Digital & Traditional Literacy Collaboration

Collaborations Between
Digital Literacy &
Traditional Literacy
Denise Linn, Program Analyst for Smart Chicago
Literacenter Brown Bag Lunch
11.24.15
#ConnectChicago | @DKLinn | @SmartChicago | @Literacenter

This Presentation
Introductions
Overview of digital literacy & digital skills programming
The current state of connectivity in Chicago and across the U.S.
Overview of Connect Chicago
Frameworks for collaboration between literacy organizations & digital
literacy organizations

Introductions
I am the Program Analyst at Smart Chicago. I manage the Connect
Chicago initiative.
I have a background in Internet Policy (broadband access, digital equity,
spectrum policy).
Confession: I work in technology, but I have a degree in English Literature!

The Smart Chicago Collaborative
is a civic organization devoted
to improving lives in Chicago
through technology.

Who are you?
Name & affiliation
What have you been up to lately?
What drew you to this event?

An Overview of Digital Literacy &
Digital Skills Programming

What do I mean by “digital literacy”?
Digital literacy means grasping the digital skills that are needed for basic
civic and economic engagement.
The definition of functional digital literacy is fluid. The first lesson stays
the same (this is a “mouse”), but the definition of “literate enough” shifts.
Digital literacy is relative to time and location.

Digital literacy means very little
without access to the Internet
and access to devices.

Why Are People Not Online? Several Reasons:
Cost of a Monthly Subscription: “I can’t afford the Internet.”
Access to a Device: “I can’t afford a computer.”
Access to the Internet: “I can’t get a connection.”
Skill Barriers: “I don’t know how to use it.”
Relevancy: “I don’t know why I need it.”

Digital Skills & Access Programming Components
Programs typically use one or a combination of the following:
1. Digital Literacy/Skills Training
2. Free, Refurbished or Low-Cost Devices
3. Reduced monthly Internet subscriptions
4. Engagement & Outreach Campaigns.
Using a collection of these program components means tackling several
barriers to digital literacy & access at once.

What is the State of
Connectivity in Chicago?

24.9% of households do not have
Internet access (ACS 2014)
19.7% of households do not have
computers (ACS 2014)
To the right is broadband use by
community area (Mossberger, 2013)
Unconnected households tend to be
lower income, minority & have lower
educational attainment.
Some Facts about Chicago:

Let’s Compare...
% No Internet
Access
% No Internet
Subscription
% Income <35K
with no Internet
subscription
% No Computer % of Internet
Subscribers
mobile alone or
w/ dial-up
U.S. 20.1% 24.2% 45.6% 14.9% 7.8%
New York City 21.1% 24.6% 43.7% 16.2% 3.7%
Los Angeles 19.6% 23.4% 41.9% 14.3% 7.0%
Chicago 24.1% 30.2% 52.0% 19.5% 7.9%
Houston 25.9% 30.3% 50.6% 17.9% 18.1%
Philadelphia 27.0% 31.9% 48.8% 20.1% 8.0%
*Percentages in households, American Community Survey Estimates 2014

Connectivity Across Chicago
All MSA Census Tracts: Chicago Census Tracts:

What is the state of digital
training in Chicago?
We don’t know. We’d like to do
something about that.

Connect Chicago
aims to make Chicago the most
connected, most skilled, most
dynamic digital city in America.

Connect Chicago Goals
Increase access to the Internet
Increase digital skills
Increase economic & civic engagement through
technology

Connect Chicago
will strengthen & expand the
digital access and skills sector
of Chicago.

Connect Chicago Ingredients to Success
Community-Building & Collaboration: We’re expanding the number of
digital training hours across the City, continuing our Meetup program, &
creating a new platform (website) for digital trainers.
Data: We’re planning to collect program data from around Chicago to
understand demand for training (and types of training). We’re also planning
to conduct a citywide survey on Internet access & digital skills.
Unique & Numerous Partners: Chicago Public Library, LISC Chicago,
MacArthur, Chicago Department of Innovation & Technology, the Mayor’s
Office, Chicago Public Schools, World Business Chicago

Collaboration is not
just a word.
Smart Chicago just published its
entire Youth-Led Tech curriculum
online. We’ve also shared every
meta how-to we can think of:
catering, instructor recruitment,
marketing tools, etc. HERE.
We hope to lead by example to
avoid duplicative
efforts/investments.

