Digital First Steps
Digital confidence is now baseline infrastructure.
Digital First Steps is TEEI's foundational digital literacy program for underserved adults in the United States. It exists for one reason: essential systems—work, healthcare, education, and public services—now assume digital ability, yet millions of capable adults have never had a realistic way to build those skills with the time, support, and tools they actually need.
"Digital First Steps is designed as a practical on-ramp. Not a tech bootcamp. Not a lecture series. A structured, beginner‑friendly foundation that helps people reliably do real tasks online."
Why Digital First Steps exists
The labor market changed
Digital skills are no longer optional. They are the gatekeeper for nearly every role in the U.S. economy.
of jobs require digital skills.
National Skills Coalition
Services moved online
Healthcare portals, telehealth, school communication, and benefits systems default to digital first.
"The penalty isn't just economic—it is missed doctor appointments, lost paperwork, and silence."
Connectivity is uneven
The "digital divide" is actually a stack of distinct barriers:
- Broadband deserts in rural areas.
- 16% of adults are "smartphone-only".
- Affordability remains unstable.
The Reality
You cannot solve digital exclusion with a single intervention.
Digital First Steps is built to address the full reality.
What Digital First Steps is
It is an 8‑week, low‑hours, high‑practice program focused on the skills people use immediately.
- Communicating online (email, messaging, video calls)
- Navigating essential systems (healthcare, school, government portals)
- Applying for work (job search, applications, digital workplace habits)
- Staying safe (scams, account security, privacy)
- Building early AI readiness (what AI tools do, how to use them responsibly)
Core design choice: this is not "learning about computers." It is learning by completing real tasks with support.
What "digital literacy" means here
Digital First Steps defines foundational digital literacy as the ability to:
The outcome we care about is simple: when someone needs to do something online, they can do it.
Designed for realities,
not assumptions.
Standard training models routinely fail because they ignore the invisible barriers of time, language, and geography. We built this differently.
Refugees & New Americans
Navigating new systems in a new language. The curriculum is patient, avoids jargon, and focuses on high-stakes tasks like immigration forms and healthcare access.
Single Mothers & Caregivers
Time poverty is the primary barrier. We operate with low weekly hours and flexible scheduling, often partnering with organizations that provide childcare.
Rural Communities
Addressing limited broadband and long distances. Designed to work in partner locations (libraries, community centers) and accommodate smartphone‑first realities.
Workforce Re‑entry
For those facing digital gatekeeping: online applications, portal onboarding, and video calls. Reattaching to the labor market with confidence.
What the program covers
Device fundamentals
Outcome: Intentional usage
- Smartphone or computer basics
- Keyboard/mouse/touch navigation
- Files, links, downloads, browser basics
- Account setup & password habits
Communication
Outcome: Reliable communication
- Email, attachments, spam signals
- Messaging apps (WhatsApp, texting)
- Video calls (joining, scheduling, etiquette)
- Safety (impersonation, risky links)
Life applications
Outcome: Real tasks completed
- Healthcare portals & telehealth
- Job search & online applications
- Essential government / benefits navigation
- Financial safety basics
Safety & Next Steps
Outcome: Safer habits & path forward
- Scam recognition & account protection
- Evaluating information
- Intro to AI tools: verification & safe use
- Personal next-steps plan
How Digital First Steps works
Delivered through trusted institutions
TEEI does not build parallel infrastructure. We partner with organizations people already trust—libraries, community centers, resettlement organizations, and local workforce partners.
Built for Real Constraints
- Limited time availability
- Varying literacy & language contexts
- Smartphone-first usage
- Learner anxiety & low confidence
It uses a structured teaching model (not improvisation) with consistent templates and checklists.
Powered by TEEI Skills Academy
Skills Academy is the platform infrastructure that makes delivery consistent, scalable, and measurable.
- Volunteer onboarding & management
- Matching & scheduling across time zones
- Session structure & workshop templates
- Feedback loops for improvement
- Progress recognition & milestone tracking
- Secure platform operations
Digital First Steps is the front door. Skills Academy is the long-term system.
Functional capability,
not just theory.
We do not measure success by hours sat in a chair. We measure it by the independent ability to navigate the real world.
Healthcare Access
Schedule a telehealth appointment and join the call independently.
Economic Access
Submit an online job application without getting blocked or giving up.
