Boston’s adult basic education (ABE) programs have long equipped students with the skills they need to advance in the workforce – ESOL English instruction, general education, and high school credentials. But in a post-pandemic world, another set of skills has proven particularly crucial to workplace success: Digital literacy.
That’s why the Boston Adult Literacy Initiative – a consortium of 26 ABE programs that collectively serve over 3,000 residents a year across every neighborhood of the city – has launched a new project called Dig Lit to help its member programs incorporate digital skills into their core learning curricula.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many ABE programs were forced to quickly pivot to remote learning models, which laid bare digital needs that had not been as obvious before the pandemic. Common challenges included internet access and computer equipment for students, as well as gaps in technical computer knowledge among both students and staff. As a result of this transition, ABE programs found they needed to make digital literacy an integral part of their learning models.
The Dig Lit project, launched in consultation with World Education, consists of three phases:
- Assessment to determine each program’s unique digital literacy needs. (Currently underway.)
- Fully funded custom solutions, such as equipment, program development and design, and staff and student training. (Scheduled to begin in Fall 2022.)
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of these interventions. (Ongoing.)
Want to learn more about the Dig Lit project? Contact Clare Shepherd at clare.shepherd@boston.gov for more information.