Digital Opportunities Program
Transform Your Digital Skills
In collaboration with Arizona State University, The Marconi Society and Merit Network, The Quilt is pleased to offer our new Digital Opportunities Program to help build expertise in this profession in order to bring the power and benefits of the internet to all.
Digital Opportunities Program Certificate
Course Overview
To address the urgent demand for expertise in closing the digital divide, the Digital Opportunities Program aims to help equip individuals with the necessary skills in technology and policy in order to meet the demands of this growing field. The course has five modules and serves as an important introduction to digital inclusion basics.
$1,500.00
Course Educator: Karen Mossberger, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, School of Public Affairs | karen.mossberger@asu.edu
Learning Outcomes
There are specific learning outcomes for each module. Taken as a whole, the certificate seeks to prepare participants to:
- Identify goals for digital opportunities in their states or communities
- Compare trade-offs and appropriate uses for different technologies, depending upon the community context
- Create high-quality plans for digital inclusion
- Engage stakeholders in planning and implementation
- Understand sources of data for planning and evaluation
- Evaluate how federal policy on broadband and digital inclusion affects programs for their communities
- Plan for sustainability
- Encourage innovative uses and measure impacts
Delivery and Pace
This is an asynchronous, online course. There are no face-to-face meetings or set times for online class meetings. Most modules are two weeks (Module 3 is 4 weeks) and you can view the videos and complete the assignments at your own pace within the time frames and due dates published below.
- You are encouraged to participate in the online discussion on the Yellowdig forum early in the 2nd week (or 2nd half) of the module, so that there is a chance to interact with other participants, commenting on their posts. Initial posts are due on the last Friday of each module, but conversations can continue over the final weekend.
- Once participants have received a passing grade on the discussion and on the assignment(s) for that module, a digital badge will be awarded for the module, and they will be able to proceed to the next module when it opens.
- Modules are scheduled to open on specific dates to encourage discussion as a cohort (see schedule below for dates).
Program Goals
Specific goals of this program are to bolster individuals with leadership skills and training to achieve a professional certification and the opportunity to participate in an R&E digital inclusion community of practice.
Our desired outcomes of the program are:
- To support member organization staff who are actively working in their local and state communities on digital inclusion efforts that impact access, affordability, and ability.
- To build the capacity of our national R&E networking community for local and state digital inclusion efforts.
- To create a cohort of R&E network digital inclusion leadership participants where together we will explore: Partnerships; Community engagement models; Digital navigator resources and programs for state-based efforts supporting NTIA Digital Equity Act capacity and competitive grant programs; Local planning and digital equity practitioner work, and R&E network professional service offerings to support local and state DEA plans.
Course Modules
Each module is focused on a series of videos recorded by prominent experts in policy making, digital inclusion programs, and academia. Be sure to read the biographies included with the videos, as they demonstrate the unique perspectives and substantial experience presenters bring to their subjects, from their past or current leadership in federal agencies, nonprofits, technology companies and local governments, or from cutting-edge research in fields such as computer science, public policy, sociology, economics, public health, engineering, and sustainability, among others. Case studies are also included in most modules to illustrate the application of concepts contained in the videos..
MODULE I - INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL INCLUSION (Feb. 3-Feb. 28, 2025)
Defining Issues
- The Landscape, Angela Siefer, National Digital Inclusion Alliance
- Digital Redlining, Bill Callahan, Connect Your Community
Why Digital Inclusion Matters
- Economic Development, Karen Mossberger, Arizona State University
- Education, Keith Hampton, Michigan State University
- Health, Amy Sheon, Public Health Innovators
- Civic Engagement, Karen Mossberger, Arizona State University
Case Studies
- National Models, Corian Zacher, Next Century Cities
- Detroit, MI, Joshua Edmonds, Digital C (Formerly City of Detroit)
- Fort Collins, CO, Darin Atteberry, Elevation Credit Union (Formerly City of Fort Collins)
Module I Virtual Discussion Session: Wednesday, Feb. 26 (3 to 4 p.m. EDT)
Module I Assignment (due Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 – 11:59 p.m. PDT)
Consult the tables from the American Community Survey for your community or state, according to the instructions provided and write a 700- to 1,050-word (2-3 page) reflection about: What goals for digital inclusion should be addressed in a digital inclusion plan for your state, community or organization, given the data and what you know from your experience?
MODULE II – NETWORK TECHNOLOGY BASICS (March 3-21, 2025)
MODULE III - EVALUATING DIGITAL INCLUSION RESOURCES (March 24-May 16, 2025)
MODULE IV – DIGITAL INCLUSION POLICY FOUNDATIONS (May 19 – June 13, 2025)
MODULE V – IMPACTS AND APPLICATIONS (June 16 – July 25, 2025)
Partners and Collaborators
