A large percentage of these people have very limited access to bandwidth and equipment. They are likely among the 45% of Canadians who score at the lowest levels of digital literacy. We know that many learners in our programs have low digital literacy skills. Digital divide 1: Literacy gap and access to technology To bridge the literacy gap, we must be able to connect. Having limited-to-no access to technology creates a further challenge. We know that the people most affected by COVID-19 lockdowns already experience barriers to literacy and learning. It is the most important tool for creating a more positive future for everyone in Canada. This puts the sector’s sustainability at great risk and limits our ability to innovate.īridging the literacy gap is possible. Some organizations abandon digital technology because they don't know where to start. It also creates challenges in connecting with new supporters, partners, volunteers, and donors. This can result in missed opportunities for operations, reach, and impact. Nonprofit and charitable organizations are often left out of the digital transformation conversations that shape the world. A lack of funding or skills is a barrier to using digital tools for over 55% of respondents. Sixty-six per cent of charities reported that the adoption of digital tools is a lower priority. The 2021 Canada Helps Study on digital technology says there are massive skill gaps in charities’ use of digital technology. We have always taken pride in the bonds we make with our learners. We value the way our tutors create personal relationships while supporting learners. Could chatbots replace our dedicated volunteer tutors in the future? To be clear, we're confident we can use AI and other tech advances to improve online programs. ![]() Virtual reality and artificial intelligence seem to be the opposite of face-to-face support. ![]() New technology can be scary for an organization that values personal relationships. These changes were also unsettling for some people. It was-and remains-a priority to make sure everyone who wants to learn can access our programs. Some people may only have access to a phone, which makes some tasks more challenging than on a computer. In fact, not every community has reliable internet access. Not every person has internet in their home. The ability to pivot to online depended on individual and community circumstances. Yet, for our partners, volunteer tutors, and learners, it wasn't always simple. ![]() We saw the opportunity to dream about what the future could be for our learners, our organization, and the whole literacy sector. We needed a plan to sustain operations and adapt to our evolving world. Technology allowed us to stay connected, even as we stayed in our own homes.Īs a learning organization, we knew we needed to explore the ways we could use digital technology. When the pandemic struck, we switched to being almost completely online for the first time in our history. ![]() Before March 2020, 90% of our programs and services were in person. The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had a significant impact on the way we worked, just as it did for many other organizations. You can get a Public Library card on-line and for FREE this year! You can also link it with SORA so when you search SORA for a book, it will search the public library as well.Challenges posed by COVID-19: the need for a digital strategy Just go to "Add Library" on the right side of the screen. You can still renew if needed and you can take out 10 out at a time! You can also access any public library you are a member of. SORA is great for many reasons! You never have to worry about overdue or fines.
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