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Tom Cytron-Hysom,
Project Manager
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Eric Nesheim,
Executive Director, Minnesota Literacy Council
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Jennifer Weaverling,
Assistant Supervisor, St. Paul ABE – Hubbs Center
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Brief overview: Northstar
Digital literacy needs of adults in ABE,
libraries, workforce centers, etc.
Integration of Northstar into these systems
Resolving systems issues
Business model
Northstar reporting and database capacities
that support collaboration
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Purpose
◦ Develop basic computer literacy
◦ Demonstrate competency
◦ Create a credential to assist in job search
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Target audience
◦ Adults with very low literacy level
◦ Displaced workers without computer skills
◦ Need skills for ABE, career certificates, etc.
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Online, self-guided assessment with audio
Six modules: Windows, Mac OS, basic
computer, email, world wide web, Word
Spanish version available
ADA compliant; closed-captioning available
Infrastructure in place
Comprehensive database and online tools
available to sponsors
Creative Commons license
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Developed in partnership
◦ St. Paul Public Library/St. Paul Community Literacy
Consortium
◦ Community participation in development process
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Used in partnership
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ABE programs
Libraries
Workforce centers
CTEP
Center for Study of Adult Literacy
73 sponsor sites have administered
10,490 assessments, awarded 1,539
Certificates
 Public sites have administered
58,000+ assessments
 Sponsor sites in four states outside
Minnesota
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Lack of basic computer/digital literacy skills
are a barrier to employment, re-employment,
and higher education.
Searching for and applying for work requires
online and computer skills.
70% of all U.S. jobs will require some
Information Communication Technology by
2016 (Mccain, 2009)
Lack of digital literacy skills contributes to
poverty and limited employment options.
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The same populations use ABE, libraries, and
workforce centers
Clients are often low-income, with limited
skills
Lack of basic computer and digital literacy
skills are common
These skill deficits can prevent effective use
of ABE/library/workforce center resources,
and are barriers to employment and further
information
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Libraries
ABE
Workforce centers – BTOP; REA ABE Northstar
Collaborative Pilot Project
Ensures standardization of offerings among
libraries
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MELSA support
St. Paul
◦ Integrated classes taught by CTEP members at
library sites
◦ Mobile WORKplace: Classes taught primarily in
other languages outside library locations. As of
early August, 328 Northstar assessments had been
administered, and 675 certificates awarded.
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12 laptops and a mobile internet connection
Classes taught in English, Somali, Hmong,
Spanish, and Karen
Classes include basic computer, internet,
Word, basic coding, etc. – based on need
Many partner sites, including Roosevelt
Homes, McDonough, MORE, Karen
Association of MN, Highwood Hills
Elementary, Parkway Gardens (seniors),
Dorothy Day, Ramsey County Correctional
Facility, etc.
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Connection made through Ramsey County
Workforce Center
Northstar used as pre-test to highlight skills
and guide teaching
Recently housed students – have enough
stability that they are very interested in
learning, so they see skills/certificate as
personally valuable; high motivation
Dorothy Day staff excited over the Certificate
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Provides valuable evaluation data for
programming
◦ Are students learning?
◦ What are they learning?
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Used as pre- and post-test
Provides value to students
◦ Motivates students by highlighting skill gaps
◦ Shows what they have learned
◦ Provides Certificate as a credential option
Pre- and post-assessment
 Means of assessing student progress
and recognizing achievement
 Metric for programs
 Building digital literacy skills for
distance learning and other instruction
 Breaking news: Endorsement and
financial support from MDE ABE
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Integration into core literacy instruction
1. Seamless
2. Appropriate
3. Facilitated
4. Empowering
Dillon-Marable & Valentine
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5-state digital literacy/broadband adoption
project funded through ARRA
30 month project concluded June 30
Involved 4 workforce centers (Mankato, New
Ulm, Minneapolis, Ramsey County) and one
nonprofit in Minnesota (PPL)
Northstar used to assess skill development
among participants
Use of volunteer tutors under ABE direction
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REA ABE Northstar Collaborative Pilot Project
Lack of digital literacy skills as barrier to
employment
Modeled after previous BTOP project
Designed to serve UI participants at-risk for
exhausting UI resources
Lack of digital literacy skills identified as
major barrier
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Incorporates screeners, Northstar
assessment, and Learner Web learning plans
Services provided collaboratively by ABE,
UI/REA, and workforce centers
Pilot project at Ramsey County, Osseo,
Mankato, and Duluth workforce centers
Includes evaluation to assess long term
outcomes for participants
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CTEP
Center for Study of Adult Literacy
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Community Technology Empowerment
Program
Uses AmeriCorps members to teach
technology skills at non-profits, libraries, ABE
programs, etc.
Northstar used to assess attainment of
outcomes
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Working to provide online instruction for lowskill readers
Specific computer skills needed to access and
utilize the online resources
Has requested specially tailored versions of
two modules to include only the identified
computer skills
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Involve multiple large systems, with different
practices, policies, etc.
Provide different services, but all serve lowskilled adults (among others)
Address issues involving the Digital Divide
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Lack of initial communication and buy-in
among partners; key individuals not involved
early
Poor role definition – who does what/is
responsible for what
Decision-making (everyone/no-one in
charge)
Timeframe is unrealistic
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Space and technology limitations
Conflicts in system practices, policies, etc.;
centralized vs. decentralized, different end
goals, etc.
Differing goals among partners
Unrealistic expectations
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What are we trying to accomplish?
Who needs to be at the table?
Have all needed system partners bought into
the project?
Have all key staff bought into the project?
What are the specific roles, commitments,
and responsibilities for the project?
Is the time frame realistic?
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What are the means of accountability?
Have barriers having to do with policy,
practices, resources, and technological
capacity been identified and addressed?
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Philosophy
Minnesota Literacy Council as fiscal agent
Community steering group
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Can support collaborative projects
Designed to:
◦ Provide feedback for individuals completing the
assessment, as well as instructors
◦ Help agencies manage Northstar easily and
effectively
◦ Allow agencies to access and use data for a variety
of management purposes
◦ Can be used to track data for
accountability/evaluation purposes
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http://www.digitalliteracyassessment.org/ind
ex.php