D2.0 A Story of Persistence

Image of young woman with an afro and a colorful headband, engaging with technology in a bright, collaborative, and creative setting.

Story Time!
A Story of Persistence
Ebony’s journey from Hampton, Virginia, to the Ivy League wasn’t easy. But it’s what she’s done with her knowledge of technology that defines her. She says, “You have to create something, share it, and you do it almost instantaneously. That’s power.” Ebony is a Grassroots Organizer, and her understanding of technology comes from a combination of self-learning and mentors who helped her shape her professional path.
As she reflects on how she applies her skills in the OER project, Ebony recounts how technology helps her share ideas, organize events, and collaborate with others. “It’s about using digital tools to communicate. Whether it’s sharing a thought on X or organizing a community meeting through Zoom, digital platforms make everything faster and accessible,” she says.
For Ebony, the key to successful online collaboration is in knowing how to effectively communicate and share ideas. “I didn’t learn these things just by reading books or watching videos. It was through asking questions online, reaching out for advice, and putting things into practice. That’s how I really grew in my digital skills.”
Examples of Digital Literacies and Reflection & Writing Prompts: Review the examples of digital literacies. From the list below, select 5 to explore further throughout the lesson. Based on your selections, reflect on the corresponding prompts and write out your responses. You may use those selected or choose new ones later on in the lesson. You are welcome to skip any of the prompts that do not apply and jump to the "guiding questions for online search" to learn more about how others demonstrate the digital literacies.
1. Reading a Lot Online

• How do you approach reading content online (e.g., articles, blogs, books)? What methods help you absorb and analyze information?
• Reflect on a time when reading online content led to a significant personal or professional insight.
• How do others read and curate content online in a way that you admire?
• How can you refine your reading habits to improve your comprehension and retention of online material?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for women in academia or technology who are known for their expertise in absorbing and synthesizing online information. What reading habits or techniques do they recommend?

2. Liking

• How do you demonstrate the digital literacy of liking?
• How do you engage with content online by liking it, and how does this action contribute to your interactions or influence in digital spaces?
• How do others use liking as a tool for engagement that you admire?
• Are there ways in which you don’t want to engage with content by liking it? For example, are there situations when it may be inappropriate or ineffective?
• How could you improve your engagement using the "like" feature to support your goals?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for women in marketing or social media who excel at using liking to build engagement with their audience. What strategies do they employ?

3. Socializing

• How do you use digital tools for socializing (e.g., networking, chatting, making friends)?
• Think about a time when socializing online led to a meaningful connection. How did you approach it?
• What methods do others use to socialize online in a way that you find positive and constructive?
• How can you improve your digital socializing skills to build stronger relationships and networks?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Look for women in the tech or creative industries who use socializing online to expand their networks. What social platforms do they use to connect?

4. Sports Banter

• How do you engage in sports banter or conversations online?
• Reflect on how sports banter has helped you bond with others or communicate more effectively in an online setting.
• What are some examples of how sports banter can be used to create a fun, engaging, and inclusive atmosphere in online spaces?
• How do others use sports banter in ways that inspire you?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for women in sports or entertainment who use digital platforms for sports-related discussions. How do they create engaging, respectful banter around sports?

5. Politics Banter

• How do you engage in political banter online, and how does this impact your digital presence?
• Reflect on a time when political banter either helped or harmed a digital conversation. How did you manage it?
• How can you use political banter effectively to create dialogue while maintaining professionalism?
• How do others use political banter online in ways that you admire, and what would you do differently to ensure respectful discourse?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Explore how women in politics or media use digital platforms to engage in political discussions. What examples of respectful political banter do they provide?

6. Banter

• How do you engage in banter or lighthearted conversation online?
• Reflect on how banter contributes to building relationships or creating a positive digital environment.
• Are there times when online banter crosses boundaries or hinders professional goals?
• How can you refine your digital communication style to maintain a balance between professionalism and casual engagement?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for how women in tech use banter in online communities to build camaraderie or lighten discussions. How do they maintain respect and positivity?

7. Talk

• How do you use digital platforms to engage in conversations (e.g., through video calls, online meetings, or chat)?
• Reflect on a time when talking online (e.g., a virtual meeting, video call) led to a successful outcome. What made it effective?
• How do others communicate or “talk” in online spaces in a way that you admire?
• Are there any methods or tools for online communication that you prefer not to use? Why?
• How can you improve your ability to communicate or "talk" online for more impactful and meaningful interactions?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for women in tech or business who are known for effective online communication. How do they engage their audiences during meetings, webinars, or online discussions?

8. Complaining

• How do you express dissatisfaction or complaints online?
• Have you ever turned a negative experience into a constructive feedback session? How did you approach it?
• What examples of online complaints have inspired you to take a more positive or professional approach?
• How can you avoid the negative impacts of complaining and instead use the opportunity to seek solutions or improvements?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for how women in professional settings use complaints constructively to improve processes. What strategies do they employ?

9. Tweeting

• How do you use X to engage with your audience or share ideas (e.g., tweeting about your work, interests, or news)?
• Think about a time when tweeting helped you connect with others or spread your ideas. What made it effective?
• How do others use X in a way that you find inspiring or impactful?
• Are there any practices on X that you would avoid (e.g., oversharing, posting unverified information)?
• How can you improve your use of X to strengthen your personal or professional presence online?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Search for women in tech, business, or media who are known for their impactful X presence. How do they use X to amplify their message or connect with others?

10. Reposting

• How do you use reposting as a way to share information with your audience or network?
• Reflect on a time when reposting something online helped you connect with others or raise awareness.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of reposting content on social media or other platforms?
• How can you ensure that you are reposting ethically, giving credit where it is due, and adding value to the conversation?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search: Explore how women in social media marketing or advocacy use reposting to amplify messages. What best practices do they use?

