April 16, 2024
The Digital Divide
According to a February 2023 National Skills Coalition report, Closing the Digital Skills Divide, 92% of jobs require digital skills. The report found that investments in closing the digital skill divide can generate measurable economic payoff for businesses, workers, and the broader economy.
Furthermore, empowering youth, adults and communities with digital literacy knowledge and skills will equip them with the tools they need to compete and thrive in a digitally driven society.
To stay competitive, all industries need to adopt new technologies. These new technologies will require a workforce that matches industry’s needs, whether it be for precision agriculture or other industry skills for robotics, drones or artificial intelligence applications. Kansas is in the process of expanding access to broadband within the state. With this expansion comes the need for digital literacy.
To meet this challenge, K-State Research and Extension -- in partnership with the University of Missouri Extension – is pursuing a Digital Ambassador program. With support from K-State 105 funds, the Digital Ambassador program seeks to increase digital literacy and skills among Kansas citizens.
The program’s goals include training youth and adult Digital Ambassador volunteers to serve in local communities, and deliver community digital literacy/skills education.
Adult Digital Ambassadors will work one-on-one with local citizens to assist with broadband access and skill training. A core group of trained Digital Ambassadors made up of extension specialists and agents will provide Digital Ambassadors training to local staff and volunteers.
Participating local extension agents will:
• Facilitate access to local communities.
• Recruit adult and youth Digital Ambassadors volunteers on the local level.
• Provide local leadership and program implementation utilizing the Digital Ambassadors curriculum.
The current pilot program will be offered in collaboration with local extension units.
The benefits of a digital literacy community include increased civic engagement, economic and workforce development and access to education and health care. Being an informed citizen requires access to information.
• It is estimated that 35% of people seeing information about local government search online.
• Most employers use the internet to post jobs and recruit perspective applicants.
• Fifty percent of today’s jobs require some tech skills, and this is only expected to grow.
• Most -- if not all -- banks offer online banking for customers, which allows better management of business and personal accounts.
• Access to healthcare information and services via the internet has become a trend that many rely on for care, particularly those in rural and remote communities.
• Education via distance education for both formal and professional development is made available through broadband and the internet.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 adults are not online. Those at risk of being left behind include families in a low income bracket, those with disabilities, those who did not earn a high school diploma and seniors.
Business and industry will seek out connected communities, including those with a qualified workforce that is digital literate. As access to broadband comes to communities, extension needs to be ready to assist them in understanding and capitalize on those opportunities so Kansans are better able to navigate the digital economy and improve their lives through access to online education, economic opportunities, telehealth and business.