Levelling up: the quest for digital literacy

This report maps the digital literacy education and training landscape in Canada. It highlights the types of digital skills that people in Canada are pursuing, sheds light on barriers to access, and identifies existing gaps and potential opportunities to improve the development and supply of digital literacy skills. There is a wide array of programs available with promising delivery models and curricula. Some operate entirely within the formal K-12 and post-secondary education systems, while others are led by non-profit and private sector actors working alongside - and sometimes in...  [+] Show more

This report maps the digital literacy education and training landscape in Canada. It highlights the types of digital skills that people in Canada are pursuing, sheds light on barriers to access, and identifies existing gaps and potential opportunities to improve the development and supply of digital literacy skills. There is a wide array of programs available with promising delivery models and curricula. Some operate entirely within the formal K-12 and post-secondary education systems, while others are led by non-profit and private sector actors working alongside - and sometimes in partnership with - schools, colleges, and universities. However, the authors suggest that the landscape of opportunities for learning digital skills is fragmented and difficult for some learners to navigate. Many people in Canada are at risk of falling through the cracks, unsure of what skills they are missing or how to develop them. The report draws on more than 90 semi-structured interviews with experts and practitioners across Canada, including: digital literacy education and training providers; school board representatives and teachers; policymakers at all levels of government; and academics studying digital literacy, the digital economy and technology in the classroom.

Edited excerpts from publisher's website.