Course Details

This 3-week course equips you with the essential knowledge and skills to navigate the online world safely and confidently. Learn how to protect your personal information, identify online threats, and maintain your privacy. Course Description Feel empowered and secure online with our "Navigating the Internet Safely" course. In an age where our lives are increasingly online, understanding how to protect yourself is more important than ever. This course demystifies online threats and provides practical, easy-to-understand steps to enhance your digital security. Over three weeks, you'll learn to spot scams, manage your privacy settings, create strong passwords, and browse with confidence. Join us to become a savvy, safe digital citizen. What will I learn? Week 1: Foundations of Online Security Understanding common online risks (viruses, malware, scams). Creating and managing strong, unique passwords. Configuring privacy and security settings on browsers and search engines. The basics of secure Wi-Fi connections and the risks of public networks. Week 2: Identifying and Avoiding Online Threats How to spot phishing emails, text messages (smishing), and fraudulent websites. Understanding and avoiding malware, ransomware, and spyware. Safe online shopping and financial transactions. Recognising fake news and misinformation. Week 3: Managing Your Digital Footprint Understanding what a digital footprint is and how to manage it. Configuring privacy settings on social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, X). Protecting personal information online and understanding data rights. Safe communication practices online and cyberbullying awareness. How will I be assessed? Your learning will be assessed in a practical and supportive manner to build your confidence. Formative Assessment: Regular quizzes and in-class activities to check your understanding of key concepts. This includes practical exercises like identifying sample phishing emails and configuring browser privacy settings. Summative Assessment: Creation of a personal "Online Safety Checklist" demonstrating your understanding of key principles. A final scenario-based quiz will assess your ability to apply your knowledge to real-world online situations. Who is this course for? This course is for all learners who use the internet and want to feel more secure online. Progression Opportunities After completing this course, you will be well-prepared to move on to more advanced topics, such as: Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Many colleges and online providers offer introductory courses in cybersecurity, which delve deeper into technical security measures. Data Protection & GDPR Training: For those interested in how organisations handle data, accredited courses on GDPR are a valuable next step. Advanced Social Media Management: Courses that cover the professional and security aspects of managing social media for businesses or organisations. CompTIA Security+ Certification: A globally recognised certification for foundational cybersecurity skills, for which this course provides a basic introduction. Career or Job Enhancement Pathways Strong online safety skills are highly valued by employers across all sectors. This course can enhance your profile for roles such as: Office Administrator/Manager: Trusted with handling sensitive company and client data, requiring a strong understanding of digital security practices. Community Manager/Social Media Coordinator: Responsible for safely managing an organisation's online presence and protecting it from security threats. Data Entry Clerk: Roles that involve inputting and managing personal or financial data demand a high level of awareness regarding data security and phishing threats. Compliance Assistant: In sectors like finance or law, this course provides a foundational understanding of the data security principles that underpin regulatory compliance.