Back in the day, being computer literate was a specifically highlighted skill or requirement in job descriptions for a broad range of positions. Now, the requirement is digital literacy. David Soutar, of the Slashroots Foundation, and of the Caribbean School of Data (CSOD) discusses digital literacy: why it is important, and how it is different from computer literacy; the digital/data literacy programme offered by the CSOD; and how CSOD might evolve within the context of the future of work.

 

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Over the past few years, ‘digital literacy’ has become the buzz word of choice, having overtaken ‘computer literacy’. However many people do not know the difference between the two terms, and invariably, believe that they are one and the same. Further, with the wide proliferation of computing devices, such as smartphones, tablet and personal computers, across our societies, frequently, there is an assumption that a large portion of our populations, particularly among the youth demographic, are digitally literate. That tends not to be the case.

To that end, it has become increasingly important for people, across all strata of our societies to be digitally literate – not just for the workplace, but also for our lives in general. Hence, similar to what was done when computer literacy was an important qualification when seeking employment, digital literacy courses and programmes are beginning to emerge. However, the scope and quality of those programmes vary widely; and so require careful review and consideration before committing to pursue them.

In the Caribbean region, and so far, locally developed digital literacy programmes are rare. Most of what is available have been produced by the major online learning academies, which are based outside the region, and depending on the platform, might be pricey – but again the scope and quality of the programmes would need to be considered.

However, the recently launched Caribbean School of Data (CSOD) aims to provide a comprehensive suite of digital/data literacy programmes that considers the unique societal circumstances and nuances of the Caribbean countries in which the programme is delivered. Established in 2019, currently, the CSOD is offering a foundational digital literacy course in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and is in active discussions with at least a half dozen more countries to come on board. Plans are also underway to roll out additional courses.

 

Introducing our guest

David Soutar

David Soutar is the is Co-Principal of the Slashroots Foundation, a civic tech non-profit that leverages technology to create solutions to social problems endemic to the Caribbean region. At Slashroots, his role includes supporting strategy, research, and implementation, but much of his expertise falls into the realms of research and design, to help bring complex, multi-stakeholder governance, and development programs to reality. Additionally, Slashroots is one of the founding partners of the CSOD, in conjunction with Caribbean Open Institute, Google and the Mona School of Business and Management.

In addition to Slashroots, David is a Lecturer at the University of the West indies, Mona Campus (Jamaica), where his lectures on Digital Media, at the Caribbean School of Media and Communications, and he coordinates the Digital Media Production undergraduate programme. David has lectured in the area of Design and Visual Communication at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (Jamaica), the University of Technology (Jamaica), and San Francisco State University (USA). Additionally, he previously served as Assistant Chief Examiner in Digital Media for the Caribbean Examinations Council.

 

Insight into the conversation

Off the bat, and to establish a foundation of the discussion that followed, it was important to ensure that key terms, such as digital literacy and computer literacy, were clearly defined, and to discuss how they are different from each other. The conversation with David eventually segued into examining the digital literacy programme offered by CSOD. However, some of the questions posed are as follows:

  1. What is digital literacy, and how is it different from computer literacy?
  2. Nowadays, most people own, or have access to digital devices, and to varying degrees, know how to use them, so, shouldn’t a greater proportion of our population be considered digitally literate?
  3. In order to be digitally literate, what are key skills an individual ought to possess?
  4. What is the Caribbean School of Data about, and what does it hope to achieve?
  5. In addition to the training, mentoring is considered an important aspect of the programme. Why? What is it that CSOD hopes will be achieved?
  6. Who are the target learners and how has the curricula been designed?
  7. In what countries is the programme being delivered?
  8. How long is the programme and what are the desired outcomes of the programme?
  9. What does CSOD hope is achieved by a cohort graduating from the programme?
  10. Have any steps been taken to have the curricula recognized or accredited?
  11. Has CSOD been designed to be self-sustaining?
  12. What are the next steps for CSOD?

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Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Image credits: Wokandapix (Pixabay);  D Soutar

Music credit: Ray Holman