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Karen Mossberger , Ph.D Univ. of IL at Chicago. EVALUATING BROADBAND USE FOR BUILDING SMART COMMUNITIES Funded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Partnership for Connected Illinois, Institute for Policy & Civic Engagement (UIC).
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Karen Mossberger, Ph.DUniv. of IL at Chicago EVALUATING BROADBAND USE FOR BUILDING SMART COMMUNITIES Funded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Partnership for Connected Illinois, Institute for Policy & Civic Engagement (UIC)
Goals of Smart Communities/ Why Study? • Creating a culture of technology use in 5 low-income communities in Chicago • Creating capacity and leadership for technology use among community organizations - sustainability • Integrating technology into existing efforts at community revitalization, sponsoring a number of technology-related activities, assumed to lead to broad and sustainable change • Smart Communities $ 7 million SBA grant (City of Chicago/LISC) – FamilyNet Centers/EveryDay Digital, Business Resource Networks, Digital Youth Network (after school activities, summer job program), YouMedia, Civic 2.0, Tech Organizers • Chicago $9 million PCC grant as well (overlap but not focus of evaluation)
Multilevel Evaluation Components • Process evaluation • Site visits, interviews, program data and budgets, attendance at bi-weekly partner meetings • Individual outcomes • Surveys of participants in FamilyNet & Business Resource Networks/baseline data & 6-month follow-up • Interpersonal outcomes • Questions on resource sharing and social networks/FamilyNet surveys • Organizational outcomes • Lead agencies, key partner organizations – baseline and final interviews, follow-up survey for Civic 2.0 participants • Community-level outcomes • City-wide surveys in 2011, 2013 (panel data) – comparing Smart Communities with other low-income neighborhoods & city-wide averages on 20 aspects of technology use & barriers
From 2008 Study Mossberger & Tolbert (2009) Digital Excellence in Chicago: A City-wide View Available at Cityofchicago.org
Outcomes – Individuals/FamilyNet Intermediate Outcomes - Use and Skills • Broadband adoption (federal requirement) • Change in internet use anywhere as well as broadband adoption? • Change in activities online – for work, job search, education, community info, e-government, health info, transit, etc. • Measures of knowledge correlated with skill, self-reported skill • Self-reported outcomes – did this help you to . . . Other • Feedback on program • Continued barriers to use • Unintended consequences • Social networks for sharing technology and help/informal learning Will use ETO database to draw sample, to match survey responses with baseline data for respondents
Increased Broadband Adoption & Uses • Residents & Businesses • Culture of Use in Community • (sustainability and leadership) • Proximity/Social Networks and Informal Learning • Integration of Technology for Community Organizations, Businesses, and Schools • Economic Opportunity for Individuals • Business Growth and Local Economic Development • Educational Improvements • Greater Access to Health Care, Government Services • Civic Engagement • Stronger Community-Based Organizations