Family Comms
Communicate with schools or family via apps, email, and portals.
Bureaucracy
Complete essential government or service forms confidently.
Safety First
Detect scam patterns, phishing, and protect personal accounts.
AI Readiness
Use basic AI tools responsibly as assistants for writing and translation.
Measurement & Accountability
Digital First Steps is designed to be measurable without becoming intrusive. We focus on evidence of skill acquisition, not just attendance.
"Over time, outcome tracking can include follow‑up on employment attachment, wage progression, and service access—based on partner feasibility and participant consent."
Corporate Partnership Models
Digital First Steps offers structured engagement for corporate partners seeking measurable community outcomes, employee participation, and high operational credibility—powered by the TEEI Skills Academy platform.
Employee Volunteering
Clear roles. Predictable time commitments. Full support.
Cohort Coach (2–3 hrs/wk, 8 weeks)
Lead beginner-friendly sessions using provided templates.
Practice Partner (1 hr/wk)
Reinforce core tasks (email, attachments, video calls).
Digital Navigator
1-2 hrs/mo. Support for portals.
Academy Mentor
1-2 hrs/mo. Career mentoring.
Program Sponsorship
Fund defined program units with outcome reporting.
Common sponsorships include: 8‑week cohorts, device/connectivity kits, partner-site delivery support, childcare participation supports, accessibility upgrades, and evaluation pilots.
Discuss SponsorshipsSkills-Based Partnership
Help us make the program better.
Partners contribute expertise: curriculum clarity, facilitation quality, accessibility, retention, and progression. Work is structured as 2–8 week sprints with concrete deliverables.
Offer ExpertiseProgression and Hiring Pathways
Digital First Steps is the foundation. Graduates can continue in TEEI Skills Academy through workshops and mentoring. Partners can engage through workplace tool sessions, career readiness mentoring, and verified-milestone showcases.
Governance
TEEI is a registered nonprofit in Norway with a U.S. 501(c)(3) affiliate entity, operating with documented policies and structured partnership processes for accountable delivery at scale.
CSR Cockpit
Corporate partnerships require accountability. The CSR Cockpit delivers it. Every corporate partner receives access to a dedicated dashboard providing real-time visibility into programme impact, volunteer engagement, and outcome metrics. No waiting for quarterly reports. No chasing coordinators for data. Live infrastructure that integrates directly with your CSR reporting workflows.
Executive Dashboard
Real-time KPI tracking: Social Return on Investment (SROI), Volunteer Impact Score, programme coverage, and compliance status. Actionable alerts surface campaign deadlines and capacity thresholds. AI-powered insights.
Campaign Management
Kanban-style pipeline tracking. Deadline monitoring. Capacity alerts at 80%, 90%, and 100% thresholds. Full visibility into active, paused, and completed initiatives.
Evidence Explorer
Every metric traces back to source. Browse evidence snippets with filters. Full audit trail with cryptographic verification. Export to CSV or JSON for integration with internal systems.
Report Generation
Four production-ready templates: Quarterly Review, Annual Impact, Investor Update, and Impact Deep Dive. AI-powered narrative generation with enforced citations.
Programme Dashboards
Filter by programme: Language for Ukraine, Mentors, Upskilling. Mentor leaderboards. Outcome dimensions tracked: confidence, belonging, proficiency, job readiness.
Real-Time Infrastructure
Live metric updates via server-sent events. Auto-reconnect with offline caching. Boardroom Live mode for presentations to leadership.
The CSR Cockpit connects directly into TEEI's Skills Academy and programme platforms. Your team sees what we see. No intermediaries. No delays.
Request a demoPrivacy and dignity by design
Digital exclusion often comes with embarrassment, fear of making mistakes, and justified privacy concerns—especially for immigrants and refugees navigating high‑stakes systems.
The goal is competence with control—so people can use digital systems without feeling exposed or dependent.
Minimal Data
Minimal necessary data collection for delivery.
Consent Based
Clear consent-based participation at every step.
Practical Security
Focus on passwords, verification, and scam detection.
Respectful
Instruction that avoids deficit framing.
TEEI builds education infrastructure that scales through platforms, community delivery, and professional volunteer networks.
Digital First Steps is TEEI's foundational U.S. digital literacy layer—built to connect directly into Skills Academy for continued growth.