1. Building a 21st Century Workforce Learning Summit
Broadband, Technology and Our Future Workforce
Wayne Kelly
Kootenay Workforce Development
Nelson, BC June 19, 2017

2. Outcomes
Rural broadband meets many needs and provides many opportunities
“Soft” digital skills are essential and often neglected
Thriving digitally starts local and is always changing

3. The Many Uses of Broadband

4. “Digital highway” Online education Precision Agriculture Tele-health
Digital economy/Transportation optimization
Tele-commuting
Build for the future & biggest possible use not current general use
“Digital highway”

5. Infrastructure + Skills + Use of
Digital Capital1 =
Infrastructure + Skills + Use of
digital technologies required to achieve outcomes

6. Digital Technologies Outcomes2
Work or find work
Financial information & benefits
Access Information
Access health services
Employment & Financial Capital
Personal Well-Being & Human Capital
Sell or purchase goods
Access Education
Digital
Technologies
Outcomes2
Access information
Connect with family & friends
Cultural Capital
Social & Civic Capital
Document & Share culture
Entertain-ment and Leisure
Engage with gov.
Network with groups & orgs

7. Core Digital Skills

8. Changing technologies … Multiple uses and outcomes …
Different contexts …
How do we train for this?

9. Information Navigation
Which Internet skills can serve as a foundation for 21st century workforce?3
Operational
Mobile
Information Navigation
Example of millennial filling out the E-Index “don’t know that specific technology but I could learn it”
Changing nature of listening to music as an example
Creative
Social

10. Skills that focus on operating and using browsers and websites, such as:
Know how to open downloaded files
Know how to adjust privacy settings
Know how to use shortcut keys
Know how to connect to a wifi network
Know how to download/save a photo online
Operational
Know how to go to a different webpage
Know how to upload files
Know how to complete online forms
Know how to open a new tab in browser
Know how to bookmark a website

11. Information Navigation
Skills that focus on finding information and navigating websites, such as:
Know how to decide what the best search key words are
Know how to verify online information
Know how to find a website I have visited before
Information Navigation
Know how to navigate different websites
Know how to find information online

12. Skills that focus on social interaction and participation online, such as:
Know how to change who I share with
Know how to decide who to follow
Know which information should be shared
Social
Know how to remove friends & contacts
Know when information should be shared
Know to be careful with comments and behaviour

13. Skills that focus on editing, creating and posting and content online, such as:
Know how to build something new from existing content
Know how to write and comment online
Know how to edit/change existing content
Creative
Know how to post video content
Know how to design a website
Know which content licenses apply

14. Skills4 that focus on mobile functions for using the Internet, such as:
Know how to install apps on a mobile device
Know how to use internet-enabled apps
Mobile
Know how to post content from mobile device
Know how to access browsers/websites

15. Thriving Digitally starts Locally

16. 2 Key points for 21st Century Workforce
1. Change is the new normal
Technology will continue to change and evolve
Economic, social and environmental realities in the region will change and evolve quicker than before
New skill requirements as well as new training options and mediums are constantly emerging

17. 2 Key points for 21st Century Workforce
2. Digital thriving starts locally5
Regularly identify local digital talents, interests and needs
Develop digital skills with priority in education, labor force training and citizen engagement.
Celebrate local champions and lead by example
Example of local software company in Glenboro, MB that hires top graduates from (9 digital tech professionals in a community of 624)
User-driven - need to understand how rural individuals, organizations and communities use services before prescribing digital solutions

18. Thank you Kootenay Region!

19. End notes
Digital Capital is a concept that I am adapting and developing for my PhD research. The source for my adaptation is: Roberts E. & Townsend. L (2015). The contribution of the creative economy to the resilience of rural communities: exploring cultural and digital capital. Sociological Ruralis
Digital Technology Outcomes are:
An adaptation of the community capitals developed by: Emery, M., & Flora, C. (2006). Spiraling-up: Mapping community transformation with community capitals framework. Community development, 37(1),
In combination with the Internet use categories outlined by: Helsper, E.J., van Deursen, A.J.A.M. & Eynon, R. (2015). Tangible Outcomes of Internet Use. From Digital Skills to Tangible Outcomes project report. Available at:
Foundational Internet Skills are based on the tested skill list developed in: Van Deursen, A. & Helsper, E, Development and validation of the Internet Skills Scale (ISS). Information Communication and Society, DOI: / X
Mobile skills from van Deursen et al’s categories have been merged with mobile Internet skills included in the E-Index
These recommendations are adapted from a rural broadband policy scan conducted at RDI: Kelly & McCullough (2016). State of Rural Information and Communication Technologies in Manitoba. Rural Development Institute, Brandon University.