Why become a digital coach?

Are you relatively tech savvy and looking for a way give back? Join the Dig-IT community and become a volunteer Digital Coach! We provide full training, the support of our volunteer manager and loan you a tablet. You accompany seniors on their digital journeys and help change their lives.

Digital Coaches Are...

Able to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone

Excited about the positive effects technology can have on someone's life

Friendly, empathetic, reliable, flexible, and patient

Able to search the web safely

Good at explaining technology in simple terms

Able to access a quiet place to make phone calls and have a Canada-wide phone plan

Quick to know when to stop talking and
start listening

Accommodating of people's interest
and motivations for learning digital skills

Comfortable with social media

… did we mention patient?

Benefits Include

Training to help you get better at your role

Opportunities to keep learning new things

Being part of a fun and supportive team

Satisfaction from helping others learn essential,
life-changing skills

Meeting great people and making new friends

Older adult participants follow the Gluu Essentials online learning series to learn all the technical stuff during the program. As a Digital Coach, your main job is to support and encourage participants on their digital journey. This includes offering each participant an orientation to their tablet, assisting them in registering for the online courses, and pointing them in the right direction when they have questions about the course content.

Dig-IT? Apply Now!

Digital Coaches Are...

Able to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone

Excited about the positive effects technology can have on someone's life

Friendly, empathetic, reliable, flexible, and patient

Able to search the web safely

Good at explaining technology in simple terms

Able to access a quiet place to make and receive phone calls and have a Canada-wide phone plan

Quick to know when to stop talking and start listening

Accommodating of people's interest and motivations for learning digital skills

Comfortable with social media

… did we mention patient?

Benefits Include

Training to help you get better at your role

Opportunities to keep learning new things

Being part of a fun and supportive team

Satisfaction from helping others learn essential,
life-changing skills

Meeting great people and making new friends

Dig it? Apply Now!

What you need to know:

You don’t need to be an expert. If you can use a tablet and know how to send an email, shop online, and use Facebook or Zoom, then you have valuable digital skills to share.

Training will be provided by our partner organization, Gluu Technology Society. It is all online so you can complete it at your convenience. It takes approximately 6 hours over 4 weeks to progress through all the training modules and become a Digital Coach.

Ideally you can commit 2-4 hours a week of volunteer time. We can be flexible on your weekly schedule (though a consistent window is preferable) and understand you are donating your time and have other commitments as well.

Each support call with a participant will be approximately 30 minutes in length.

As much as possible, you will paired with the same participants weekly and participants in your community. But if schedules don’t line up, you will meet other folks from across the country.

All support will be provided over the phone/ video conferencing.

You must complete a criminal record check if you have not recently done so with our local community partner.

HOW IT WORKS:

You are joining an active and growing community of Digital Coaches supporting Dig-IT participants across Canada.

We will prioritize your time to support Dig-IT participants in your local community. You may also be paired with other participants. It’s the chance to meet interesting people from across the country and showcase the power of technology – to connect despite not being right next door.

This works best because:

It means that can begin your job right away while local participants are enrolling in the program.

It means that there are more appointments timeslots to accommodate your schedule. Volunteer as much or as little as you like!

If your schedule or the participants schedule varies – someone else can help them out that day.

For participants, this means a greater chance of being paired with someone who will best support them – perhaps who might even have knowledge of their primary language for example.

Testimonials

A digital venture, together.

Trying new technology for the first time is a daunting prospect, and getting your hands on that new device is just the beginning of it — now you have to learn how to use it.

Martin, one of the older adults participating in the program, has gone from zero experience handling a tablet to becoming a confident user, with the help of program volunteer Dawn.

Through repetition and weekly phone sessions, Dawn has guided Martin throughout his curriculum, who, in return, is genuinely excited about learning what his new tablet has to offer. “Discovering new features and finding more ways to enhance my confidence and enjoyment of tech products,” was Martin’s favourite part about learning how to use a tablet. Like the rest of us tech users, Martin even finds it difficult to limit his screen time. There is so much to explore - but we’re glad he’s taking a responsible approach to it.

As they fly through the program, Dawn finds herself taking a step back while Martin navigates his device without her guidance. "Martin has gone from uncertainty in his ability to figure out 'tech stuff' to becoming confident in tackling whatever challenges he faces." And that’s when the program comes to life.

Martin describes his experience with Dawn and this program as, "Truly, one of the most engaging and enjoyable learning experiences I've had."