ABC Internet Matters

ABC Internet Matters empowers Canadians who aren’t comfortable using the Internet with the knowledge they need to get started. The program consists of free workbooks and downloadable resources to help new Internet users learn how to use the Internet. With ABC Internet Matters, adult and senior Canadians will develop a basic understanding of what the internet is, how to access it, and how to stay safe online.

Resources

Improve your digital literacy skills with these free resources. The ABC Internet Matters resources are for use at home and in workshops and activities that are also free for participants. Resources are not to be used for commercial purposes.

Supported by:

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Digital Literacy in Canada

  • Estimates say that around 84% of jobs in Canada currently require the use of a computer and basic technical skills (Information and Communications Technology Council, 2016) and that even low-skilled jobs increasingly require a basic level of digital literacy (Essential Skills Ontario).
  • A 2015 Ipsos Reid study found that 9% of Canadians report that they do not subscribe to or have access to the Internet at home. Canadians who do not subscribe to or have access to the Internet are usually older (over 55 years old) and less educated. They also, on average, have much lower household incomes (an average of $44,000 per year).
  • Many working-age Canadians struggle with problem-solving in technology-rich environments. Among them, the proportion is higher in underrepresented groups in the Canadian workforce, such as Indigenous peoples, immigrants, language minorities, and 16-24-year-olds (Statistics Canada, 2013).

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Are You a Practitioner?

Literacy practitioners in Canada can order free hardcopy workbooks for learners. You can distribute these workbooks to any individuals or organizations who would benefit from them. 

Testimonials

“I think the workbooks are wonderful!  I really like how it covers the important topics in a very simple way without confusing patrons with too much information…I have been hoping to hold a program where I use the Workbook as a guide to discuss the internet and internet security…I think the workbook is a very valuable tool which is going to work well with our entire community, including our seniors.” – Practitioner

“My students really enjoyed the class and noted they felt more confident not only going online but also [knowing] how to be safer online. This workbook generated many questions on their part and helped me to facilitate the course better by helping me gauge where they were at.” – Practitioner

“It’s an excellent resource for first-timers. We will be handing these out at our local community hub where people can borrow laptops and get free wifi.” – Practitioner

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