Building Digitally Inclusive Communities

1. Building Digitally Inclusive Communities Nonprofit Technology & Communications Conference 2012 March 16, 2012 Minneapolis, Minnesota

2. Welcome! Objectives • Gain an understanding of digital inclusion and why it’s important • Hear about local and national digital inclusion efforts • Learn key principles that communities can use to evaluate their strengths and needs • Spark ideas for collaboration

3. About Us • Technology • Literacy • Collaborative • Elise • Ebhardt • John • Richard Mary Ann Van Cura

4. About You Group Interaction • What sector do you represent? • What is the primary focus of your organization?

5. Voting Technology for Group Interaction • Everyone has a “Clicker”? • After we ask a question, press the button with the number that corresponds with your answer. • If you push the wrong button, that’s ok, the last button you push is the response that will register. • All polling is being done anonymously. We want your honest input. • The “clickers” will only work in this presentation: • Things they will NOT do: change the channel on your TV; open your garage door, help you balance your checkbook… • Please leave them on the table when we are finished.

6. About You What sector do you represent? • Education • Government • Library • Faith-based • Business • Health Care • Community-Based Organization / Nonprofit • Other 24 of 50

7. What is the primary focus of your organization? • Arts, Culture, Humanities • Education / Libraries • Employment / Jobs • Energy / Environmental • Food / Housing / Homeless Services • Health / Mental Health / Crisis • Human Services / Youth Services • Civil Rights / Legal / Advocacy • Recreation, Sports, Leisure • Other 25 of 50

8. How important is it for your clients/program participants to have access to a computer and Internet? • Essential • Very important • Somewhat important • Not important at all • Don’t know 23 of 50

9. Why? Important because: Not important because:

10. What is Digital Inclusion & Why Does it Matter?

11. Definition of Digital Inclusion • The ability of individuals and groups to access and use information and communication technologies. • Digital inclusion encompasses • access to the Internet but also • the availability of hardware and software • relevant content and services • training for the digital literacy skills required for effective use of information and communication technologies Source: Building Digital Communities: Getting Started, p.1

12. What does digital inclusion mean for people in a community? All people, businesses, and institutions will have access to digital content and technologies that enable them to create and support healthy, prosperous, and cohesive 21st century communities. Specifically, digital inclusion means that: • All members understand the benefits of advanced information and communication technologies. • All members have equitable and affordable access to high-speed Internet-connected devices and online content. • All members can take advantage of the educational, economic, and social opportunities available through these technologies. Source: Building Digital Communities: Getting Started, p.1

13. Definition of Digital Literacy • In general, digital literacy means the ability to locate, evaluate, and use digital information. • Digital literacy also includes the ability to effectively use a range of technologies (e.g., computers, mobile devices) and Internet-enabled services (e.g., Blogs,Twitter, Facebook, YouTube). • These different components of digital literacy are of equal significance. • Without access, people cannot develop digital literacy; without digital literacy, they cannot gain maximum benefit from online resources. Source: http://www.plinternetsurvey.org/analysis/public-libraries-and-digital-literacy

14. Where is the Divide? • “…today more than 68 percent of U.S. households use high-speed broadband access.” • “…almost one-third of American households still lack a broadband connection. • We need to make sure no one is left behind in the digital age. • Significant gaps in Internet usage still exist among certain demographic and geographic groups around the country. • People with college degrees adopt broadband at almost triple the rate of those with some high school education (84% versus 30%), among adults 25 years and older. • The rates for White (68%) and Asian non-Hispanics (69%) exceed those for Black non-Hispanics (50%) and Hispanics (45%) by 18 percentage points or more. • Rural America lags behind urban areas by ten percentage points (60% versus 70%).” --Digital Nation, February 2011 (NTIA, U.S. Dept of Commerce)

15. ABC’s of Digital Literacy • Access (hardware, software, Internet) • Basic Training • Content relevant to the user

16. Why it matters Developing a 21st Century Workforce • Job postings and application processes have moved online • Most jobs require some level of computer skills

17. Why it matters Access to Government Information & Community Resources • Government services for essential activities are moving online for all levels of government – e.g. unemployment benefits, immigration services, forms, invitations to public meetings • Updated information on community resources such as housing, health, food assistance, childcare and transportation are increasingly online.

18. Why it matters Addressing the Achievement Gap in Education • K-12 schools are moving towards web-based portals to access assignments and communicate grades & school news • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid and most college application process are only online • Homework resources are increasingly online Promoting Civic Engagement & Expanding Social Networks • New immigrants use the Internet to access news abroad and communicate with family members living in other parts of the world • Participation in political and election processes use web tools

19. Digital Inclusion Efforts:Minnesota & U.S. See handout & resource slides for details and links

20. Do you offer computer & Internet access at your program site(s)? • Yes • No 25 of 50

21. What do you do if a client has no computer access or has limited digital literacy skills?

22. How important are technical skills for your own organization’s staff? • Essential • Very important • Somewhat important • Not important at all • Don’t know 23 of 50

23. Proposed Framework for Digitally Inclusive Communities • The framework identifies overarching principles as well as the elements or key characteristics of organizations and communities that foster digital inclusion. • Developed in collaboration by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, University of Washington, and the International City/County Management Association.

