Issue link: https://takingitglobal.uberflip.com/i/1505559
Experience of the program Participants rated the quality of the laptop the highest out of all the other aspects of the program: on a scale of 1 to 5, 92% rated the quality of the laptop at 5. Similarly, over 75% of participants rated the ease of use of the laptop and their available internet speed/ quality at 5. Moreover, 73% of participants rated the support they received from the Connected North program administrators and their digital skills to use the laptop effectively at 5. Lower ratings were observed for support from school teachers and pre- loaded video learning materials and tutorials on the laptop (60% and 57% respectively). Based on interviews with participants, the two aspects of the program that were consistently highlighted as strengths were the quality of the laptop and the ease of the application process. Interviewees provided positive feedback on the processing and speed capacity of the MacBook Pro and highlighted that the application was clear and easy to complete. Interviewees were especially fond of the fact that the application did not require them to provide an array of supporting documentation or proof of income, other than a community member contact for verification purposes. Interviewees explained that it can be difficult to provide financial documentation through banking institutions and that oftentimes communities may lack the trust to share sensitive information online. Moreover, many students indicated in the survey and through interviews that there would have been no other way for them to access a personal laptop because they would not have been able to afford one. In most instances, the digital inclusion grant was their only source of financial support for their education, although a small number of interviewees indicated they also received How would you rate each of the following? Support from Connected North Program administrators Support from your school teachers Pre-loaded video learning materials and tutorials on your laptop Quality of laptop Ease of use of laptop Available internet speed/ quality Your digital skills to use the laptop effectively % 0 25 50 75 100 1 2 3 4 5 Impact of Connected North's Digital Inclusion Grant on IndigenousStudents' Learning, Social Connection and Community Involvement 21