By Steve Ifantis
TAMPA, Fla. — In an increasingly digital world, The University of Tampa’s Advanced Digital Literacy Center (ADLC) is a key resource for students looking to build essential technology skills for academic and professional success. The ADLC provides specialized programming, industry partnerships, and hands-on learning opportunities, ensuring that UTampa students remain competitive in an evolving workforce.
Empowering Students Through Digital Literacy
The mission of the ADLC is to equip students with a strong foundation in digital literacy. It offers access to specialized programs, certifications, and training in collaboration with industry leaders like Microsoft.
“Our vision is to offer students the opportunity to refine their digital literacy skills and aptitude required to succeed in academic studies and after graduation,” said Dai Richardson, director of ADLC.
A Hub for Digital Training and Certification
The ADLC provides a range of digital literacy programs available through the InvolveUT platform, ensuring accessibility for all UTampa students.
These programs include:
- SpartanLearn (powered by Canvas)
- Dropbox Business
- iGrad Financial Literacy
- Qualtrics
- Zoom training
These offerings allow students to enhance their technical proficiency in widely used platforms, preparing them for classroom success and future careers.
Integrating Emerging Technologies
To keep pace with rapid advancements in technology, the ADLC collaborates with UTampa departments and industry experts to integrate the latest digital trends and cybersecurity practices into its curriculum.
“As a lead of the ADLC within the Information Technology and Security Division, we work with UTampa’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, Career Services, and tech companies to bring in guest speakers and host workshops,” said Richardson.
The ADLC also uses badging systems and assessments in InvolveUT (CampusGroups) to track student progress and verify skill development.
Building Strong Partnerships
The ADLC has developed key partnerships with university offices and external organizations to provide students with hands-on training, cybersecurity awareness, and career readiness support.
These partnerships include:
- Spartan Ready
- Academic Accessibility and Support Team
- UTampa’s International Programs Office (IPO)
- FBI Tampa
- KnowBe4 (cybersecurity training)
- Accelebrate (Microsoft Training Services Partner)
“These collaborations provide a strong foundation for digital literacy, cybersecurity awareness, and workforce readiness,” said Richardson.
Accessible and Inclusive Learning
A major priority of the ADLC is ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have access to digital literacy training.
“We offer content in a variety of formats, including videos, written materials, and audio resources, and all of our training modules include closed captions for accessibility,” said Richardson.
The ADLC also focuses on clear, simple language in its training materials to support first-generation college students and those facing language barriers.
All ADLC programs and sessions are free for UTampa students. Drop-in lab hours are available, allowing students to explore digital tools at their own pace.
Cybersecurity and Digital Safety Training
With cyber threats on the rise, the ADLC is committed to preparing students with essential cybersecurity knowledge and best practices.
“ADLC plays a pivotal role in addressing current cybersecurity and digital safety challenges by collaborating with UTampa’s Information Security (InfoSec) team,” said Richardson.
Training topics include:
- Phishing awareness and email security
- Password protection best practices
- Recognizing and avoiding suspicious online activity
By educating students on these crucial areas, the ADLC helps strengthen UTampa’s overall cybersecurity culture.
Measuring Impact and Student Success
The ADLC regularly collects feedback from students to assess the effectiveness of its programs and make improvements.
“We use student input to enhance accessibility and refine future training,” said Richardson. “Our goal is to continuously evolve based on best practices and student needs.”
One of the most compelling success stories to come out of the ADLC is that of a student worker who transitioned into a full-time role in instructional design.
Success Story: From Student Worker to Instructional Design Specialist
A student worker in instructional design joined the ADLC team with a passion for technology-enhanced learning. While they had a strong academic foundation, they needed real-world experience in:
- Course design and content creation
- Learning management systems (LMS) like Canvas
- Instructional tools: Canva, Adobe Captivate, and Camtasia
Through hands-on mentorship at the ADLC, the student worker helped develop video tutorials and digital training materials for UTampa students. Upon graduation, their experience led them to a position as an instructional design specialist at Atkore, a global manufacturer of electrical and metal products.
“The student excelled in their role, demonstrating a keen ability to create engaging, user-centered learning experiences,” said Richardson.
This success story highlights the ADLC’s impact in preparing students for real-world careers, blending technical skills with hands-on experience.
Looking Ahead: Expanding Digital Literacy at UTampa
While the ADLC does not currently offer continuing education courses for alumni, the center aims to expand its reach and impact in the future.
“For students, regardless of your major, we offer drop-in sessions and expert-led workshops,” said Richardson. “We encourage students to take advantage of these opportunities to meet professionals and build career-ready skills.”
Through industry collaboration, hands-on learning, and a commitment to inclusivity, the ADLC continues to be a critical resource for UTampa students preparing for academic and career success in the digital world.
For more information, students can visit ut.edu/adlc or sign up for sessions via Spartan Ready.
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Photo courtesy of Dai Richardson.