24. Framework Structure Source: Building Digital Communities (Final)

25. Framework Purpose • Help community leaders • Initiate community discussions • Conduct asset mapping • Foster digital inclusion

26. Principles of Digital Inclusion Source: Proposed Framework for Building Digitally Inclusive Communities

27. Review and Assess • Foundational Principles • Targeted Principles • Using the framework in your work • Evaluate strengths, needs and opportunities of your organization or communities

28. Foundational Principles • Availability and affordability • Public access • Accessibility for people with disabilities • Adoption and digital literacy • Consumer education and protection

29. Targeted Principles • Education • Economic and workforce development • Civic engagement • Public safety and emergency services • Health care • Quality of life

30. Creating a Digitally Inclusive Community • Convene stakeholders • Develop a shared community understanding of digital inclusion • Create a community action plan • Implement the plan • Evaluate and revise the plan

31. What are the biggest challenges for your organization to increase digital inclusion in your community?

32. Common Challenges • Availability of high speed networks • Availability of hardware (computers, mobile devices, assistive technologies) • Software programs and relevant content • Physical locations for public access computers • Ongoing IT support and maintenance • Internet access for individuals • Access for people with physical or cognitive disabilities • Organization staff training to promote digital inclusion • Training in digital skills • Interest/initiative • Low reading literacy • Language barriers From Digital Inclusion Community Needs Assessment http://www.webjunction.org

33. The need is so great, no one entity can resolve it alone Collaborations Examples: • City of Minneapolis Public Sector Partners Meetings • Technology Literacy Collaborative • Gatherings • Digital Inclusion Forum • Resource Sharing • with others in the community are essential

34. Join the Technology Literacy Collaborative (TLC) • Give us your name if you’re interested in exploring the use of the framework in Minnesota • Add your organization to the TLC’s Community Technology Center database

35. Collaboration Ideas? What are your ideas for building digitally inclusive communities?

36. Northstar Digital Literacy Standards Link: http://spclc.org/sites/default/files/benchmarks.xls

37. Do you, yourself, have these skills? • All • Most • Some • A few • None 11 of 50

38. Does your staff have these skills? • All • Most • Some • A few • None • Don’t know 7 of 50

39. Do your clients or customers have these skills? • All • Most • Some • A few • None • Don’t know 9 of 50

40. Would this standards tool be useful for your organization? • Yes • Maybe • No • Don’t know 9 of 50

41. Resources – A Framework for Action • National Initiative: Digitally Inclusive Communities http://www.imls.gov/about/digitally_inclusive_communities.aspx • Framework (IMLS/ICMA/UW) • Building Digital Communities: Getting Started (34-page guide) http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/BuildingDigitalCommunities.pdf • Building Digital Communities: A Framework for Action (117-pages) http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/BuildingDigitalCommunities_Framework.pdf • It Takes a Community to Bridge the Digital Divide (Webinar) http://www.webjunction.org/events/webinars/webinar-archives/-/articles/content/135802745

42. Resources - Statistics • Digital Divide Statistics: Internet Use and Home Broadband Access, 2010/11 [U.S., MN] http://tlc-mn.org/digital-inclusion/presentations/digital-divide-statistics-2010-2011 • Digital Nation: Expanding Internet Usage, February 2011 http://ntia.doc.gov/report/2011/digital-nation-expanding-internet-usage-ntia-research-preview • Digital Divide Infographic: http://mashable.com/2012/02/05/digital-divide-infographic/

43. Resources – Digital Inclusion Minnesota+ • Digital Inclusion Efforts in Minnesota (and Beyond): Selected List of Efforts and Organizations, Revised 11/1/11 http://tlc-mn.org/digital-inclusion/presentations/digital-inclusion-efforts-minnesota • 2011 Digital Inclusion Forum, 11/3/2011: Program & Handouts (Hosted by the Technology Literacy Collaborative, Minnesota) http://tlc-mn.org/content/tlc-di-forum • Digital Inclusion: Bridging the Digital Divide to Include Everyone In Our Digital Society, [White Paper], September 2011 [Project for Pride in Living, Minneapolis] www.ppl-inc.org/whitepaper

44. Resources – Digital Literacy Curriculum & Assessment Tools • DigitalLiteracy.gov: http://digitalliteracy.gov • Northstar Digital Literacy Standards, http://spclc.org/programs/digital-literacy-standards • Technology Literacy Collaborative: http://tlc-mn.org • Website Accessibility Assessment Tools: http://webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklisthttp://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/

45. Presentation Handouts • Conference Download Center http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/events-training/technology-and-communications-conference/download-center • Technology Literacy Collaborative - Repository http://tlc-mn.org/digital-inclusion/curriculum

46. Contact Info Mary Ann Van Cura State Library Services, Minnesota Department of Education maryann.vancura@state.mn.us, 651-582-8632 http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/StuSuc/Lib/StateLibServ Elise Ebhardt City of Minneapolis, Information Technology   elise.ebhardt@minneapolismn.gov,  612-673-2026 http://www.minneapolismn.gov (use search to get to Digital Inclusion page) John Richard Waite House – Pillsbury United Communities richardj@puc-mn.org, 612-721-1681 http://puc-mn.org

47. TLC Contact Info Technology Literacy Collaborative (TLC), http://tlc-mn.org/ • Sign Up for TLC Listserv: http://tlc-mn.org/user/register • Find a Computer Technology Center: http://tlc-mn.org/ctc • Curriculum and Digital Inclusion Tools Repository: http://tlc-mn.org/digital-inclusion/curriculum • Digital Inclusion Forum 2011 Resources: http://tlc-mn.org/content/tlc-di-forum • Attend an Event or Volunteer: http://tlc-mn.org/calendar • Brochure: http://tlc-mn.org/sites/tlc-mn.org/files/TLC%20brochure%20Color.pdf • Contact Us: http://tlc-mn.org/contact-information • Follow Us: http://twitter.com/TLC_MN, @TLC_MN