Level 4 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson.
Define Your Presence in Tech Spaces & Connect with Representation
Level 5 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson. Personalize Your Tech Path & Set a Vision
Lesson 4: Discovering Representation & Setting a Vision Objective: To reflect on the qualities of inclusive spaces, identify personal talents, and explore ways to make your vision for tech more inclusive and representative.
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Level 3 Prompts- Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson.
Embrace Growth on Your Terms & Define Your Learning Style
Objective: To understand your learning style, set up personalized growth practices, and explore how you can keep tech learning relevant to your own terms.
Level 2 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson.
Discover Your Narrative & Start Building Bridges
Objective: To reflect on personal narrative, identify transferable skills, and develop strategies for building connections within tech communities.
Story Time!
Bridging Paths – A Dialogue Between Jazmin and Ebony Setting: Jazmin and Ebony are seated in a cozy, quiet café. The early morning light filters through large windows, casting a warm glow on their corner table. They both lean in, excited to exchange ideas on technology, career journeys, and the challenges and triumphs they face. Jazmin (sipping her coffee, a slight smile on her face): “You know, Ebony, it’s funny – it feels like we both ended up in tech-heavy roles, but neither of us came up in an environment that actually prepared us for it. I mean, my schools weren’t even close to teaching us the right skills. I feel like I was dragged from the analog to the digital, especially when it comes to public relations. Half the time, I’m digging through traditional media like newspapers and magazines, you know? It’s almost like rewinding to understand the new.” Ebony (nodding, with a thoughtful expression): “Yeah, I get that. I mean, I remember starting out with PowerPoint in elementary school. They had us doing the basics, but even back then, I didn’t wait around. I’d try to figure things out on my own if the teacher wasn’t getting to it fast enough. I think that’s where my knack for technology really started – just teaching myself stuff because it seemed like no one else was going to, you know?” Jazmin (smiling, leaning back in her chair): “Totally! You learn by doing. I feel like our educational system has kids consuming tech, but rarely creating with it. Like, they’re on iPads from the time they’re in kindergarten, but nobody’s showing them how to build with tech, let alone how to use it in a way that breaks new ground. And then, when I was studying international relations, we’d talk about digital divides, tech access in "developed" and "developing worlds." But then I’d look around and think… this digital literacy gap isn’t just global. It’s right here, within our own communities, and we’re just starting to fill it.” Ebony (smiling wryly): “True, true. And that divide, it’s real. I’ve been running into the same thing at the Ivy League, too. There’s tech everywhere, but for so many folks from communities like mine, it’s all catch-up. Like… we’re supposed to use it instantly, but no one taught us how to truly harness it. When I came to work, I already knew how to use Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word from before. It wasn’t always something I used every day, but I had those skills down because, like you said, I figured it out on my own. The basics – they’re useful. But for the stuff I didn’t know, I’d either just look it up on YouTube, or ask around. It’s funny; sometimes I’ll find out about new apps just because my friends are using them.” Jazmin (chuckling): “Same here. And once I find out about something, I’ll dig into the details. Like, there’s always a story behind what’s trending. I mean, TikTok? That app exploded during the pandemic, but even before that, I was like, okay, how did it rise so fast? Who’s behind it, and why’s it such a hit? And it’s not just about going viral – it’s what these apps represent, the way they pull us in. I think knowing the story, the ‘why,’ keeps you from just going along with whatever new thing comes up.” Ebony (nodding): “Exactly. I felt the same way about Clubhouse. I mean, when it started, I was like, okay, so people are just… talking? No video, no nothing? But then everyone was on it, and it made me think – maybe the simplest ideas are what people crave. Especially during the pandemic, it was all about finding that connection, right? So, I’ll download it, and yeah, suddenly, I’m in this huge room of voices. It’s wild, but it kept me close to people during a time when we were all so far apart. That’s kind of the thing with technology – it’s always shifting and, like you said, there’s always a reason behind it.” Jazmin (leaning in, thoughtfully): “It’s true. And here we are, both navigating spaces