SUMMARY:

The Digital Literacy Task Force held its third meeting on Aug. 3, 2021, and included representatives from multiple sectors interested in resolving the digital divide in the Los Angeles County region. The task force was updated on the staff commendation to the Public Utilities Commission to approve the LA DEAL to be a regional broadband consortium for Los Angeles County at the upcoming Commission meeting on Aug. 19. The meeting included a robust conversation and the formal introduction of the task force co-chair, Paulina Chavez, from EveryoneOn.

Action Items

• Task force members can continue to populate the Jamboard

Resources

• https://jamboard.google.com/d/1Wxtua7S6HyVoE_il5_BNZqxXBK1FgiESXFyu5jrgtQ8/edit?usp=sharing

• https://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/research/research-projects/disto/disto-usa

Discussion

The task force objective is likely to evolve as work continues. The objective will be attained by promoting, developing, and driving public-private partnerships, systems alignments, and driving funds to digital literacy programming, data gathering, and possibly via policy. This also includes the opportunity to launch pilots and communicate with stakeholders and the broader community to drive the consortia. A series of questions were presented to collect data, but people may continue to add information beyond the meeting by clicking the Jamboard link above.

The task force was reminded of meeting #2 highlight:

1. Reviewed digital literacy barriers

2. Outreach to communities to inform them of available services in their home language, that are age-appropriate and culturally relevant

3. Defining what is a high-quality program

4. Digital training workforce development to offer programs to students, seniors, and different communities

5. Digital literacy for different needs to access health care, education and remote work–households have varying needs

6. Asset mapping consistently populated via a Google document

7. Gaps overlap with the previously mentioned barriers

8. Opportunities for the Consortia to address short and long term

9. Developing a digital seal that would be driven by policy

10. Student to student learning model adopted by L.A. City

A series of questions were presented via the Jamboard to help identify digital literacy needs and come to a consensus to define and measure needs and minimal standards to compare and contrast L.A. County training.

1. What are the populations that would benefit from digital literacy training?

1. Seniors

2. Immigrants

3. Parents of K-12 students

4. People displaced from their jobs due to COVID-19 or who are seeking employment (e.g., public transportation, customer service)

2. What are the needs/goals that digital literacy training has to address?

1. Diverse populations (seniors, immigrants, people seeking continuing education, displaced employees without computer skills)

2. How to access mental health services

3. Telehealth to access activities

4. Accessing email and setting passwords

5. Where to apply for jobs; the online interview process

6. Communicating with teachers and accessing school resources via video conferencing

7. Parents accessing their children’s records

8. How to access public services

9. How to sign up for online banking

10. Financial Aid for students

11. How to use social media, researching events

3. What are measurable (competency, literacy, fluency) digital skills outcomes for people to fight social isolation?

1. Students can create a video conference event

2. Senior citizens can join a video call with their families

3. Students can read an email (competency)

4. Students can write an email (literacy)

5. Can turn on computer features such as increasing font size

6. Able to find reputable sources of information

Dr. Teshia Roby stated that technology is a language and shared three terms that inform digital literacy competencies (Competency, Literacy and Fluency):

• Learning the basics → How do you turn on a device?

• Able to communicate → Aware of online sites to visit to seek information (real versus fake)

• The advanced → Content creator and able to share knowledge with others

• How do you access (measure) skill level:

• Pre-assessment is given to students

• Post-assessment is given after midterm, so they see their growth

4. What are measurable (Competency, Literacy, Fluency) digital skills outcomes for people seeking employment?

1. Students can perform essential functions on the computer

2. Conducting a google search to find information on companies

3. Creating a responsive resume

4. Creating a LinkedIn profile

5. Knowing how to conduct and save custom searches on employment websites

5. What are measurable (Competency, Literacy, Fluency) digital skills outcomes for people seeking health care?

1. Reaching out to medical professionals

2. Creating an account with a strong password with your medical group to view test results

3. Using the online form to respond to questionnaires or schedule appointments

6. What are measurable (Competency, Literacy, Fluency) digital skills outcomes for people seeking social services?

1. Resident can apply, pay, request, check the status of services

2. Locate relevant provider website

3. Can fully complete paperwork

4. Online banking to connect a bank account to the benefits program

7. What are measurable (Competency, Literacy, Fluency) digital skills outcomes for students participating in continuing education (GED, trade school, higher education)?

1. How to complete the FAFSA application

2. Navigating college websites to locate information (majors available, transfer requirements, application deadline, etc.)

3. Using the website to schedule an academic counseling

8. What are measurable (Competency, Literacy, Fluency) digital skills outcomes for students participating in K-12

1. Students can navigate Chrome OS

2. Students can navigate Google Classroom

Data for the listed questions will continue to be discussed and collected at task force meetings.

The Digital Literacy Task Force meets virtually monthly and includes education, health, nonprofit, education, business, city municipalities, and internet service providers. To learn more, visit: ladeal.org/events.

Meeting #4 is scheduled for Sept. 7, 2021.

Updated: Nov 1, 2021