Digital Literacy
AFFORDABLE HOME INTERNET
The internet service providers below offer significantly discounted internet service and mobile hotspots for customers in their respected service areas.
AT&T Access: Provides low cost, $10/month internet service for qualifying households.
Comcast Internet Essentials: Internet Essentials Program provides 2 months free Internet service and then $10/month thereafter. Offer valid for new Comcast customers only. Wi-Fi router, hotspot and antivirus software included with monthly $10 service fee.
EveryoneOn: Helps bring low-cost internet and computers to those who need them. Also provides a list of in-person training locations and online resources for digital learning.
Human-I-T Connect: Wireless Internet hotspots for $15/month
Spectrum: Free Access to Spectrum Broadband and Wi-Fi for 60 days. Available for households with K-12 or college students AND student(s) who must be a new Spectrum broadband subscriber. Subscription is good for any service level up to 100 Mbps.
GENERAL SELF-PACED CLASSES & TUTORIALS
Adults
Lynda.com with San Jose Public Library: Free access to 3000+ online courses and 130,000+ videos on creative, business and technology topics led by instructors in the respected fields with use of your San Jose Public Library Card and Pin.
Coursera: Distance learning, low to no cost college courses offered by some of the top institutions and prestigious universities in the world. Earn a certificate or college degree at your own pace.
Goodwill Community Foundation Learn Free: Everyday life and basic math training. Tutorials also available on commonly used operating systems, computers basics, commonly used software, internet safety and social media platforms.
FutureLearn: Build professional skills and earn certifications for low to no cost! Take university level courses on a broad range of topics. Real classes with real instructors, classmates and homework.
TED Talks: Inspirational, ideas worth spreading. Motivational, influential
and awe-inspiring video talks conducted by experts on an array of topics including but not limited to: environmental issues, science, technology, business, psychology, etc.
Children & Teens
ABCMouse by The Age of Learning: Free access to online learning software for kids by company, Age of Learning. To get free access for the student(s) in your household, you must have your school request it through the included link.
Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media reviews for Families: Ensure that the content that your child is watching, or app they are using, is indeed appropriate for their age range.
Khan Academy: Students of all ages can take advantage of thousands of free practice exercises, instructional videos and a personalized learning dashboard on an array of subjects including math, science, social studies, arts and technology. Khan Academy also has daily schedules great for those students in pre-K through grade 12 who are homeschooled or could use a little more practice.
Scholastic Learn at Home: Free day-by-day educational projects for kids grades pre-K thru 9th grade. Up to four weeks of educational material available including but not limited to STEM, science, social studies and more.
Internet Safety
Internet safety is important to everyone. Ensure you are following good internet safety practices in your own
households by reviewing the articles below.
Virtual Privacy Lab - San Jose Public Library: Learn the importance
of controlling your personal information online and make a privacy tool kit that is tailored to your online usage.
Pew Internet Cyber Security Quiz: Compare your knowledge with a nationally representative group of selected adult internet users on cybersecurity topics and terms by taking a 10-question quiz. Receive all the correct answers to increase your awareness on how to stay safe online after you take the quiz,.
Better Business Bureau Scam Tips: Receive up-to-date information on the most common internet scams along with steps on how to recover from a scam if you are a victim of a scam.
Protect Yourself Online
Why should you freeze your credit?
Identity theft is on the rise and criminals can open up a wide variety of cards under your name. Fixing your credit requires time, resources, and sadly, can be a massive headache to recover from. However, by freezing your credit, you make it just one step more difficult for criminals to open loans or credit cards.
You’ll need:
A physical piece of paper.
Your social security number.
Identification Card. You will need write your legal name as writen on your ID or passport.
Somewhere safe to place security questions, pins, and any sensitive info you have written down.
IMPORTANT:
Before you start, write this information written down on a PHYSICAL piece of paper. Make sure it is placed somewhere secure and safe, as the 3 major credit bureaus will be asking sensitive questions. If you lose any of this information, you will need to mail a wide variety of documents (passport, paystubs, ID) to the 3 credit bureaus, which can take several weeks.
The 3 major credit bureaus are:
Equifax
Experian
Transunion
To freeze your credit you must create accounts with all of these bureaus. Make sure to use an email account you are active with and know the password by heart.
1. Search "Equifax, Experian, Transunion credit freeze onto Google".
Transunion Credit Freeze
2. Carefully sign up and use your government given information.
3. Answer the security questions to the best of your abilities.
4. As you answer these security questions, make sure to write them down on your piece of paper.
5. Finish the signup process.
6. The credit bureaus might need you to confirm your email (2 step authentication), so check your email once you sign up and click the links.
7. Repeat these steps for all three bureaus.