that weren’t built for us, and yet we’re pushing through. For me, it’s about rewriting narratives. So much of the digital world defaults to a white-centric perspective, and I feel like I’m on a mission to change that – I want people like us to see themselves, to feel represented. It’s a fight sometimes, to get the industry to take different narratives seriously, but that’s what keeps me going.” Ebony (in agreement): “That’s the same thing driving me too. I want tech to work for communities that have been left out, and a lot of that means showing people that they can master it – that digital literacy isn’t out of reach. It’s one thing to go to an Ivy League and learn all this theory, but it’s another thing to get out there and actually teach folks in our neighborhoods how to make this stuff work for them. I want to build bridges, make it accessible. That’s what gets me up in the morning.” Jazmin (smiling, inspired): “I knew we’d get along. We’re both bridge builders, in our own way. And I think there’s a lesson here – for people who want to bring tech into their lives and careers but feel like they’re behind or not ready. Sometimes, all you need is curiosity and the willingness to go against the grain.” Ebony (grinning): “And a little bit of independence, right? Not waiting on someone else to show you the way. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you’ve got to keep moving, keep learning – whether it’s in a classroom, from a mentor, or just figuring things out as you go. You’ve got to be in control of your own growth, in tech and in life.” Jazmin (nodding, raising her coffee cup as if in a toast): “Here’s to that. To owning our narratives, building bridges, and staying curious.” Ebony (raising her cup too, laughing): “To keeping up with the latest – on our own terms. And making sure that when we look around, we see people like us in those digital spaces.” They clink their cups and smile, each realizing they’ve found a kindred spirit. In that café, they’ve not only shared their stories but strengthened their resolve to create a digital world where everyone belongs. Level 1 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson. Spark Curiosity & Challenge Assumptions
Lesson 1: Cultivating Curiosity & Challenging Assumptions Objective: To help participants tap into curiosity, explore unconventional career paths, and challenge assumptions about tech careers.
This first module will help you discover your interests and challenge any assumptions that may be limiting your path toward a career in technology. By reflecting on your passions and unique skills, you will be better prepared to identify opportunities that align with your authentic self and build a career path that fulfills you. Level 4 Prompts- Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson. Personal and Professional Impact – Deepening Self-Insight The final level pushes for intricate self-reflection, focusing on the person’s purpose, vision, and long-term potential in tech.
This level encourages a more intricate reflection on how non-tech values, gifts, and experiences shape the individual’s purpose and broader life vision.
Lesson 4: Personal and Professional Impact through Careers Objective: Examine how your skills, talents, and passions can contribute to a career that has a meaningful impact. Step 1: Respond to Prompts Consider your personal mission and long-term vision:
Using the traditional and emerging fields lists, choose fields where you feel you can make an impact. For example:
Use this prompt to generate ideas: "I’m passionate about [insert passion] and want to contribute to [insert societal or global challenge]. Can you suggest careers where I can make a meaningful impact?" For example: "I’m passionate about sustainability and want to contribute to fighting climate change. Can you suggest careers where I can make a meaningful impact?" Step 4: LinkedIn Research Look for individuals who have careers that align with the impact you want to make. Research their career path:
Step 5: Societal Impact and Salary Search Using the career options identified through ChatGPT that align with your desire to make a societal or global impact, search for specific roles on Google Scholar or ResearchGate to see if you can find case studies or articles about the impact people in these roles are making. Then, use LinkedIn or Payscale to explore the salary ranges for those roles. Compare how the search results differ between academic resources and job-related platforms. How does the emphasis on impact versus salary differ across search engines? Examples of Larger Societal & Global Challenges
Level 3 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson. Talents and Unique Abilities – Refining Your Path This level dives deeper into uncovering talents that have emerged through experience and natural gifts.
This level dives deeper into uncovering natural talents and gifts outside of the tech space that complement their personal and professional path.
