1. Courtesy reprint from ETR 2/13/12, p. 281
Adult Education modules are initially open to the user.
Some of the more advanced lessons are locked, re-
‘JOBSCOUT’ WEB APP AIMS TO quiring beginners to complete basic modules in or-
BUILD DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS der to progress.
The lessons are designed to take 5 to 20 minutes to
In an era when job searching is increasingly done complete.
online, a new Web application supported by the Cali- Users, in the role of a “scout,” receive “merit
fornia State Library aims to teach digitally inexperi- badges” to keep track of their progress and are
enced individuals to use Internet tools for job search. cheered on by buck-toothed Skip the Squirrel and
JobScout can be accessed from any Web-enabled other cartoon animals. JobScout is the first in a series
computer or mobile device and was developed for li- of Web tools focused on digital literacy that are be-
brary computer centers, making it suitable for career ing developed under an initiative called Technology
center resource rooms. Resources and Internet Learning. Its purpose, ac-
cording to supporters, is the development of
self-paced learning tools that track user progress and
Social Gaming inform lesson development.
In addition, JobScout aims to build skills in a fun,
The site is an education platform. Its developers inviting environment.
use the term “social gaming” to describe its design JobScout was launched as a beta-stage Web appli-
around the completion of modules to build skills. cation in early December as part of a pilot program
“In the heart of Silicon Valley, we are building a running in 140 libraries in the County of Los An-
platform and online community for a user popula- geles Public Library, the San Jose Public Library, the
tion that no one caters to: those who don’t know how Santa Cruz Public Libraries and the Yolo County Li-
to use the Internet yet,” said Christian Gagnier, head brary systems.
of RealPolitech, a Web development firm behind the “As part of our pilot program, we have asked li-
project, which is supported by the state library and brarians to be available to patrons using JobScout in
the LINK Americas Foundation, a Palm their library branches. Since our user base is unfa-
Desert-based nonprofit focused on digital literacy. miliar with the Internet, we wanted to be sure there
“We hope to welcome new users to the Internet were places where users could receive basic assis-
and use JobScout to help all Californians become tance when getting started on JobScout,” Stephanie
digital citizens,” Gagnier added. Margossian, of the RealPolitech team, told MII.
JobScout presents more than two dozen skills “Additionally, our pilot library jurisdictions are pro-
modules covering general Internet use, social net- viding us with feedback regarding user experience.
works and online job search. Topics range in diffi- Our team’s goal is to make JobScout as engaging and
culty from Internet browsing to answering a job user friendly as possible.”
posting online. Modules include setting up Gmail The number of users, now in the hundreds, has
and LinkedIn accounts, navigating these tools and been rising daily since the beginning of the pilot in
using the Internet to prepare for an interview. early December. The project was highlighted Feb. 1
The modules are interactive and inset with quiz- at a Sacramento leadership breakfast on digital liter-
zes that allow users to complete the lessons. acy, hosted by the John S. and James L. Knight Foun-
The site also includes a résumé builder and a job dation.
listing feed. The feed is powered by the job site In- According to Margossian, users on average com-
deed. Postings are updated daily and tailored to a plete about half of the available modules.
user’s selected job title and geographic location.
Across the site, buttons are large and easy to read,
and the instructional language is simple. All California by Fall
At the start, users take a short assessment of their
digital literacy before they are let loose to use the The project got its start in the California library
learning modules and résumé tool. system, but supporters are encouraging anyone who
Results of the assessment determine how many wants to use the site to do so now.
2/13/12 ✰ Copyright © 2012 by MII Publications Inc.

2. ✰ Employment & Training Reporter — Courtesy Reprint ✰ 2
Plans call for the project to spread to all California had risen steadily from the mid-90s through 2008,
libraries by the third quarter of this year. A full but has leveled off since.
launch of the site, expected in the second half of California State Library research shows that
2012, will present updates including more games about 55 percent of state residents rely on libraries as
and enhanced features such as a social network for their primary or only source of Internet access. Last
users and new employment resources, Margossian year, 18,846 computers in California public libraries
said. were used more than 38 million times.
The project also aims to roll the site out to commu- “The state library is dedicated to ensuring all Cali-
nity-based organizations. fornians have the resources they need through their
Project backers point out that a significant share public libraries. As centers for learning in our com-
of the public is still not computer literate, even munities, they are places where we can learn the new
though help-wanted ads are fast disappearing from skills needed to be successful in the digital world,”
newspapers. said Stacey Aldrich, California state librarian.
The Pew Charitable Trust’s Internet and Ameri- “JobScout is a great tool for teaching people the ba-
can Life Project, which periodically surveys the sic digital literacy they need for finding jobs in the
public on technology use, found that as of May last digital era.”
year 22 percent of adults in the United States still did ✓ Find JobScout at www.jobscout.caltrail.com.
not use the Internet. That rate is higher for poorer,
less educated and older demographics. Internet use —Ryan Hess
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