Basic digital skills can suffice to transform your life.

Let’s learn ICT with patience. 😉

Technology has always been not my cup of tea. But to a point I realize, without Technology, my life would have been different. I am not good at design, coding, video editing, fixing technical errors, running software, whatever that requires a bit more dive into technical use. I write this blog since I was inspired by my colleague, my boss, Shannon Fox, a superwoman, that I have the luck to work with at JUMP! Foundation.

Inspiring Shannon!

“Important to encourage everyone in tech, particularly women.

I can't believe I have maintained a job through covid and been able to train others to find employment with a shut down world. I am very grateful for technology 🙏 I am so happy when I hear people get tech roles and know how much that money makes a difference and provides so many other opportunities. SO important to highlight the capacity to build out diverse skills which can lead to a variety of employment opportunities in areas with current job postings.”

- Beautifully shared by Shannon

This is the picture taken in one The International MTSS Summit (IMS) – an International Conference of Education when we were tech-hosting their Zoom in an early morning. Shannon was handling 3 screens at a time. I bet she was processing some contracts, payroll, interviews or training tasks for the organization or other jobs as well. This is not a science field like chemistry, engineering or coding, but looking at the way Shannon is handling her device gives me empowerment. Given the fact that she is a scientist 😊, what she was doing shows her strength of multitasking and multi-focusing, which is exceptional for human brain. Shannon’s favorite animal is octopus because it is a very smart animal that every single part of its body can work on something simultaneously. So, Shannon constantly has her hands, brain and heart be in all over places but still perform all jobs excellently. For those who might not recognize, this octopus power of Shannon has given opportunities to many people to survive over the global pandemic, including myself.

I want to retrospect on all of my jobs or experiences in which technology is essential to actualize them. And I realize I should treasure Technology further and it’s ok if I don’t have a comprehensive understanding of sophisticated technology. Basic use of Tech can already transform my life. I would like to encourage you to see that how computers/laptops/phones are incredible to connect you to jobs, education, knoweldge, people and happiness. Keep seeking opportunities and polish the skills daily. Also, regularly take care of your digital device by cleaning it inside out (surface and digital trash). They are good friends and they have to work hard all the time for us. Objects in general, not just AI ones with smart core, deserve love and empathy. Make it healthy so that you can be healthy too.

In the first place, the Internet and social media provided opportunities for me to self study for entrance exams into a good university and especially English when my potentials were limited in a public countryside education. Being aware of the disadvantages, I never lost my childhood dream, a distant dream for rural kids in Vietnam, that one day I would be able to speak English fluently and travel around the world. I kind of made it and people always said to me: your accent is funny, you have such a special accent, your English is excellent, etc. I am accustomed to all those compliments, but I am not complacent. I know what I am having is the gift of effort and motivation, among which, Technology is a bridge.

In summer 2017, I first went abroad to Thailand as a voluntary teacher, however, my phone could not use sim card there. Luckily, the education system in Thailand is much more advanced than that of my country that even the rural schools are well-equipped with computers, projectors and Internet. I could communicate with my students thanks to Google Translate. I was new to Thai language, to be on the stage to give lessons, let alone design lesson plans, though I have some English knowledge. But all those facilities allowed me to access to the world knowledge to share to students and sparked inspiration to them. The students were singing karaoke and danced all popular Thai songs in break times. Technology contributed to create such energetic atmospheres and get rid of language barriers.

Then I started working as an audio editor as part of a book publishing project for an English center. I would never forget the feeling of sticking my eyes to the screen, using the app “Audacity” all day long. I messed with the audio effects: trimming, modifying noise, compressing, inserting music backgrounds, converting files, etc in order to produce the smoothest end-product. I thought I might come into depression because it was such a daunting task. While the person who voiced over the book audio can speak and act with their voice and feelings, I got stuck with the time-consuming technical role. I had to listen to the sounds many times to detect and process the details. This trained my patience level and let me see how Technology can polish things to become perfect and user friendly. Yet, it usually costs time creates mental distress. The audience of music, movies and applications might need to value the production team to create such masterpieces that fulfilled their ears and eyes.

Before the global pandemic, in 2019, I had two cross-boundary projects that technology facilitated our experiences. In the first one, Lens on Mekong, we were collaborating online across SEA countries and never met each other until we run our workshops in 3 Mekong provinces in Vietnam. We usually had meetings on Zoom and updated our documents on Google Drive. I applied for Funds online 2 times with one failure and one success. One fund required a pitch and I was shaking presenting our proposal virtually. I learnt that I need to tell a better story and practiced more in advance. The other fund supported us 10 million VND after reading such a long written proposal though we never met in person. I tried to call for partnership with International Affairs Departments in some universities through Emails and Zalo. People working in public organizations are not responsive to email. I learnt to take the gut to nudge them through personal Zalo. Just by phone calls, Zalo and Emails, I managed to get authority documents from the Vietnamese Embassy, letters of permit from our sponsors, government procedures from several Departments because of many stakeholders involved in our projects. I was based in Ho Chi Minh city and I felt like I could grab the whole world in my hand. It was crazy and fun to talk to so many people and make things happen – through technology platforms.

