Digital Skills & Online Safety
From creating documents and spreadsheets to understanding online privacy and digital citizenship, these skills are essential for school, work, and life. This pathway helps you become tech-confident while also learning to protect yourself online, spot misinformation, and use technology responsibly.
Building your Award:
Find Bronze Award examples to support activity planning
Example SMART Goal: I want to level up my computer skills! For 13 weeks, I’ll spend an hour each week learning new software – spreadsheets, presentation tools, or basic coding. I’ll complete at least one project to show what I learned.
Example Assessor: Technology teacher, computer science teacher, or library digital skills coordinator
Example Log: Learned how to use formulas in Google Sheets today – made a budget tracker that automatically calculates totals! Way easier than doing math by hand. Trying charts and graphs next week.
Example SMART Goal: Too much screen time isn’t great for my body! I’m balancing my tech learning with outdoor activity. For 13 weeks, I’ll do an hour of walking or hiking each week, leaving my phone behind to disconnect.
Example Assessor: Gym teacher, outdoor education instructor, or recreation center staff
Example Log: Went for a 45-minute walk in the ravine without my phone today. Felt weird at first but then really peaceful. Noticed so many birds I never see when I’m looking at my screen!
Example SMART Goal: Seniors often need help with technology! I’m volunteering at the library’s tech help desk, assisting older adults with phones, tablets, and computers for an hour each week.
Example Assessor: Librarian, seniors’ center coordinator, or digital literacy program staff
Example Log: Helped a grandmother set up video calls so she can see her grandkids in another province. She was SO happy when it worked! Learning to explain things without using tech jargon.
(Completed as a team. Participants will work together to plan and complete their journey.)
Example Activity: Digital Detox Adventure! Plan a journey where technology use is limited or eliminated. Navigate with paper maps, document with sketches or film cameras, and reflect on what it’s like to unplug.
Example Team Goal: Our team will complete a full-day journey using only paper maps for navigation, document our experience through drawings or disposable cameras, and create a presentation comparing the experience to our usual tech-heavy lives.
Example Assessor/Supervisor: Teacher, Award Leader, or outdoor education coordinator
