Getting started: becoming confident on Instagram and TikTok (complete beginners)

What is the course about?

This course will introduce you to the main features of Instagram and TikTok in a safe and supportive environment. You will learn about the purpose of both platforms. You will focus on how to install the apps, create accounts and profiles, link to friends, follow others, link to any Facebook or Twitter account. You will learn how to record and post an Instagram story, ask questions about your stories, navigate tabs, search for stories, receive notifications, upload and edit photos, add filters and captions, add tags. On TikTok, you will focus on how to make and schedule a TikTok, use effects including the music library, use the most popular editing features, navigate it and engage with other users.

Show to set up Facebook pages, profiles and groups and what the differences are between them; how to post on Facebook, share stories and make connections. You will learn how to start your Twitter account, send tweets, gain followers and follow others, use hashtags. You will also be introduced to Instagram and how this differs from Facebook and Twitter including how to create a profile, upload photos, edit and share them, and make connections. For each app you will learn how to maintain your privacy and be confident you are not sharing more with the world than you want to.

What will we cover?

• identifying the purpose of both platforms
• installing the apps
• creating accounts and profiles
• linking to friends and following others
• linking your account to any Facebook or Twitter account
• recording and posting an Instagram story
• asking questions about your stories
• navigating tabs
• searching for other users' stories
• receiving notifications
• uploading and editing photos
• adding filters, captions and tags
• making and scheduling a TikTok
• using effects including the music library
• using the most popular editing features
• navigating TikTok and engaging with other users.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• identify the purpose of both platforms
• install the apps
• create accounts and profiles
• link to friends and following others
• link your account to any Facebook or Twitter account
• record and post an Instagram story
• insert and ask questions about your stories
• navigate tabs
• search for other users' stories
• receive notifications
• upload and edit photos
• add filters, captions and tags
• make and schedule a TikTok
• use effects including the music library
• use the most popular editing features
• navigate TikTok and engage with other users.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is a course for complete beginners on these apps. It will take you through the apps in a gradual step by step manner.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

You will learn in a supportive and welcoming environment with an emphasis on your discovering how to do and complete tasks, with guidance from the tutor. You will work on your own and with other students on different tasks so you are always practising important in-demand life and work skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, prioritising, negotiating, collaborating and independence. You will learn in a step by step manner so you can complete challenging tasks in enjoyable and relaxing ways. Your tutor will also work with you individually so you know how to improve and how to work in a way that improves your learning. You will need to do work outside the classroom and use Google Classroom to help you.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

You will need a pen, some lined A4 paper and a folder to keep your work in. Your tutor will provide handouts and a code for Google classroom so you can communicate with classmates and access materials, videos etc. online.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

This course is part of our Becoming Confident series and we recommend doing these courses so your gain a solid foundation in digital skills. These include:
• Getting started: becoming confident on your computer and online (complete beginner)
• Getting started: learning about your smartphone (complete beginner)
• Getting started: becoming confident on Facebook and Twitter (complete beginners
• Becoming confident with online communication: Zoom (beginner)
• Becoming confident with online communication: Zoom and Teams (beginner)
• Becoming confident with digital skills: on your computer and online (beginner)
• Becoming confident in file management and Windows 11 on your PC (beginners)
• Becoming confident on the cloud: OneDrive and Google drive - a new way of sharing and managing your files (foundation)
• Becoming confident in digital security: how to protect your data and privacy on your PC, Internet and smartphone
• Becoming confident in digital skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook (beginner)
• Essential digital skills for the workplace: Word, Excel and PowerPoint (foundation-level 1)
• Becoming confident on Excel 365 (beginner)
• Becoming confident on PowerPoint 365 (beginner)
• Becoming confident on Outlook 365 (beginner)
• Becoming confident on Word 365 (beginner)
• Becoming a confident online citizen: developing your problem-solving and research skills for inside and outside work (foundation)
• Becoming a confident online citizen: staying safe and protecting your data on your PC and smartphone (foundation)
• Becoming a confident online citizen: from bills, banking, and shopping to government services, job applications and streaming (foundation)
• Digital skills for the workplace: managing, storing and sharing data and files (intermediate)

You can also do classes in the maths and English areas.
For more information, talk with your tutor or contact universal.skills@citylit.ac.uk / 020 4582 0423.