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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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?

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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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 Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black women in tech/business/education who excel in [Talk, Tweeting, Reposting, or another skill] for innovative projects?”
• “Find Latinas, Afro-Latinas & Black 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.

Story Time!
​A Journey of Learning and Empowerment
Nicole Bakula never thought her love for advertising would lead her to digital literacy, but life has a funny way of connecting the dots. “I remember browsing YouTube all the time when I was younger—just trying to figure out how to download music,” she reflects. “It’s funny how those early moments shaped my understanding of the digital world.”
By the time she moved to New York to pursue her master's in Strategic Design and Management, Nicole had made a complete career shift. She wasn’t just a public relations graduate anymore. She had become a full-fledged UX Researcher. She’s seen firsthand how digital tools bridge gaps for people, especially those from underprivileged communities. Her involvement with the Open Educational Resource (OER) project has one main goal: to make digital skills accessible to all, particularly marginalized groups.
“Digital literacy is more than just knowing how to use a computer. It’s about creating spaces for people to thrive. I want to teach others how to use technology, to leverage it to solve problems,” says Nicole, explaining her motivation. Through the OER, she is providing resources that will help others just like her—navigating a world filled with opportunities, thanks to digital tools.

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. Learn

• Reflect on the last time you learned a new digital tool or platform. How did you approach learning it?
• What are the biggest challenges you face when learning new technology, and how do you overcome them?
• How can you foster a continuous learning mindset in your career or studies?
• Guiding questions for online search: Search for educational resources or communities for Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women who are learning new digital skills. What advice do they offer for lifelong learning?

2. Identify

• When starting a new project or task, how do you identify the key objectives or goals? What factors influence how you define success?
• Reflect on a time when identifying a problem early on helped you avoid bigger challenges later. How did you spot the issue?
• What strategies or tools do you use to identify opportunities for growth in your personal or professional life?
• Guiding questions for online search: Look up stories of Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women who have successfully identified key opportunities or challenges in their careers. How did they approach this process?

3. Discover

• How do you go about discovering new tools, ideas, or resources in your field? What strategies help you find innovative solutions to problems?
• Think about a time when discovering something new (e.g., a software tool or a new approach to a task) helped you succeed. What was the outcome?
• How can you create a habit of discovery in your daily routine or career to continuously learn and adapt?
• Guiding questions for online search: Look for examples of Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women who have discovered breakthrough technologies or ideas. How did they approach their discoveries?

4. Search

• How do you conduct digital searches for information? What tools or platforms do you use (e.g., search engines like Google, digital libraries such as EBSCOhost, or government open data sources)? How do you decide where to look and what sources to trust online?
• Reflect on a time when conducting a digital search helped you solve a problem or make a decision. What methods, search engines, or databases did you use, and what information did you find most helpful?
• How can you improve your digital search skills to find more accurate or relevant information more efficiently? Are there specific databases, search operators, or tools you can leverage to refine your search results?
• Guiding questions for online search: Explore how Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in business or academia excel at conducting effective digital research. What search strategies, databases (like JSTOR, Google Scholar, or government data sources like data.gov), or tools do they recommend? How do they use these platforms to enhance their research outcomes?

5. Evaluate

• How do you evaluate the effectiveness of something you are working on (e.g., a project, business idea, or process)? What criteria do you use to assess its success?
• Reflect on a time when evaluating something critically helped you make a better decision. What steps did you follow to evaluate the situation?
• How can you improve your evaluation process? Are there any tools or techniques that can help you become more thorough in your assessments?
• Guiding questions for online search: Search for evaluation methods used by Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in leadership positions or project management. What tools or techniques do they recommend?

6. Uploading

• How do you approach uploading content (e.g., photos, documents, videos) to platforms or storage services? What steps do you follow to ensure a smooth upload process?
• Think about a time when uploading something online led to a positive result (e.g., sharing a presentation, collaborating with others). What did you learn from that experience?
• How can you improve your uploading process for more efficiency, especially when dealing with large files?
• Guiding questions for online search: Look for tips on uploading content effectively from Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in business or tech. What best practices do they recommend?

7. Share

• How do you share knowledge, resources, or experiences with others in your life? What platforms do you use, and how do you decide what to share?
• Think about a time when sharing something valuable helped others or created an opportunity. How did you approach sharing in that situation?
• What strategies or tools do you use to ensure that your sharing is meaningful and impactful?
• Guiding questions for online search: Search for Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in nonprofit organizations or social media who are known for sharing valuable insights. What strategies do they use to amplify their message?

8. Sharing Great Insights

• Reflect on a time when sharing an insight or idea helped others. How did you communicate it effectively, and what was the result?
• How can you improve your ability to identify great insights in your work or personal life? How can you use these insights to inspire or help others?
• What platforms or tools do you use to share these insights with a wider audience, and how can you improve this process?
• Guiding questions for online search: Look for female thought leaders who excel at sharing insights in their fields. What platforms do they use, and how do they communicate their ideas?

9. Try Something Different

• Think about a time when trying something different in your routine, career, or project helped you see things from a new perspective. What made this change so impactful?
• How do you decide when it’s time to try something different, especially when facing obstacles or stagnation?
• What areas in your life would benefit from trying something different? How can you begin to make that change?
• Guiding questions for online search: Find examples of Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women who have transformed their careers or projects by trying something different. How did they pivot, and what lessons can you apply?

