Marylanders Online Work & Impact

Author: Julie Slivka

Jan 21, 2025

Marylanders Online Work & Impact

Launched in July 2022 through a partnership between the University of Maryland Extension (UME) and the College of Information (INFO), the Marylanders Online digital literacy project is charged with building Marylanders' digital skills through an ever-expanding portfolio of trainings, curricula, programs, and partnerships. Marylanders Online is pleased to present the following reports, showcasing the program's ongoing success and impact across Maryland.

In partnership with Sharp Insights LLC, UME conducts quarterly interviews to collect qualitative feedback on the project's direction and impact. Sharp Insights synthesizes these findings, gathered from internal staff, external stakeholders, and program participants, into annual reports detailing successes, feedback, and actionable ideas for continuous improvement.

Handled 26,000 calls to the Tech Support Helpline
Assisted with the distribution of nearly 23,000 devices statewide
Facilitated 5,400 ACP signups
Launched Mo, the Maryland digital navigator chatbot
Launched MONET - the Marylanders Online Navigator Education Toolkit
Launched the Maryland Broadband Navigator tool in partnership with Penn State Extension
Maryland digital asset map - coming soon!
Trained 400+ new Digital Navigators

Served nearly 58,000 Marylanders in every jurisdiction through trainings and events
Developed a robust network of nearly 300 partners at the county, statewide, and national levels.
Launched the Maryland Digital Equity Coalition (MDEC), which has since been absorbed by the Maryland Office of Statewide Broadband
Coordinated 18 sub-grantee pilot projects
Published or featured in 70 articles - see all here

Curated nearly 700 website resources in partnership with the UMD College of Information (INFO), including Get Help Resources to connect learners with free training and tutorials, and Give Help Resources for anyone interested in helping others build their digital skills.
Developed five open source module-based curricula, including: Pratt Adventure & Beyond; Computer Basics; Chromebook User Guide; Maryland Housing Toolkit; and eGovernment Services
Created a four-part instructional Chromebook OS recovery video series.

Four Maryland Digital Opportunity Summits
Two Empowering Health Conferences
Two Agriculture and Technology Conferences
Collaborated to offer over 40 webinars, including: Grant Planning Webinar Series, Empowering Health Webinar Series, Anti-Scam 101, Digital Equity Webinar Series, and Talk, Text, and Train

2025 National Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS) Awards

1st Place National Winner and 1st Place Eastern Region Winner – Florence Hall Award
2nd Place Eastern Region Winner – Community Partnership Award
2nd Place National Winner and 1st Place Eastern Region Winner – Communications and Social Media Award

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2025 Maryland Hispanic Leadership Empowerment Award

Presented by The Daily Record

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2025 Maryland Digital Equity Navigator Champion Award: Naimani Staley

Presented by the Maryland Digital Equity Coalition at the 2025 Maryland Digital Opportunity Summit

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“Marylanders Online has been phenomenal. We do other types of training, but their staff and their content delivery were exceptional. The level of engagement in those sessions - you can see their eyes light up, and they are one of the best facilitators we've had. The educators immediately latched on and understood the audience and were able to engage with them.”

External Partner

"I think it's so cool that our university extension has such a leading role in statewide approaches to digital literacy. Hopefully, it could be a model for land grant universities in other parts of the country."

External Partner

“A resource for all Marylanders - a help desk with a human touch.”

Tech Helpline Caller

"My Marylanders Online instructor made me feel relaxed and like I could ask questions without feeling dumb. She showed me more than one way to do things, and even showed me again how to do them. They always have a positive attitude and much patience with everyone who attends classes."

Digital Skills Class Participant

"My Marylanders Online instructor made me feel relaxed and like I could ask questions without feeling dumb. She showed me more than one way to do things, and even showed me again how to do them. They always have a positive attitude and much patience with everyone who attends classes."

Digital Skills Class Participant

Marylanders Online Work & Impact