Inter-generational digital literacy in community-based research

Lenstra, Noah

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/49089 Copy

Description

Title

Inter-generational digital literacy in community-based research

Author(s)

Lenstra, Noah

Issue Date

2014-05

Keyword(s)

Library and Information Science

Abstract

As a scholar of Library & Information Science, I conduct research that investigates how scholars, library professionals and communities can together create democratized access to information technologies. One of the populations least able to use these new sources of information are low-income older adults of color. As part of a multi-year community-based research project focused on digitally documenting and celebrating African-American history in Champaign-Urbana (http://www.eBlackCU.net), I trained high school interns to help older adults make use of the digital archives we were creating. In this picture an intern works with two community elders during a computing workshop held in the basement of a local C.M.E. Church.The intern helps the elders perform basic computer tasks so they can browse through digitized photographs of local African-American history. The community elders very much enjoyed learning that they could use new information technologies to access information about the history of their community. They also appreciated the fact that this learning developed through an inter-generational community tie, within a safe community space. In my research I continue to investigate what social supports and arrangements are necessary to ensure that everyone, and every community, can make powerful uses of new information technologies.

Type of Resource

• text
• image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/49089

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 Noah Lenstra

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