The North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT) Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity has published the North Carolina Digital Skills Standards, which are designed to provide those in the state with digital tools and competencies enabling them to thrive in the modern world.
“The introduction of the North Carolina Digital Skills Standards marks a significant step toward closing the digital divide and empowering our residents with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital world,” said NCDIT Deputy Secretary for Broadband and Digital Opportunity Annette Taylor in a press release.
“Our work goes beyond access to high-speed internet—we’re ensuring every resident has the confidence and ability to use technology meaningfully.”
The program was designed in partnership with the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at NC State University. Contributions were made by 25 state agencies and organizations.
The core areas of the North Carolina Digital Skills Standards are:
- Digital identity: Understanding and managing one’s online presence and reputation.
- Digital wellbeing: Maintaining health and wellness in a digital world.
- Digital relationships: Building and sustaining positive online interactions.
- Digital safety: Protecting oneself from online risks and threats.
- Digital reasoning: Developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills in a digital context.
- Digital futures: Preparing for and adapting to emerging digital technologies.
Efforts to encourage digital education inclusion were set back in May when the Trump Administration ended the Digital Equity Act, a $2.75 billion program that was part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
As the North Carolina Digital Skills Standards demonstrate, programs to educate people in the digital realm continue despite setbacks. For instance, earlier this month, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) and the state government unveiled a $23 million initiative designed to help close the digital device gap across Massachusetts.
