NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, North Slave Region

Tags: social sciences, literacy

Objective(s): To identify and train a cohort of community-based digital literacy instructors; and to co-develop a suite of digital literacy resources customized to the unique needs of these regions, and taught by instructors trained through this project.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4551. Along with research outcomes regarding digital technology adoption and use, this project provides a strong foundation for sustainable, appropriate digital literacy training in the NWT, at a time of rapid development of digital infrastructure (through the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Link and other major investments). It involves two primary activities: 1) identifying and training a cohort of community-based digital literacy instructors; and 2) co-developing a suite of digital literacy resources customized to the unique needs of these regions, and taught by instructors trained through this project. During the program, the team will employ three rounds of training to create, implement and evaluate a digital literacy curriculum and teaching framework that can be taken up and adapted/applied by the participating cohort of NWT-based instructors. The trained instructors will teach three short (12 hour) digital literacy courses developed through this project: Digital Literacy Basics; Digital Content and Connectivity in the NWT; and Region-Specific Modules (topics to be determined in consultation with NWT regional partners). A project Advisory Board and Steering Committee will direct activities and assume program delivery upon the project’s conclusion in 2022. At that time, each participating region will have a customized digital literacy curriculum package that can be taught (and updated) on an ongoing basis by trained local instructors affiliated with the NWT educational partners. The curriculum packages include the following resources (updated on an annual basis and tied to the three courses developed through this project): •Instructor handbook (instruction plans, learning outcomes, worksheets, materials lists, student testing/evaluation resources, etc.); •Student workbook (textbook); and, •Guided learning activities (Setting up a computer, mobile phone, router; Digital data collection and management; Making the 'net-work' community networking model; Internet performance testing; Location-based digital storytelling). Along with basic digital literacy skills drawn from existing resources by groups like Media Smarts, these materials highlight local economic and community development opportunities made available through digital technologies. Topic areas tied to digital literacy include self-government, culture/language revitalization, local/regional employment opportunities, and digital innovations taking place in the NWT. The research team also address negative impacts (inappropriate content, cyber-bullying, etc.). The goal is to use appropriate and relevant material to teach digital literacy. Materials aim to encourage and inspire digital innovators in the communities to launch their own projects, while mitigating the negative impacts digital technologies hold for community members. Through this project the research team will also conduct research on digital technology development, adoption, and use through the NWT. The focus is on community development and digital literacy in the context of the Indigenous and Northern residents of the NWT. To this end the team will collect research data through surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups. This Tides Canada Initiatives project was developed by the DigitalNWT partners, who compose the project Advisory Board and Steering Committee: Inuvialuit Regional Corporation; Gwich’in Tribal Council; Sahtu Renewable Resources Board; Tlicho Government; NWT Computers for Schools; Aurora Research Institute; Aurora College; and, University of Alberta. Data will be collected from participants through: In-person / online / paper surveys conducted in the communities involved in of this project. All research participants will be provided with information about the study, and will indicate their informed consent. Researchers are available to answer questions about the project by phone or in person (local researchers). Information about the project will be provided by DigitalNWT partner organizations in newsletters or other media (e.g. radio), via email and social media, and/or through locally distributed posters. Local coordinators who are supporting the surveys will sign a confidentiality agreement and assist the DigitalNWT to support research work. They will conduct surveys where participants can complete paper-based surveys. They will then either input survey results into a secure survey program (e.g. Google Forms) and delete paper originals, or mail paper originals to the UAlberta Research team. Public outreach is a core component of this initiative, which heavily involves various NWT-based organizations and communities. The Project Description will engage with communities through digital literacy workshops and curriculum. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 5, 2020 to December 31, 2020.