Digital Literacy

How One Veteran is Helping Other Veterans and Their Families with Digital Adoption in Rural Texas

Walter Prescher, a father of twelve, Methodist pastor, and Iraq war veteran with three Army tours, has been working hard to help other veterans and military families across rural areas surrounding Houston get more comfortable using the internet. His deep connection to the community, especially with veterans, makes him a trusted figure as a community resource for people in hard-to-reach areas, teaching them how to use technology to access services, stay in touch with loved ones, and be safe online.

Sen Cruz Tells NTIA to Halt "Unconstitutional" Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is expected to soon begin distributing $1.25 billion in grants to nonprofits under the “Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program” (Program) “to support efforts to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption of broadband among Covered Populations.” The Program’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) establishes that applicants must use the funding to serve members of “Covered Populations,” defined to include “individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group.” This

How States Plan To Track Digital Equity Progress

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act sets an ambitious overarching goal: internet for all. But past access and adoption, states are asked to think about how increased access to and use of broadband can drive equitable outcomes in areas like access to health care and essential services, education and job training, and participation in the society, economy, and civic institutions of the Nation.

How Broadening AI Access Can Help Bridge the Digital Divide

With artificial intelligence (AI) technologies becoming increasingly prevalent in educational settings and beyond, it is crucial to examine how paid AI services will increase disparities in digital access and literacy. GenAI resources can be valuable educational tools, but their cost may exacerbate the digital divide between wealthy and low-income students. By offering free access to the paid version of their products to financially struggling students, AI companies can help level the playing field.

Comcast, Goodwill Industries and World Education Cooperate on Digital Training

Comcast, Goodwill Industries International (GII), and World Education have developed and launched the Goodwill Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization training program. The program aims to equip community supporters with skills to enable them to thrive in the quickly changing advanced digital workplace. The digital training was made available to GII employees in the United States during the past month, and now can be accessed by anyone. The program costs $49 and consists of three courses.

Exploring Paths to a U.S. Digital Skills Framework (And Why We Need One)

As the main drivers of the digital divide evolve, digital inclusion efforts that seek to increase digital skills, build consumer trust in digital technologies, and promote information about affordability plans and other broadband availability programs have fast become key to getting everyone online. This report argues for the creation of a national digital skills framework and explains the immediate policy context.

Kansas State launches effort to heighten digital literacy

Kansas State University is establishing a program to improve broadband access for thousands of Kansans, helping them navigate the digital economy more safely and successfully.

$6 Million Broadband Investment is Paying Off for Berks County, Pennsylvania

In 2022, the Berks County (PA) commissioners found out their county, like many other counties across the country, was facing a digital divide. There was a widening, increasingly troublesome gap between those with Internet access and the skills to use it and those without. That realization was laid bare in a study conducted by an independent contractor that took a look at broadband access and availability. Seeing a need for things to change, they committed $6.3 million to addressing the challenges faced by the County.

Using data to advocate for digital skills

Skills advocates and digital inclusion advocates frequently ask National Skills Coalition for examples of how their peers are collecting, analyzing, and using data for advocacy. We’re happy to highlight several reports that use data about digital skills in creative ways. 

Technological literacy and employment: An inquiry into the adoption of learning technologies

This study investigates the relationship between online learning activities for educational, professional, or personal purposes and employment likelihood using the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage Survey conducted by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TSI) between 2015 and 2023. Utilizing a nationally representative survey, we analyze (1) online course enrollment and (2) online learning engagement (self-learning and communication-based learning activities) and their relationship with being employed.