Future curriculum to consider broader audience with diverse needs and experience.

When the Baltimore County Public Library Hereford Branch was considering developing a digital literacy program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, its Librarian and Adult & Community Engagement Coordinator, Cynthia Webber, reached out to Penn-Mar Human Services to get a better understanding of how the library could strengthen its offerings for this underserved population.

“I was part of a library digital literacy subgroup looking at current services available for adults with disabilities and how the library might meet any gaps in services for its customers,” explained Cynthia.  “Technology and digital literacy is one of the library system’s four 21st century literacies identified in its operational plan. It made perfect sense to collaborate with a committed partner like Penn-Mar to bring this class to fruition.”

Working with Allis Kensing, Penn-Mar’s Enabling Technology Manager, the library developed and launched a two-week pilot program focused on teaching specific digital literacy skills to the people Penn-Mar supports in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Maryland Day Program Manager Rhonda Morano worked with team members to identify people who would be interested in attending.

“We have always had a wonderful relationship with the Hereford Branch,” said Allis. “A lot of our team members and the people we support take advantage of the enrichment opportunities there and utilize the offerings of the branch on a regular basis. We were excited to collaborate with them and committed to making this partnership work.”

Tuesday-Thursday classes started January 14^th with an adjustment made to accommodate the weather.  Space was limited to 8 students per class with varying levels of computer experience. Every spot was filled by the registration deadline!

Instructors included Allis and Cynthia who utilized video content, discussion and hands-on practice to empower the students’ tech progress.

The four class segments were designed to give an understanding of what a computer could do, including acquainting participants with its individual parts.

Students also learned about the internet, exploring its capabilities and how to use it. During the hands-on portion of the class, they were challenged to try a basic search for themselves. After learning how email worked and when to use it, they were able to send messages of their own.

The final topic was social media, with the instructors explaining the “digital dilemmas and tricky situations” they could encounter on the different platforms. Most importantly, they taught the students the importance of being a good digital citizen and how to stay safe while online.

“The group was very engaged and excited to come back each week and they enjoyed lots of hands-on practice,” said Allis. “The DSPs that accompanied them to class were blown away by the digital knowledge they already had and how they were currently using the computer for social networking and connecting to their families.”

Students like Jay said he “enjoyed everything he learned in the computer class.”

Mary found the computer class “great and liked learning typing and mouse skills.”

Rita “enjoyed learning to search the internet and found it amazing.”

At the end of the course, there was a gathering with snacks where each participant received a Certificate of Completion and a flash drive containing the course instructions from the Baltimore Public Library. This device enables students to continue exploring digital skills learned during the course, whether on their home computers or at the library.

The success of the pilot program has laid a strong foundation for future digital literacy initiatives at the Hereford Branch. The enthusiasm and progress seen among the participants have encouraged the library and Penn-Mar to consider expanding the program. Plans are already underway to develop a more comprehensive quarterly curriculum that will delve deeper into various aspects of digital literacy, catering to a broader audience with diverse needs and levels of experience.

“It was a pleasure to work with Allis who complemented the project with her expertise,” said Cynthia.  “The end result was well worth it and presents a springboard for future opportunities for this population.”