Toronto is increasingly recognized as a major technology and innovation hub, and one starting to challenge Silicon Valley. The city is host to hundreds of startups, plus technology incubators and world-class talent. With Toronto becoming a global technology leader together with the disruption of digital technology in education and in the workplace, digital literacy has become the critical skill to learn.
Those with digital literacy skills are more likely to secure jobs int the new economy compared with those who are falling behind. This is why a public-private partnership has been formed to promote digital literacy, focused on future-proofing the workforce ready for further changes stemming from the innovation economy.
To mark these developments, May 31, 2018 has been declared Digital Literacy Day in Toronto. On the day, the City of Toronto and the Toronto Public Library will co-host with a diverse spectrum of more than 35 local companies and organizations, and put on some 110 free events. The events are targeted at all ages and skill levels, and they will take place across the city.
There are various events that are planned to be run, with different themes and objectives. A major focus will be with deepening understandings of what kind of literacy skills people need to navigate in a digital world and what this means for employers and those tasked with literacy teaching and learning. There will also be a sharing of promising practices with regard to policies, programs, monitoring and evaluation.
The skill focus will embrace coding, digital privacy, digital banking, design, video editing ,robotics and others. This will be matched by a career portfolio, which will be linked to discussions about how digital literacy impacts work environments and accessibility.
According to City Councillor Michelle Holland, writing on LinkedIn: “Digital Literacy Day promises to be a great celebration of tech across the city and a timely opportunity for the tech ecosystem to engage people from every corner of Toronto. Let’s encourage everyone of all ages to learn the digitals skills necessary to compete and excel in the Innovation Economy.”