10. Understand Software

• How do you currently use software in your daily life or work? How do you ensure that you understand its features and functions?
• Reflect on a time when understanding a particular software helped you streamline a task or project. How did it improve your efficiency?
• What software would you like to better understand? How will you approach learning it?
• Guiding questions for online search: Search for resources and tutorials by Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black ​women in tech who provide helpful advice on understanding and using software tools effectively.

Lesson: Exploring & Expanding Digital Literacies for Academic and Professional Growth
Objective: By the end of this lesson, you will:

1. Reflect on your current digital literacies.
2. Identify key digital literacies that can enhance your academic or professional journey.
3. Learn to explore new possibilities for using your digital skills creatively and effectively.
4. Find role models who exemplify excellence in your areas of interest, specifically among Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black ​women in tech and other fields.
5. Use ChatGPT to generate ideas on how to apply your digital literacies in innovative ways.

Step 1: Reflect on Your Current Digital Literacies
Choose 5 digital literacies from the list above or below. For each, answer the reflection prompts provided. You can select the same digital literacy for more than one prompt if applicable.
Digital Literacies to Reflect On

• Data analysis
• Deliver products
• Deliver services
• Designing websites
• Designing my stuff
• Develop
• Discover
• Evaluate
• Identify
• Implement
• Design research, qualitative aspect
• Search
• Share
• Sharing great insights
• Try different things
• Understand software
• Uploading
• Use technology in a new way
• Writing

Reflection Prompts:

1. How do you currently demonstrate this digital literacy?
   Reflect on how you use this skill in your personal, academic, or professional life. Consider any tools, methods, or processes that help you execute this skill.
2. How do others demonstrate this digital literacy in a way that you admire?
   Think about people in your life, role models, or industry leaders. How do they use this skill? What aspects of their approach do you find inspiring?
3. In what ways do you not want to demonstrate this digital literacy for yourself?
   Reflect on situations or behaviors that would hinder your success with this skill. For example, perhaps you notice inefficiency in how someone else uses the skill, or you recognize poor practices that you want to avoid.
4. How would you like to expand or enhance your proficiency in this digital literacy?
   Identify areas for improvement. What steps could you take to become more proficient or more creative in your use of this digital literacy?
5. What are the possibilities if you are able to demonstrate this digital literacy at a high level?
   Reflect on the potential outcomes. How would excelling in this skill impact your academic journey, career, or personal growth?

Step 2: Identify 5 Digital Literacies to Pursue
Based on your reflections in Step 1, choose 5 digital literacies that are most relevant to your academic or professional journey. Consider how these skills will help you grow in your current or future career.
For each of the five digital literacies you select, answer the following questions:

1. How do these digital literacies align with your academic or career goals?
   Think about the specific skills required in your field. How do these literacies support your long-term objectives?
2. How can these digital literacies help you solve problems in your current work or school projects?
   Reflect on your immediate goals. Which digital literacies could streamline processes, increase productivity, or enhance creativity in your current projects?
3. What resources or steps will you take to enhance these digital literacies?
   Identify courses, workshops, books, or mentorship opportunities that could help you build on these skills.

Step 3: Generate Prompts for ChatGPT
Use your answers from Steps 1 and 2 to create prompts for ChatGPT that will help you explore how to apply your chosen digital literacies in new and innovative ways for your school or work.
Example Prompts:

• “How can I use [specific digital literacy] to improve my research for a school project on [topic]?”
• “How can I implement [specific digital literacy] in my work to create more efficient workflows in [specific task or industry]?”
• “What are some examples of how Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in [industry] use [specific digital literacy] to innovate in their careers? Please provide inspiration.”
• “How can I use [specific digital literacy] to enhance my team’s collaboration in a remote setting?”
• “What tools can I use to help [specific digital literacy] in my field, and how can I maximize their use for my career?”

Step 4: Explore Women Who Exemplify Excellence in Digital Literacies
Use LinkedIn, Instagram, or other platforms to find Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in your field or those who inspire you by exemplifying excellence in the digital literacies you want to develop.
Search for women who:

• Are role models in tech, business, education, or other fields of interest.
• Use social media to share insights about their professional journey and digital skills.
• Have shared projects or examples of their expertise related to your chosen digital literacies.

Guiding Search Questions:

• “Search for Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in [industry/field] who specialize in [chosen digital literacy].”
• “Who are the top Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women in tech/business/education using [chosen digital literacy] for innovative projects?”
• “Find Latinas, Afro-Latinas and Black women on Instagram or LinkedIn who regularly post about their work in [chosen digital literacy]. What lessons can I learn from them?”
• “Who are the thought leaders in [chosen digital literacy] in [my field], and how do they use this skill to succeed?”

Step 5: Conclusion & Next Steps

1. Review the insights you’ve gained from this lesson. Reflect on how identifying, practicing, and improving these digital literacies will shape your future.
2. Create a learning plan for the next few weeks or months to focus on the five digital literacies you’ve chosen to enhance.
3. Start applying your skills to your school projects, work tasks, or personal projects. See how you can integrate your digital literacies to solve real-life challenges and create opportunities for growth.

By using these prompts, individuals will reflect deeply on their current digital skills, identify areas for growth, and explore how to apply their digital literacies in meaningful and innovative ways. This process not only encourages academic and professional development but also helps them find inspiration from role models who excel in similar fields.