RESEARCH

Selected Publications

Levelling Up: The Quest for Digital Literacy (2018) is a landscape map of digital literacy education and training in Canada that breaks down the barriers learners face as they navigate the system; and gaps in programming and supports, particularly for marginalized and underserved groups. It has been used as a resource by municipal and provincial governments, non-profit service providers, libraries, technology advocates, and educators to inform digital skill development policies and programs and on the curriculum at several universities.

 

Plugging In: Empowering Communities to Ensure Digital Literacy Access to Youth (2020) is the final report for the Brookfield Institute’s Digital Literacy + Coding Pilot. The pilot tested a flexible, scalable model for delivering effective and accessible digital literacy and coding education in after-school settings, in partnership with youth-serving community organizations across Ontario. This report shares what we learned about designing, implementing, and testing informal community-based digital literacy programming for youth who are underserved by or barriered in accessing more formal, for-fee, and/or BYOT programs.

 

Mapping Toronto’s Digital Divide (2021)

The digital divide in Canada is often described as an urban-rural divide. However, overall rates can mask critical dimensions of the divide in cities — who is not connected and why, and whether access is sufficient and affordable. This report analyzes home internet and device access in Toronto, as well as quality, affordability, and usage, during pandemic closures of businesses, schools, and community organizations. It received front page Toronto Star coverage and was used by the municipal government to design the ConnectTO program.

 

The Policymaker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2019-2020)
This interview series paired speculative writers with researchers in conversations on the future of work and the economy, exploring the role of science fiction in the policy imaginary. It lives on as a lecture and a speculative writing workshop for policymakers and public policy students.

 

A Portrait of Creative Entrepreneurship and the Creative Economy in Canada (2020)
Creative entrepreneurs and creative workers are a vital and vibrant component of Canada’s economy, from solo-production crafters, muralists, tattoo artists, and illustrators to internationally-competitive companies in video games, animation, VR, software, film, and the world of dance, theatre, and galleries. This report looks at the role of the creative sector in Canada’s innovation economy, demographic analysis of workers and entrepreneurs, and pandemic-related shifts to the virtual.