11. Unfollowing

• How do you decide when to unfollow accounts on social media? What criteria do you use?
• Reflect on a time when unfollowing an account improved your online experience. What did you gain from that decision?
• How do others handle unfollowing on social media in a way that you admire?
• What are the potential consequences (positive or negative) of unfollowing someone or something online, both personally and professionally?
• How can you maintain a healthy and relevant social media feed by curating your follows and unfollows?
• Guiding Questions for Online Search:​ Explore how women influencers or leaders in digital media manage their social media feeds. What strategies do they use to maintain a balanced and meaningful online presence?

Image of women and girls communicating and collaborating on a video call on a computer monitor and laptop screen.

Lesson: Exploring Communication and Collaboration in Digital Environments
Objective:
By the end of this lesson, you will:

1. Reflect on your current communication and collaboration practices in digital spaces.
2. Identify ways to enhance and expand your digital communication and collaboration skills.
3. Generate prompts to explore new ways to communicate and collaborate online for academic or professional growth.
4. Discover role models (particularly women) who excel in digital communication and collaboration, and learn from their strategies.

Step 1: Reflecting on Your Current Digital Communication & Collaboration Practices
Choose 5 digital literacies from the following list:

• Reading a lot online
• Liking
• Socializing
• Sports banter
• Politics banter
• Banter
• Talk
• Complaining
• Tweeting
• Reposting
• Unfollowing

For each selected literacy, answer the following prompts:

1. How do you currently demonstrate this digital literacy? Reflect on how you engage in this practice in your academic or professional life. What platforms do you use, and what types of content do you share or interact with?
2. How do others demonstrate this digital literacy in a way that you admire? Think of someone you admire in your field (or in a related field) who uses this digital literacy in a way that inspires you. What do they do differently that makes their communication effective?
3. In what ways do you not want to demonstrate this digital literacy for yourself? Are there any practices or behaviors that you find ineffective, unprofessional, or harmful when it comes to communicating or collaborating online? What steps can you take to avoid these behaviors?
4. How would you like to expand or enhance your proficiency in this digital literacy? Identify areas for growth. How can you improve your use of this digital literacy? What resources or strategies can help you get better at it?
5. What are the possibilities if you are able to demonstrate this digital literacy at a high level? Reflect on how excelling in this area would impact your academic or professional career. What new opportunities could this create for you?

Step 2: Exploring New Ways to Communicate & Collaborate Online
Using your responses from Step 1, generate ChatGPT prompts to help explore how you can communicate and collaborate in new and innovative ways for school or work.
Example ChatGPT Prompts:

1. “How can I use [Talk] to improve my team’s virtual collaboration for [specific task/project] in my [course name/discipline]? What are some effective strategies for remote communication that could enhance my work or academic success?”
2. “What are some creative ways to use [Tweeting] to promote my [field/academic research/career] and engage with my audience in meaningful conversations? How can I use X as a professional networking tool in [specific discipline/profession]?”
3. “How can I leverage [Reposting] to share relevant academic articles or industry updates with my [school/work] community while contributing to ongoing discussions?”
4. “What platforms and tools can I use to implement [Complaining] in a constructive and professional way, especially when dealing with frustrations or challenges in my [academic or professional] environment?”
5. “How can I effectively use [Banter] to build camaraderie and strengthen my relationship with colleagues or classmates online? What are some examples of productive banter in a professional context?”

Step 3: Finding Role Models in Digital Communication & Collaboration
Use platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, or other professional spaces to identify women who excel in digital communication and collaboration in your field of interest. Look for role models who can inspire you in how to enhance your own communication skills.
Guiding Search Questions:

• “Search for women in [your discipline or profession] who use digital platforms to share insights, interact with others, and promote their work. How do they engage their audience and foster professional relationships online?”
• “Who are the top women in tech/business/education who excel in [Talk, Tweeting, Reposting, or another skill] for innovative projects?”
• “Find women who are recognized for their thought leadership and influence through online platforms. What strategies do they use to communicate their ideas and build a following?”

Step 4: Examples of How to Communicate and Collaborate Online
How to Communicate Online:

1. Use email or messaging apps for clear, professional communication.
2. Engage with video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams) for more personal and interactive conversations.
3. Participate in online forums or discussion groups (e.g., LinkedIn, Slack) to expand your professional network and exchange knowledge.
4. Build an online presence through platforms like X or LinkedIn to stay informed and share ideas.

How to Collaborate Online:

1. Share files and collaborate on documents using cloud-based tools (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox).
2. Use project management software (e.g., Trello, Asana) to organize tasks and track progress.
3. Participate in virtual brainstorming sessions or workshops to contribute ideas and solve problems together.
4. Foster a team-oriented mindset by encouraging open dialogue and feedback in virtual spaces.

Step 5: Conclusion & Next Steps

1. Review your insights from the lesson. Reflect on how you can start applying these new digital literacies to enhance your communication and collaboration skills.
2. Set goals for the next few weeks to focus on the digital literacies you want to expand. Create a personal development plan to integrate these skills into your school or work projects.
3. Practice regularly by engaging with people in your field or joining online communities. Experiment with new platforms or tools to see how they can enhance your communication or collaboration efforts.
4. Track your progress and adjust your approach based on the feedback and results you receive.

By the end of this lesson, you will have a deeper understanding of how to use digital tools to enhance communication and collaboration in your academic or professional career. You will also have identified role models who demonstrate excellence in these areas, and you will be prepared to expand and develop these skills further.