North Carolina State Extension Agents Help Close the Digital Divide

Using our devices comes naturally for those who grew up with technology, or who have had the opportunity to adapt to it over the years. But for those new to it, navigating the digital world can be a confusing muddle. As broadband access and broadband coverage is more available throughout North Carolina, the digital knowledge gap becomes increasingly evident. What seem like basic everyday tasks in a connected age can be foreign concepts for people who are new to the technology. Kenny Sherin, NC State Extension’s Community and Economic Development program manager, has been involved in digital skills outreach efforts for about three and a half years. In 2023, NC State Extension received a grant from the North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) that enabled him to hire new full-time digital skills agents and train existing agents to add digital skills education to their duties. Some of the agents are helping implement cutting-edge technologies, including working with farmers to beta-test innovations related to cover crops, precision pest ecology, sensor development and disease diagnostics. But the biggest application is education to help those who are unfamiliar with technology and connectivity thrive in today’s world.