Lesson 3: Refining Career Path Using Talents and Gifts Objective: Dig deeper into your natural talents and gifts to refine your career direction. Step 1: Respond to Prompts Reflect on your natural talents and personal gifts:
After reflecting on your talents, review the traditional and emerging fields list again. Pick fields where you believe your natural talents will allow you to excel. For example:
Generate potential career ideas using this prompt: "Based on my natural talent for [insert gift or talent], can you suggest career roles or industries where I can make the most of these abilities?" For example: "Based on my natural talent for mentoring and communication, can you suggest careers where I can thrive in both traditional and emerging fields?" Step 4: LinkedIn Research Explore LinkedIn to find people who are using similar talents in their careers. Look at their roles and how they describe their work. Ask yourself:
Using the careers generated by ChatGPT based on your talents and natural abilities, conduct a search on LinkedIn to find people currently working in those fields. Pay attention to the career paths they’ve taken, the skills they highlight, and any education or certifications they’ve acquired. Then, use Google to search for common career progression in these roles. How do the results compare between LinkedIn and Google in terms of how people advance in their careers? Examples of Environments
Level 2 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson. Skills and Passions – Identifying Strengths This level encourages more reflection on personal skills and developing interests into career possibilities.
This level encourages reflection on non-tech skills, personal growth, and how those could intersect with a tech career.
Lesson 2: Identifying Strengths and Skills for Career Growth Objective: Explore your strengths and passions to identify careers where you can thrive. Step 1: Respond to Prompts Use these prompts to reflect on your skills and passions:
Using your responses, revisit the traditional and emerging fields list. Identify fields or industries where you can leverage your skills. For instance:
Once you’ve identified some potential fields, use ChatGPT to explore deeper opportunities: "Based on my skills in [insert skill] and my experience in [insert non-tech skill], can you suggest job roles where I can use these skills in both traditional and emerging fields?" For example: "Based on my skills in data analysis and my leadership experience in community projects, can you suggest potential job roles?" Step 4: LinkedIn Research Search for people on LinkedIn working in fields that match your skills. Identify professionals who have a career path similar to what you’re interested in:
Take the careers identified in your ChatGPT search and find the average salary ranges for each. Start by searching on Glassdoor or Indeed, and then use a second source like Payscale or Salary.com. Compare how the salary information differs between these platforms. Do the ranges match, or do you notice significant differences? What factors might influence these variations (location, industry, experience)? Examples of Technical Skills
Examples of Non-Tech Skills & Talents
Level 1 Prompts - Reflect & Write: Reflect on the following prompts and write out your responses. You will use them later on in the lesson. Exploration – Discovering Interests At this stage, the focus is on uncovering general interests in tech and exposure to inspiring women in the field.
At this stage, the focus is on uncovering general non-tech interests and personal inspirations outside of technology.
Lesson 1: Exploration of Career Interests Objective: Help individuals identify their general interests in technology and non-tech fields and begin exploring career opportunities. Step 1: Respond to Prompts Use the following prompts to help guide your initial exploration of interests:
After answering the prompts, review the traditional and emerging fields list. Select two to three fields that align with your answers. For example:
Now that you have your initial answers and chosen fields, use ChatGPT to generate diverse job opportunities. Here’s a prompt you can use: "Based on my interest in [insert tech field] and my passion for [insert non-tech interest], can you suggest some potential job roles in both traditional and emerging fields? I enjoy [insert an activity or challenge]." For example: "Based on my interest in UX/UI Design and my passion for creative writing, can you suggest potential job roles in both traditional and emerging fields?" Step 4: LinkedIn Research Use LinkedIn to find individuals currently working in fields that interest you. Start by typing in job titles or career fields you found interesting (e.g., UX Designer, Digital Marketer). Once you find profiles, note down the experiences and skills these professionals have. Ask yourself:
Now that you’ve used ChatGPT to identify some potential career options based on your interests, conduct a search for each of those careers using Google. Look for general job descriptions, the industries they are found in, and typical responsibilities. Then, use another search engine like Bing or Yahoo to compare the results. Do the career descriptions differ? How are the results ranked differently across the search engines? Examples of Areas of Technology:
Examples of Activities or Hobbies Outside of Technology
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AuthorThis blog post was created through a collaborative effort, incorporating valuable insights from contributors, prompt engineering and editing by Dr. Jordan, and the assistance of ChatGPT for generating and refining content. ArchivesCategories |