Coming soon: new Digital Skills Help Centre

From Apps to Zoom and everything in between, it’s more important than ever for today’s students to be digitally literate. Learning technologies and now artificial intelligence (AI) tools are reshaping academia, offering new opportunities but also creating new challenges for students. To be successful, students must learn how to navigate digital platforms and critically evaluate digital information and AI-generated content to ensure that they are using these tools ethically and effectively.

To meet these growing student needs at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), the library will launch the Digital Skills Help Centre in time for the fall term.

The USask Student AI Literacy Framework, the Library’s Strategic Framework, and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) Digital Literacy Framework serve as guides for this initiative. The CARL framework emphasizes the importance of digital literacy in higher education, defining it as the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate, and create information safely and appropriately through digital technologies.

“Launching the new Digital Skills Help Centre is just one of the ways we're putting those frameworks into action,” said Jo Ann Murphy, assistant dean, Learning and Curriculum Support, University Library. “It’s part of how the library supports students in building the digital literacy they need to succeed—both in their studies and in professional settings.”

A collaborative campus initiative

The Digital Skills Help Centre is a collaborative effort led by the library, with support from the office of the Associate Provost Teaching Innovation and Strategic Initiatives. This initiative builds on the successful model of the Writing Help Centre and Math and Stats Help Centre.

Student tutors, knowledgeable about digital literacy and experienced in ethical technology use, will help students work with a selection of USask-approved technology and tools, use AI responsibly, and navigate online collaboration platforms.

Located in the Murray Library, in proximity to the other help centres, the Digital Skills Help Centre will offer students free drop-in and online support from trained tutors, one-on-one appointments, workshops, and digital skills programming throughout the year.

Impact on student success

By helping students strengthen their digital competencies, the centre will not only support them in achieving their academic goals, but it will also foster the development of lifelong learners who are confident users of increasingly essential tools and technology. Instructors will also benefit from digitally literate students who are better equipped to engage with materials and collaborate effectively. The library’s commitment to academic support and digital literacy underscores its role as a key partner in student success.

Students are encouraged to explore the centre’s offerings, and instructors are invited to promote its services.

Take charge of your digital learning journey at the Digital Skills Help Centre this fall.