Digital Opportunity Ecosystems

What is a “Digital Opportunity Ecosystem” and why is it important? The National Digital Equity Center (NDEC), and many other organizations and people, are dedicated to digital equity, digital inclusion and digital opportunity. It is our steadfast commitment that not one person is left behind in our digital world. To achieve this mission, NDEC believes that recruiting, teaching, and empowering others to continue this work for many years to come is the pathway forward.

The National Digital Equity Center (NDEC) is committed to creating Digital Opportunity Ecosystems – a combination of programs and policies that meet regions’ unique and diverse needs. NDEC is dedicated to empowering organizations with digital opportunity resources that build strong ecosystems to address all aspects of the digital divide, creating long-term sustainable models.

Creating a Digital Opportunity Ecosystem involves building a collaborative network of stakeholders, technologies, policies, and programs that work together to ensure everyone has fair access to digital tools, connectivity, and digital skills training opportunities.

Digital Opportunity Ecosystems might include the following:

· Core Pillars of the Ecosystem:

  • Access:
    • Affordable Broadband: Advocate and demonstrate affordable broadband resources
    • Devices: Promote affordable options for laptops, tablets, and assistive technologies
    • Public Wi-Fi: Publicize hotspots in libraries, community centers, etc.
  • Digital Skills Training:
    • Training Programs: Advocate for and promote digital skills classes and coaching
    • Digital Skills Individual Learning Plans: Promote digital skills assessments and individual learning plans for personal and professional development
    • Curriculum Development: Provide resources for age and ability-specific digital skills programs
    • Support Services: Provide resources for multilingual digital skills and accessibility training
  • Empowerment & Inclusion:
    • Community-Led Initiatives: Engage input from organizations that serve covered populations and from lived experts*.
      Activities might include:
      • Internet Safety Promotion: Advocate and promote Internet Safety digital skills classes – Basic Internet Safety; Identifying Fraud & Scams; Keeping Your Online Accounts Safe; etc.
      • Digital Rights Awareness: Provide resources for digital privacy, data protection, cyberbullying prevention.
      • Community Advocate and Digital Navigator Programs: Recruit and train community volunteers to serve as Community Advocates and/or Digital Navigators who can help communities and organizations promote digital equity, digital inclusion and digital opportunities.
  • Stakeholders:
    Building and maintaining a digital ecosystem for digital transformation involves various stakeholders, both within and outside the organization and the value of stakeholder input is immensely important. Leveraging deep-rooted partnerships and proven methodologies can empower stakeholders to create digital opportunity ecosystems to accelerate broadband adoption and foster meaningful digital inclusion and digital opportunities.

    Stakeholders might include representatives and contributions from the following:
    • Government – Policy, funding, broadband infrastructure
    • Nonprofits – Outreach, training, advocacy
    • Libraries & Schools – Access points, education, community hubs
    • ISPs & Tech Companies – Infrastructure, low-cost services, device donations
    • Community Leaders -Voice of the people, trust builders
    • Academic Institutions – Research, evaluation, innovation
    • Philanthropy – Grants, impact investment, innovation support
  • NDEC’s Digital Opportunity Partner Program:
    NDEC’s Digital Opportunity Program is a strategy to engage stakeholder organizations and entities as described above. The program focuses on a train-the-trainer model, establishing a community of practice to support digital inclusion resources and services for the populations that the partner organization serves, including a focus on engaging with Covered Populations.

    NDEC’s Digital Opportunity Program is designed to empower organizations to continue providing digital inclusion and digital opportunities to the people that they serve for many years to come.

    Training includes:
    •  Learning how to be a digital coach and/or teach specific NDEC digital skills classes.
    • Access to on-demand digital skills (video), self-paced classes, including internet safety and basic digital skills courses, via weblinks through NDEC’s Digital Opportunity Partner portal.
    • Ability to facilitate NDEC’s fee-based digital skills classes as on-site digital skills classes via Zoom presented by NDEC’s digital skills instructors.
    • Assistance with promoting and incorporating digital skills programming into Digital Skills Partners’ core services for the public.

If you are interested in exploring the creation of a Digital Opportunity Ecosystem for your region or community, please contact NDEC at info@digitalequitycenter.org or (207) 259-5010.

*Covered populations include: Older adults; Veterans; People with disabilities; Members of racial or other ethnic groups; Rural residents; Individuals with a language barrier, including those who are English learners or have low literacy levels; Individuals living in households with incomes not exceeding 150 percent of the poverty level

Will You Help Break Down the Digital Divide?

Are you passionate about helping individuals in your community access affordable internet and learn how to use devices?  Can you commit to at least one hour a week to learn how to help Maine residents improve their digital skills and access affordable internet and devices?  Through our unique Digital Navigator Training program, our Volunteer Digital Navigators learn how to assist Maine residents with one or more of the following goals:

  • Signing up for and attending NDEC digital skills classes, both online interactive and onsite in Maine.
  •  Learning specific basic skills on a one-on-one basis (e.g., learning to use Zoom; setting up or creating an email address on a device) so that they can participate in NDEC classes and other learning opportunities, especially those that are online only.
  •  Learning how to apply for the FCC Affordable Connectivity Program, and/or selecting an appropriate internet service provider.

Our volunteer Digital Navigators are assigned specific individuals that request assistance from the National Digital Equity Center.  We also provide training for organizations that have staff Digital Navigators serving a specific population.  To inquire about our Community Digital Navigator Training Program, please contact us at dnmgmt@digitalequitycenter.org.

Our volunteers can participate as little or as much as they like; from one hour a week to several hours each month.  There is also no required length of service.  Each participant in the NDEC Digital Navigator Program is asked to complete the following:

  • The NDEC Enrollment Registration Form at digitalequitycenter.org/enroll.
  • A Volunteer Packet which includes our Confidentiality Agreement and Code of Conduct. All NDEC Staff and Volunteers are bound by this Code of Conduct – click here to read.
  • Pass a Maine State Background Check & National Sex Offender Registry Check
  • Complete a one-hour initial orientation to determine the digital navigator roles you wish to pursue.
  • A short series of assessments to determine your digital skills.
  • Individualized training based on the digital navigator roles that you decide to take on.

If you are interested in exploring becoming an NDEC Volunteer Digital Navigator, please email us at dnmgmt@digitalequitycenter.org to explore this volunteer opportunity.

Requirements of the NDEC Volunteer Digital Navigator Program