Jacqueline Aguilera, adult educator and digital equity advocate, joins Laura to explore how teachers can embed digital literacy into their lessons without needing separate “computer classes.” In this episode, Jacqueline shares practical tips for building digital skills with limited tech, discusses the impact of the digital divide in Texas, and encourages teachers to focus on what learners already use in their daily lives.

Watch with closed captions.

KEY TALKING POINTS

1. Silo Busting in Education: Moving beyond subject-specific instruction to integrate real-world digital skills into all areas of teaching.
2. Digital Equity in Texas: Infrastructure, device quality, and access vary widely—even within cities—impacting learners’ experiences.
3. Teaching with What Learners Have: From smartphones to QR codes, using everyday tech to develop essential digital skills.
4. Creating a Learner-Driven Curriculum: Encouraging students to bring in examples from their environment and build personal connections to digital literacy.
5. Empowering Educators: Why teachers don’t need to know everything about tech—and how curiosity can be a superpower in the classroom.

ABOUT

Jacqueline Aguilera is an experienced educator and instructional leader based in Austin, Texas. She specialises in adult education and digital literacy, with a focus on serving refugee communities, second language learners, and students returning to education later in life. With a passion for equity and access, Jacqueline trains instructors across the US to creatively integrate technology into their classrooms and meet learners where they are.

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

The Mayor's Office for Adult Literacy, Houston

Jacqueline Aguilera on LinkedIn

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CREDITS

Producer: Laura Wilkes

Editor: Jess Li Thorkildsen

Special thanks to our guest, Jacqueline Aguilera

Production by Communicating for Impact

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