Addressing The Digital Gap
Digital skills have become increasingly critical for personal, professional, and academic success. Growing evidence suggests that despite being “digital natives,” many young people have no or low digital skills. These young Americans risk being left behind in a world that requires workers with tech ability. Urban Ventures is working to close the digital gap by providing robust early digital skill education.
2.5X
more likely to lack digital skills
Black and Latino youth are 2.5 times more likely to have no or limited independent digital skills.
75%
of jobs require digital skills
By 2030, it is estimated that 75% of jobs will require advanced digital skills (programming, web development, digital marketing, design, and content creation).
> 40%
Low-income households lack a computer and/or broadband internet
Many low-income students still do not have access to high-speed internet or a home computer post-pandemic.
3 CAUSES OF THE DIGITAL GAP
Lack of Devices
Equal access to the latest technology is key to developing digital skills. Many households have limited and often outdated devices shared among family members.
Lack of Access
The disparity of internet access was highlighted during the pandemic, when high-speed internet connections became crucial for academic success.
Lack of Education
Simply providing devices and access is not enough. Young students need a guiding hand to help them navigate the digital-forward future.
You wouldn’t give a young person a car without providing driver’s education, yet many programs exist to provide devices and access without helping students develop the critical skills necessary for success in a digital future.
The Urban Ventures Innovation Experience
Urban Ventures Innovation Hubs create a student-centered learning environment. By combining innovative technology and app-based STEAM curriculum UV promotes active learning, problem solving, creativity, and leadership development.
STEAM and tech instruction are crucial for personal, academic, and professional success. Urban Ventures partners with educators to provide robust, early digital skill education.
Technology includes:
1:1 iPads
Digital pencils
Sphero Robotics
Osmo Kits
Apple Application Software
And more… 😊
3 Ways To Partner
Urban Ventures works to deliver the best digital learning opportunities to students around our Minneapolis community, regardless of age, gender, race, or ability.
Innovation Explorations
Urban Ventures brings a sampling of Innovation Center experiences directly to your classroom. These custom-designed pilot programs introduce schools to the benefits of UV’s STEAM-based curriculum and curiosity-driven approach.
Innovation Explorations are complete lessons that can be used to augment a classroom’s existing schedule. Students engage in tasks that use a creative cycle and scientific method concepts including experimentation, observation and questioning.
Mobile Innovation Hub
We can bring more than tech, we can bring the whole classroom. The Mobile Innovation Hub (the first of its kind in the nation) is a self-contained technology center. Mobile Innovation Hubs are parked at partner schools for a semester or academic year, providing a semi-permanent onsite space for students to explore new technology and learning styles.
The Mobile Innovation Hub is the natural next step after Innovation Explorations, and can be the first step in developing your own in-house technology center.
Urban Ventures Innovation Center
The Urban Ventures Innovation is a permanent technology space on the Urban Ventures campus in South Minneapolis. Schools can schedule one-day field trips or regularly occurring visits to provide students with exploratory, hands-on learning experiences.
The Innovation Center is a safe, welcoming, student-empowering environment that promotes a spirit of curiousity and strengthens critical thinking while integrating digital skills.
Meet Our Educators
Tanesha Clayton
Innovation Center & Mobile Hub Director
Tanesha attended Delta College - Computer Programming from 1996 - 1998. She was a business development specialist at InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront for nine years prior to joining UV. Tanesha is a tech wizard who loves working with children and youth and helping them overcome any trepidation they may have about technology and STEAM education.