://www.rbdigital.com/eastsussex/service/magazines/landing
• DownloadNewspapers: https://www.pressreader.com/catalog
• Online reference library: https://eastsussex.spydus.co.uk/cgi-
bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRNGEN/WPAC/OBDS?HOMEPRMS=OBDSPARAM
S
Michele Brooker, Library services

33. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• Podcasts and videos from a variety of inspirational speakers
• Offers an app to download for phone or tablet
• Sign-in and register for personal recommendations
• Can search topics A to Z (Activism to Wunderkind)
• Example videos: 12 truths I learned from life, and writing (Anne
Lamott); The gift and power of emotional courage (Harvard Medical
School Psychologist, Susan David); The Beauty of being a misfit; a
global hackathon to tackle the coronavirus pandemic
Ted Talks

34. Tech at Home | 05 May 2020
• Good source of FREE podcasts and lectures, and audio books
• Download the apps for iOS or Android, or
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
• Examples podcasts and audio books:
o How to cure viral misinformation
o The untold story of Edith Cavell
o Fake Heiress
BBC Sounds App

35. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
Poll 4

36. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Links to online learning platforms
• BBC Sounds:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds
• BT Skills for Tomorrow:
www.bt.com/skillsfortomorrow/
• Digital Unite:
www.digitalunite.com
• FutureLearn:
www.futurelearn.com
• LearnMyWay:
https://www.learnmyway.com
• OpenLearn:
https://www.open.edu/openlearn
• Open University:
http://www.open.ac.uk/
• Ted Talks: https://www.ted.com/
• Udemy: Http://www.udemy.com

37. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Resources for people studying
• Five tech hacks for dyslexia
• How computers can help manage stress
• Ambient apps to help you focus and study
• Four game changing apps for students at University
• Google hacks for people with autism
• Dyslexia and technology (Factsheet)
• Learning difficulties and computing

38. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
Further support from AbilityNet
• Freephone support: Call us on 0800 048 764 during UK office hours,
Monday – Friday or by email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
• AbilityNet Live! www.abilitynet.org.uk/abilitynet-live
• My Computer My Way: https://mcmw.abilitynet.org.uk/
• My Study My Way: https://abilitynet.org.uk/HE-services/my-study-
my-way
• FREE Factsheets: https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-resources/abilitynet-
factsheets

39. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
Q&A

40. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
For details of future webinars
https://abilitynet.org.uk/free-
resources/webinars

41. Online Learning| 05 May 2020
• @Mark
Thank You