14 Tips for Teaching Digital Skills

1. Keep Calm and Teach On

Let’s start with the obvious one—patience. Learners need time to absorb and understand new ideas. When you're calm, it helps them learn at their own pace. So… take a breath, speak slowly in a relaxed voice, and have fun!

2. Loud & Clear

Make sure everyone can hear you comfortably—consider using a microphone to avoid straining your voice.

3. Keep It Simple

Our resources help you break down complex ideas using everyday terms, and we explain the jargon. If you have to discuss other terms, do what you can to keep it short and use simple language.

4. Stick to the Basics

Focus on the core lessons and try not to stray from key concepts. It’s tempting to add detail and show other ways of doing things, but this can quickly lead to information overload and confusion—two surefire ways to bust confidence.

5. Make Every Question Count

Encourage your students to ask on-topic questions; this way, everyone will benefit from your answers. But stick to the topic, or you risk derailing the discussion. Suggest a quick one-on-one chat after class for questions you can't answer with the group.

Pro Tip: If questions relate to the current discussion, address them immediately! This keeps everyone involved and ensures better understanding—there is no need to wait until the end.

6. Hit the Pause Button

Pause regularly during your session to review the key points. Ask your students to explain what they’ve learned or think about how they’d teach a friend this skill. This simple check reinforces their learning and helps you spot any gaps you can address during class.

7. Connect Topics to Everyday Life

Bring digital security to life by connecting the material to your students’ everyday experiences and interests. Use real-world examples—like local websites, apps, or news stories—to show how these concepts apply in their community. Encourage learners to share their own experiences with technology. This makes the lesson more engaging and memorable.

8. Tech Happens

When a student runs into device trouble, have the rest of the class keep practicing—either in small groups or on their own—while you quickly check to see if you can help. Remember to keep an eye on the clock. If the issue can't be fixed in a minute or two, let that student know you’ll work with them after class. This way, everyone stays on track, and each learner gets the most out of the lesson.

9. Spark Discovery

It’s super important that, as digital coaches, we encourage learners to find answers and solve problems on their own. This way, they have the skills to get answers to questions as they come up in real life—which happens to all of us! Promote the use of glossaries, student resources, and trusted online sites—our blog is a great free resource that’s growing all the time.

10. Learn Together

Let your students know that you’re still learning, too. Sharing your own experiences—both the challenges and successes—turns the lesson into a friendly, peer-to-peer conversation rather than a formal lecture. This approach helps everyone feel like they're on the same learning journey.

11. High-Fives for Every Win!

Take time to cheer on every achievement, whether successfully setting up a strong passcode or mastering a new skill like using a password manager. When learners see their progress, they feel motivated and excited to tackle the next challenge. These moments of celebration boost the energy throughout your class.

12. Have Fun

Digital security might seem complicated, but it can also be fun and empowering! Mix in humour and relatable real-life examples to create a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere. When learning is enjoyable, your students stay engaged and are more likely to retain digital skills that truly stick.

13. Team Up

When possible, bring in additional digital coaches to help with your group classes. This extra support means you can focus on the teaching, and students can quickly get help to make sure they keep up with the class. We find a 6:1 student-to-digital coach ratio works best, but we have had great success in larger groups using a 12:1 ratio. Even one more person to help goes a long way.

14. Finish on Time

Stick to your session’s scheduled end time. People often have other commitments, and it's disruptive if your class starts leaving while you are still teaching. If you can, stay a few minutes after to answer quick questions. But watch out! Try not to make it feel like an extended group lesson—those who have to leave might feel they’re missing important information.

Ready to Get Started With Unscammable for iPhone?

Just use the links below to grab your teaching materials.

• 🔗 Unscammable for iPhone: Phase 1 Dashboard

• 🔗 Unscammable for iPhone: Phase 2 Dashboard

• 🔗 Unscammable for iPhone: Phase 3 Dashboard

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