Digital Scholars Program:
A Student’s Perspective
July 10, 2023
Betelhem(Betty) Yinges (Digital Scholar)
About Me:
Welcome to my page! I’m a digital scholar at the University of Washington, pursuing a major in computer science with a minor in data science. My passion lies in the boundless possibilities of technology, where I can continuously explore, create, and innovate to shape a better, more connected world. The discovery of the Digital Scholars Program was an ideal match for my aspirations as a student, being a pre-major, a first-generation student, and eager to explore fields that revolve around digital skills.
Foundation
In the sections that follow, I'm eager to discuss my experience with the Digital Scholars Program and delve into the three primary digital skills that the program emphasizes. These skills serve as more than simply tools; they open doors to new possibilities and eliminate gaps in technology. I will also talk about the importance of digital equality, an essential concept in the rapidly changing technology environment of today. Let's explore the program's focus on inclusivity, the opportunities it provides for empowerment, and the possibilities it opens for aspiring digital scholars who want to transform the world through technology.
Digital Equity
Shifting our gaze from the Digital Scholars Program, we now direct our focus towards the crucial notion of digital equity.
Digital equity, to me, is the concept that all individuals, regardless of their background, have equal access to and opportunity to use digital technologies and gain skills to use it effectively. The digital world is becoming increasingly integrated into various aspects of daily life, including education, employment, healthcare, civic engagement, and communication. Without addressing digital equity, there's a risk of creating or perpetuating inequalities that can further marginalize certain groups of people. Promoting digital equity ensures that everyone has the opportunity to fully participate and thrive in the digital age.
Digital Scholars Program.
The Digital Scholars Program is a cohort-style program offered to first-year, pre-major, and first-generation students interested in majors and careers that require digital skills at the University of Washington Bothell. Students are selected to engage in a three-quarter (spring, summer, and autumn) program that provides on-campus and industry-based experiences that will help them gain different digital skills as well as career and major exploration in a supportive community at UWB.
The Digital Scholars Program is directly related to digital equity because it aims to provide equitable access to digital skills and opportunities for a specific group of students: first-year, pre-major, and first-generation students. First-generation students and those who are still exploring their majors might face barriers in accessing resources that foster digital skills. The Digital Scholars Program targets these groups, providing them with a supportive community, on-campus experiences, and industry-based learning opportunities that they might not have had access to otherwise.
My experience as a first-generation premajor:
As a first-generation college student, I have always sought to discover opportunities that could guide me towards my career path. When I got to college, I knew I wanted to work in technology, and I chose computer science as it was the field I knew at the time. However, my desire to explore more options in the tech world and connect with my school community drew me to this program. And I can confidently say that my experience has been truly enriching. The program's diverse assignments focused on a wide array of digital skills, enlightening workshops, and inspiring guest speakers from various resources on campus have allowed me to experience different fields, gaining invaluable insights into what my school community has to offer.
3 Job-Oriented Digital Skills:
(The 3 Digital Skills the program focused on)
Programming & Operational Skills, Formal Information Skills, and Strategic Skills.
Programming & Operational Skills
Intro
What: This skill is to gain fundamental knowledge of computing, fluency in a programming language, and operating computer and network hardware and software—to give commands to computers via coding and operate the coded commands given to the computers.
How: I was writing code using Code-Pen in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript following a course on LinkedIn. I created a prototype including a functional button and a hidden and showing bubble of text (upon clicking the button). I then used Zoom to record the code created, showing a functional button.
Why: This digital skill allows students to explore the coding side of tech-related fields. These skills form the bedrock of careers in web development and software engineering, two fields that are in high demand across industries. Whether you're building websites, mobile apps, or desktop applications, a strong foundation in programming languages (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) is essential.
Formal Information Skills
Intro
What: This digital skill is the ability to find, select, process, and evaluate information from specific sources of technology according to specific questions and needs using data. This digital skill was analyzing data, sketching storytelling ideas, and creating the structure of a story using data.
Part 1:
The first part was to analyze data--> Sketch storytelling ideas --> Create a structure of story --> Select applicable data points for story.
How: To accomplish this, we looked into data about the Avengers and created It was also creating a visualization chart for our story. This assignment required a data visualization course on LinkedIn.
Part 2:
Analyzing selected data points in worksheet --> Creating a visualization chart for story using the selected data points
Why: Many fields across majors now rely on data to inform decisions and strategies. Being able to analyze and interpret data allows you to make informed choices in various disciplines, whether it's in business, science, social sciences, or technology.
Strategic Skills
Intro
What: This digital skill was practicing digital marketing skills. Learning the capacity to use computer and network sources as the means for particular goals and for the general goal of improving one’s position in society
Part 1:
The first step was creating a buyer/customer journey map after watching the LinkedIn course.
How: We were given a prompt to promote the digital scholars program. Using a buyer/customer journey map, a one-page marketing plan, and a marketing proposal The assignment required a “Digital Marketing Foundation” course on LinkedIn.
Part 2:
This part was using https://miro.com to create our own one-page marketing plan from scratch.
Why: Digital marketing skills are highly transferable across various fields. Whether you're considering majors in business, communication, marketing, or even more technical areas, the ability to promote products or ideas digitally is valuable.
Part 3:
The last step was writing a Social Media Marketing Proposal (500-800 word) after watching how to on LinkedIn.
