English Learner Digital Essential Skills (ELDES)
ELDES is an innovative digital literacy curriculum. When LNA began offering digital literacy classes, we found that many students did not have the vocabulary or foundational knowledge about computers to follow along with the default curriculum, and as a result, struggled to make progress.
ELDES was written to bridge that gap for Intermediate English language learners and native English speakers who are new to computers.
The ELDES curriculum is created by the Lyndale Neighborhood Association with funding through Hennepin County’s Office of Broadband and Digital Inclusion.
Download the ELDES Curriculum (English)
Download Individual Units & Lessons (English)
Unit 1: What is a Computer, Power & Charging, and Logging In
Unit 1: Slides
Unit 2: Desktop Names & Places, Naming Parts of the Task Bar, and Notification Center Icons
Unit 2: Slides
Unit 3: The Cursor, The Mouse & Touchpad, and Other Ways to Click
Unit 3: Slides
Unit 4: Lesson 1 – Keyboard Introduction
Unit 4: Lesson 2 – Basic Keys
Unit 4: Lesson 3 – Fixing Mistakes
Unit 4: Lesson 4 – Special Keys
Unit 4: Slides
Unit 5: Lesson 1 – Connecting to the Internet
Unit 5: Lesson 2 – Applications (Apps)
Unit 5: Lesson 3 – Files, Folders & Storage
Unit 5: Lesson 4 – Saving Documents
Unit 5: Lesson 5 – Computer Commands
Unit 5: Slides
Unit 6: What is a Web Browser, Websites & Web Addresses, Using a Web Browser
Unit 6: Slides
Unit 7: Creating & Using Internet Accounts, Search Engines, Internet Safety
Unit 7: Slides
Download the ELDES Curriculum (en Español)
Download Individual Units & Lessons (en Español)
Unidad 1: Qué es una Computadora, Encendido y Carga, Inicio de Sesión
Unidad 1: Lección 2 – Actividad
Unidad 1: Diapositivas
Unidad 2: Nombres y Lugares de Escritorio, Funciones de la Barrade Tareas, Iconos del Centro de Notificaciones
Unidad 2: Diapositivas
Unidad 3: El Cursor, El Ratón y el Touchpad, Otras Formas de Hacer Clic
Unidad 4: Lección 1 – Introducción al Teclado
Unidad 4: Lección 2 – Teclas Básicas
Unidad 4: Lección 3 – Corrección de Errores
Unidad 4: Lección 3 – Actividad
Unidad 4: Lección 4 – Planificar Teclas Especiales
Unidad 5: Lección 1 – Conectarse a Internet
Unidad 5: Lección 2 – Aplicaciones
Unidad 5: Lección 3 – Archivos, Carpetas y Almacenamiento
Unidad 5: Lección 4 – Guardar Documentos
Unidad 5: Lección 5 – Comandos de la Computadora
Unidad 6: Qué es un Navegador Web, Sitios y Direcciones Web, Utilizar un Navegador Web
Unidad 7: Creación y Uso de Cuentas de Internet, Motor de Búsqueda, Seguridad en Internet
Download the ELDES Curriculum (Somali)
Watch Individual Units & Lessons (Somali)
Watch the ELDES Series (Somali) on YouTube
FAQs
English Learner Digital Essential Skills (ELDES) is an innovative digital literacy curriculum. It teaches the basic vocabulary and foundational knowledge about computers that can make other digital literacy curriculums difficult to follow. ELDES was written to bridge this gap for Intermediate English language learners and native English speakers new to computers.
Curriculum Details
As a precursor to the Northstar curriculum, ELDES focuses on building digital vocabulary and practical skills through real-life applications. The curriculum includes:
- 7 units with 3-5 lessons each
- The unit focuses are: Computer Intro, The Desktop, The Mouse, The Keyboard, Interfacing, Web Browsers, and Internet Navigation and Safety.
- English and Spanish translations (Somali video instruction is in development).
- Available for free
Yes! The ELDES curriculum is really free.
In the Lyndale Neighborhood Association’s Computer Basics classes, our teachers saw students struggle to progress through the standard digital literacy curriculum. We needed to start in a different place to meet our students where they were. This need is not unique to our students, so we have made this curriculum freely available.
If you would like to support the ongoing development and maintenance of the ELDES curriculum, you can click here to support LNA’s work.
The ELDES curriculum is available in English and Spanish. LNA is currently developing a video-based curriculum in Somali.
To receive curriculum updates, such as when we release corrected versions or new languages, please subscribe for email updates.
Updated December 2024.
If you notice errors in the curriculum or other areas of feedback, please email grayson@lyndale.org.
To receive curriculum updates, such as when we release corrected versions or new languages, please subscribe for email updates.