Frameworks for Collaboration
between Digital Literacy &
Organizations

Digital Literacy vs. Traditional Literacy
Demand for training at
many ability levels
with many audiences.
Many organizations &
training sites
Reliant on access to
at-home resources
& support
Literacy
Field
Digital
Literacy
Field
Definitions for
success are not
defined or
standardized.
“Functional
digital/technical
literacy” is a moving
target.
Basic literacy is a
prerequisite.
Definitions for
success are
defined (ex: 3rd
grade reading
level).
The mediums
are changing.
Computer &
digital literacy is
part of greater
literacy.

Digital Training + Traditional Literacy
Partnership cases in other cities: Kansas City has a digital inclusion
grant fund that have been won by traditional adult literacy programs. Those
programs expanded their programming to include basic digital training.
Design & Tech Can Help Literacy: Mobile learning, for instance, is a
platform being leveraged by trainers and builders helping populations with
lower literacy.
Literacy is the foundation of digital skills: Many digital literacy classes
and tools require a certain reading level.

Complementary Missions
“Working together, we envision a future in which 100% of Chicagoland
residents are functionally literate, and in which that shared literacy is a
defining characteristic and point of pride for the city.
From reading an early picture book all the way through acquiring
essential computer and communications technology skills, literacy is
the key to a successful and independent life, and to a vibrant and
sustainable city…” The Mission of the Chicago Literacy Alliance

An Inventory of Needs & Strengths
NEEDS STRENGTHS
Digital Skills
Programming
● Better ESL support
● Better training for true beginners
● Referrals to next steps
● More training & support
● Lower the relevancy barrier
● Better device/access support
● Better outcome measures
● Connection to professional
development
● Trusted institutions
● Technology is fun!
● Institutional time & commitment
to digital skills is rising
Programming
● Referrals to next steps
● More training & support
● Institutional time & commitment
to literacy
● Captures & understands most
vulnerable and in-need learners
● Trusted institutions
● Public awareness & value
● Cohort learning & social support

Some Ideas for Collaboration
Help us assign reading levels to digital training classes & curricula
Help us outreach to basic digital learners with lower literacy levels &
improve their learning experiences
Create a strong referral network of programs (most important)
Together we can build tech tools that can support & help all users
(CUTGroup!)
Let’s hang out and come up with more ideas!

Hang out with us!

Join the Connect Chicago Meetup Group
We convene trainers, nonprofit professionals, corporate partners and city
employees together about once a month to have a themed conversation
and share tools/ideas.
Having more literacy advocates and professionals there would strengthen
our community. Please join us:
http://www.meetup.com/ConnectChicago/

Sign up for CUTGroup
We pay residents of Chicago & Cook County to test websites and
applications. No experience or knowledge is needed. You don’t need to
know about tech to make tech better.
“If it doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t work!”
Sign-up is easy. Go to CUTGroup.org OR text “Hello” to (773)747-6239
Residents get $5 just for signing up and $20 per test!
Here is a link to a handout.

Come to Our Party
Everyone is invited! There will be food, drinks and good company.
Save the date: December 14, 2015 at the Chicago Cultural Center
RSVP to the Smart Chicago Holiday Party here:
http://www.meetup.com/ConnectChicago/events/226741731/

Learn More About Smart Chicago’s Projects
What we’re about: Technology, Open, Everyone, Chicago.
The Civic User Testing Group (CUTGroup)
Expunge.io
Youth-Led Tech
Smart Health Centers
Connect Chicago

Appendix
For participants to fill out!

An Inventory of Needs & Strengths
NEEDS STRENGTHS
Digital Skills
Programming
Programming

Ideas for Collaboration

Digital & Traditional Literacy Collaboration

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