According to Adams, Pasquini, and Zentner in the 2017 Digital Literacy Impact Study 70% of employers looked for strengths in a prospects ability to work in a team, solve problems, effectively communicate skills, and have strong work ethic. Considering the talents and abilities needed to be considered an effective future employee, it is crucial to be certain that instructional products train students in these areas. The group believes that the possibilities exist to include these skills into future digital literacy programs in higher education and adult training.
Digital literacy has varying meanings to different people but most agree it is the increased ability to interpret, critique, analyze, and synthesize technology in its many forms. Nichole Pinkard describes a program in Chicago, IL called the Digital Youth Network that was developed around 2008 to increase interest and thereby increase digital literacy beginning with students in the sixth grade. By making the internet more available to large groups of children in schools and in the public library system, the group created a social networking environment for these kids to share ideas, information, and learning opportunities improving communication skills in the process. Data gathered has indicated an increase of around 80% over kids in the Silicon Valley in the last few years. What would happen in the business industry if this digital literacy promotion was tackled in higher education and adult training? What would happen if internet access and adult training were made more readily available across the United States with social networking built in to foster a desire to continue learning?
Vanessa Vega shares statistics from 2011 with respect to internet availability across the US (Vega, 2011). Of course, these numbers are much higher today; however, I believe that the disparaging differences between high and low income households will still exist. We could change the future employability of lower income adults if we not only made internet more accessible but created interest-gaining programs like the Digital Youth Network for these adults and inspired them to want to participate in digital literacy programs thereby also increasing their communication skills. If we created centers for gathering, sharing a glass of tea, and learning more about what is available in the digital world then made that learning accessible, how successful could we be in aiding low income adults with very little hope for the future to become more excited and hopeful about tomorrow? Could these types of programs make a difference?
As future instructional designers, I believe that we can use our growing knowledge to help create these types of programs. By implementing collaboration strategies, video training on design and publishing strategies that touch them where they live, we can promote change. By reaching out into these lower income areas and providing information on how technology can be helpful on a regular basis to their families and communities then appealing to their basic needs, interest and desire can be sparked to tackle other learning opportunities and increase employability in more lucrative enterprises.
Adams Becker, S., Pasquini, L. A., and Zentner, A. (2017). 2017 Digital Literacy Impact Study: An NMC Horizon Project Strategic Brief. Volume 3.5, September 2017. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.
Pinkard, N. (Writer). (2013, February 6). Nichole Pinkard on Digital Literacy (Big Thinkers Series) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/video/nichole-pinkard-digital-literacy-big-thinkers-series
Vega, Vanessa. (2011). Digital Literacy is the Bedrock for Lifelong Learning Digital literacy ensures the birth of new ideas and educated citizens. Retrieved from: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-divide-technology-internet-access-literacy-vanessa-vega
