eLearning Summit July 30-31, 2014 Sheri Steinke Normandale Community College Karen LaPlant Hennepin Technical College Mary Mehsikomer TIES

Maslow's Hierarchy of Digital Literacy for Students in the 21st Century The needs of today's learner are more complicated than the needs addressed by Maslow and basic college admission testing. First year college students are asked to complete comprehensive intake assessments that help them identify areas where they may need additional support. However, these assessments typically do not include computer skills. As a result, while students know how to text and use Facebook, they often lack basic computer, software, or other digital skills needed to succeed in college classes. In this session, learn about the recent efforts of the Minnesota Learning Commons Digital Literacy work group, along with University of Minnesota, TIES, and MNSCU institutions, leading the way in the area of digital literacy assessment and remediation strategies.

Agenda Agenda: 1.Introduce the work of the MnLC Digital Literacy work group, and its goal (5 min) 2.Discuss the importance of community resources (5) 3. Present what Normandale Community College is doing in this area (5 min) Open enrollment schools 4. Present what Hennepin Technical College is doing in this area (14 min) 5. Present what TIES is doing in this area(12 min) 6. Q&A (5-10 min)

Why is Digital Literacy Important? Computer Security -Identity theft, phishing Job searches/applications Attend school Apply for Loans/ FAFSA Unemployment benefits Social Security Benefits Banking Bill paying (online and Excel) Social media--Communications ( ) –schools/daycare/org Taxes Buy a car (expenses, shop and compare)

Fact Digital literacy is part of basic literacy.

The Village MNLC Digital Literacy Workgroup Website Resources Website Resources

Target Audience Adults with low literacy levels Displaced workers without computer skills Other adults needing digital literacy skills for career degrees, diplomas and certificates

Northstar Digital Literacy Minnesota Based and ongoing funded project New social medial assessmentsocial medial assessment New Excel module Allows for digital badging Completion Certificates Cost

Normandale AQIP Project Blueprint for student success MnLC Dream Team Campus Workgroup Websites, videos, and D2L Shell Course Implementation Lessons Learned 1. Ongoing 2. Buy-in 3. Program Requirements (new student experience)

Northstar Digital Literacy Enhancing Basic Computer Skills for Adults

The Northstar Digital Literacy project is designed to help adults: Develop basic computer literacy Demonstrate basic digital competency Obtain a credential to assist in job search

Digital literacy needs of adults Low computer/digital literacy is barrier to education and employment Searching and applying for jobs requires online and computer skills By 2016, 70% of all U.S. jobs will require some sort of technology skills (McCain, 2009) Low computer/digital literacy limits employment options and contributes to poverty

Northstar Project Sponsors

Northstar: Overview Purpose Demonstrate competency(with credential option) Target audience Adults with low literacy levels Displaced workers lacking computer skills Others needing skills for employment, career certificates, etc.

Six sets of standards Basic computer use Internet Windows OS Mac OS Word processing

Northstar: Features Online, self-guided assessments with audio Six modules: Basic Computer, Internet, Windows OS, Mac OS, , Microsoft Word Simple, intuitive design with audio & text features ADA compliant; available with closed-captioning Administrative functions and tools for tracking use data Creative Commons license Low cost

Current Milestones (July 2014) 2nd anniversary of Northstar going 'live.' Recent milestones: 90 sponsor sites in Minnesota, and over 20 sites in 13 other sites Sponsor sites have administered over 20,500 assessments and awarded over 9,800 certificates Assessments completed on the public website over 253,000 times. Website and admin. back-end features were significantly upgraded. Website New Social Media module went 'live' Created the capacity for individuals passing assessments to claim online Digital BadgesDigital Badges

Current Status (July 2014) Great collaborative tool for libraries and adult literacy programs in five Greater Minnesota communities working to build local digital literacy (Duluth, Faribault, Moorhead, St. Cloud, and Worthington) Funded thru state Library Services and Technology Act grant 114 sponsor sites have administered over 25,000 assessments and awarded 3,700 certificates Sponsor sites in eleven states outside of Minnesota Public sites have administered 200,000+ assessments Validity/reliability confirmed via consistent assessment results since initial release

Pre- and post-assessment Means of assessing student progress and recognizing achievement Building digital literacy skills for distance learning and other instruction Uses

Provides valuable evaluation data for programming Are students learning? What are they learning? Used as pre- and post-test Provides value to students Motivates students by highlighting skill gaps Shows what they have learned Provides Certificate as a credential option Value in Northstar

Designed to: Provide feedback for individuals completing the assessment, as well as instructors Help manage Northstar easily and effectively Allow agencies to access and use data for a variety of management purposes Can be used to track data for accountability and evaluation purposes Northstar tools/database capacities

The Assessments include Online, self-guided modules Audio instructions for each module Spanish language versions available Close-captioned version available Adults can take the assessments at an approved sponsoring organization that has met specific standards

Assessment Results

The Certificate Only approved sites can proctor the assessments for awarding the Northstar Digital Literacy Certificate Certificates can be awarded for successful completion of each module (85% passing score)

Sponsor Sites In addition to awarding Certificates, sponsor sites will be able to access: Detailed data on individual learners Summary data for their site

Proctor Tools

List of available reports for sponsor sites

Project Goal Learners will have option to earn digital badge in addition to paper certificate Badging represents new perspective on credentialing Recognizes that much learning happens outside of formal education due to flexibility of Internet-based learning opportunities Badges offer portability (can be accessed online from anywhere)

Northstar: Coming Now Social Media and Excel Basics modules Digital badging option Enhancements to public website Expanded reporting features

Upgraded Website

Progress Social Media and Excel modules Redesign and upgrade of website in progress Reporting functions improved and expanded Preparing to develop online help and training manual Completed design of visual icons Completed infrastructure/coding work Badges launched in June as new website was active

QUESTIONS? Breakout session documents posted Attendees to evaluate session

Karen LaPlant Sheri Steinke Mary Mehsikomer Mary Mary Thank You for coming today

Resources Minneapolis Survey Community Technology 2014 Northstar St. Paul Literacy Council Digital Learn MNLC Digital Literacy Workgroup ----Join Us! Contact us! Meetings are open to the public and are via webinar and in-person