Community classes promote digital literacy
Locals learn tech skills at a SILS-run workshop series at Chapel Hill and Durham libraries.
The five patrons in this Durham Southwest Regional Library classroom on a Tuesday afternoon have different reasons for being here.
“I haven’t been on the computer in a long time.”
“I’m not a computer guy at all.”
“I have a lot of online schoolwork.”
“I get frustrated with my new computer.”
“I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
All are ready to learn.
The Community Workshop Series is in session, and three Carolina students are here to teach Navigating the Web: Internet and Search Engine Basics as part of this volunteer program run by the School of Information and Library Science.
According to research by the National Center for Education Statistics, 16% of Americans ages 16–65 are digitally illiterate. With a mission of digital literacy for all, these volunteers — primarily SILS scholars, but also other students — help the local community with lessons on everything from smartphone basics and online job searching to internet safety and drop-in tech help.
“A lot of the people who come in are so curious, and we often get repeat participants,” said Cat Rashid, a SILS graduate student in her second year as workshop coordinator. “People know us, and they know what we do. It’s just a very positive interaction.”
About 25 volunteers work with community members at the Chapel Hill Public Library and two Durham County libraries. With 24 sessions — all free — on the calendar for the fall semester, the group packs in a lot of teaching.
Rebecca Topper led a session on navigating the web and answered questions on topics like strong passwords, safely connecting to the internet and cookies. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
“I think it’s a way to be involved in the wider community, whether or not it’s something you’re going to do as your job,” said Rebecca Topper, a SILS graduate student with plans to work in education after she graduates.
Topper led this session at Durham’s Southwest branch, presenting and answering questions on topics like how to use search engines effectively, safely browse the web (no online banking on unsecured public networks) and choose strong passwords (don’t use the same one for everything).
Topper’s co-teachers, Jed Edwards and Sydney Greenwood, chimed in with advice and feedback while also assisting learners one-on-one throughout the class with skills like using multiple tabs, finding news sites and accessing email.
“It’s second nature for most of us now, but a lot of these folks, for one reason or another, there’s not that sense of regularity,” said Edwards, a second-year library science graduate student. “I think it’s nice to work with someone who doesn’t have that foundational understanding and to try to deconstruct it for them.”
The deconstruction is appreciated by library patrons like Jan Touma, an 81-year-old who used a computer at an old job but not as regularly since retiring.
“I don’t work anymore, so I can’t ask other people,” she said. “My kids don’t live local, so I need help.”
Touma enjoyed the small class size and the individualized help she received. She gave her Tar Heel teachers a positive review. “I think these kinds of classes are difficult to teach because people are at different levels,” Touma said.
For the teachers, one of the most rewarding parts of the workshops is witnessing the breakthroughs. These range from teaching someone the signs of an online scam to using the GPS on their phone — or helping someone step up their pet content.
“We had this very sweet lady come in. She said, ‘I use my phone to pick up calls and to send pictures of my cat,’” said Greenwood, a global studies graduate student. “We taught her how to use the video function on the camera, so now her cat updates are crazy.”
Jed Edwards said volunteering with CWS is a fun way to interact with new people outside of campus. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)
