New approach for Stepping UP
Computer Hub at Newtown Park Apartments
A new approach in delivering Stepping UP is being piloted in the computer hubs at two Wellington City Council (WCC) housing complexes – Newtown Park and Central Park. Stepping UP modules have been grouped into seven themes, each covering a particular digital capability. Community volunteers are providing tutoring support for a 2-hour digital ‘clinic’ at each computer hub, each week.
Stepping UP tutor helping Newtown Park resident with their smartphone
The Stepping UP programme celebrates its 10th anniversary this year (2019) and while the number of modules has continued to expand (we now have 37), we think it is also time to try some new approaches. Not everyone wants to learn about Word or Excel but there are an increasing number of things people want to do online (or in many cases, need to do online). One of these is to stay safe online and be able to distinguish between genuine offers and scams. According to a recent InternetNZ survey 92% of people are concerned about young children accessing inappropriate content on the Internet. Another is to change the way we do things, as the world changes around us. A good example is Kiwibank’s recent announcement that they will stop issuing cheques later this year and stop accepting them early in 2020.
Our new approach is to try and address the range of challenges facing New Zealanders on their individual journeys to become digital citizens with the confidence to engage in the digital world to improve their lives.
We are using the framework set out in the 2017 Pulse of the Nation digital inclusion report, prepared for MBIE and DIA. This report identified seven core digital capabilities for life:
- Getting connected
- Managing information
- Communicating
- Transacting
- Problem-solving
- Creating
- Staying safe
Tenants of WCC apartments and nearby residents can join in the pilot sessions by signing up on the Stepping UP website.