The second one, Young Sustainable Innovation SEA walked me through Design Thinking over a 5-month innovation process. From a technological viewpoint, I don’t think this could happen without magic tech! We had meetings online in Appear.in, collected data across 3 regions in Vietnam through Google Form, wrote monthly progress report on Google Document and presentation slides on Google Slide. YSI SEA also built their own knowledge platform which is not updated but it includes tons of Design Thinking materials to apply into practice. My team was communicating on Whatsapp and updated our weekly vlogs into Drive. Our final prototype was a website synthesizing quality assured courses for Vietnamese youths aged 18-24 to enhance their employability skills. The test phase was online too because people can just use it and tell if it’s helpful. Only in the prototype phase, did we have to draw the website interface together and see the sequence of the user journey. Other than that, online work was just as intense as in-person work. For this project, we had an advisor from the organizing team so we can come to him for advice regularly to be at the right phase. I learnt the complexity of a social problem and further practicing a powerful approach to understand and solve it – Design Thinking. My teammates, a Singaporean and a Cambodian, got to zoom in the issues with empathy and link to their contexts, from the collective research.

The next milestone was my internship with JUMP! last summer 2020. This time last year I was about to blog about how much pleasure I received just from the recruitment itself. I was a Marketing-Communications Intern that I was willing to do because I want to have a beautiful summer in Thailand. I could not go back home, and the internship at JUMP! community was such a knowledgeable time. Without Technology, I probably would have never had that job. I had to apply to BambooHR platform, a quite structured way to manage staff data. I got to work with a team consisting of 4 nationalities from 4 different continents and time zones - our conversations are usually on Whatsapp and Zoom. And the job got so much to do with basic designs on AdobeCreative for social media and blog posts. I struggled right at the sign-up step for an account because I don’t have Master Card. I can use my manager’s account for Adobe and then produce many photos of Sustainability Acts and Inspiring Quotes for Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. The most tedious task was to sort out and create the program brochure on Box. We had to adjust the photos, size of texts, putting them into catchy frames. It sounds simple but it costs hours. :D As an unexpected result, the internship has opened up such priceless education-related opportunities for me for the past year. Just follow your heart, don’t have to follow the rule. :D

The last experience to feature in this blog, also the reason why I started it, is about my current job at JUMP! Foundation. Since last year September (8 months so far), I have been working as a Tech-Host for a number of virtual Connected Program. I reflected on this job once but I never thought I would continue working in this field till this far.

What does this Tech-Host job mean?

A communication activity that our J! team is spotlighted in Zoom and speak muted words for students to guess the vocabulary related to leadership!

Basically, it is to control all Zoom functions for the activities facilitators and students focus on their roles. Some examples are managing participants, breakout rooms, screen and sound share, chatbox informing, recording and hosting the zoom. Ordinary classes take place with one educator and students and the teacher has to handle everything from delivering lessons to managing tech. But if the classes are mostly lecturing, it is not of necessity for a technical facilitator. On the other hand, technical issues can cause distraction and huge interruption to the experience so for such interactive educational programs of JUMP!, the role of a Tech-Host is important. Recently, we had an innovation session with J! Techie members, we defined the responsibilities of the job, part of which is as follow:

• Know the Flow: know timings for breakout rooms, breaks, and the key components of the program.

• Be prepared to be back-up: Tech hosts are involved in all prep sessions in the event a team member is having connectivity issues (VPN struggles, loss of power, etc.)

• Tech Host can facilitate a big group activity if the block is not heavy on technical transitions and team members internet are stable (challenge by choice).

• Communication with the team and lead facilitator about times and how things should be adjusted if certain activities run over/under time.

• Tech Hosts are the “Host” of the program and often are asked questions by the teachers or the Jump! Team regarding program components.

• Tech Hosts should always remain in the main room and professional even during long breakout room sessions. The support school team, Jump! Staff, and students with internet connectivity issues will be in and out of the main room at those times.

• The face of Jump! On the program. Build strong rapport with teachers and know the multiple tiers of the Jump! Universe (Experiences, Impact, School, Connected).

Key mindset:

Be ready for facilitating any activity or stepping into any breakout room

Be proactive in offering support to your team when facilitating in the main room

Be comfortable to interact with the students and teachers, you are part of the team! (not a tech robot, feel free to step in!)

To be continued

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I feel Tech-Host role accounts for much more responsibilities and opportunities as I participate in more programs. Yes, I am not a tech robot, I am part of the team and can interact with students, teachers, J! staff to exchange thoughts, ideas and be heard. I have observed so many conversations, activities and behaviors of international students through this job. I had the chance to chat with educators and facilitators around the world about our work and even some personal matters/ interests. They are willing to share with me what they care about and so do I. This is so inspiring and promising for knowledge production! Besides, I could gain additional financial support in this vulnerable time to feed myself and my own travel. Like Shannon said, the creation of this Tech job means that we can create a smooth environment for the online learning experience and be empowered from that. I have to say the Zoom skills are nothing compared to the advanced level of an IT person. Yet it doesn’t mean we are incapable of doing something like education.

My appreciation scrapbook from some programs:

“Ms. Linh, thank you for being the tech host and helping us have fun!” – a student from Osaka International School (OIS) told me at the end of the program in March, 2021. I don’t often get appreciation from students when I do this work. But this sentence means a lot to me!

This is our appreciation session among JUMP! team for grade 8 student of OIS program:

• “Linh!!!!!! Every time you talk I feel so inspired and touched. I feel like we speak the same language!!! It’s so easy to work with you and I just appreciate how good at your job you are, I didn’t have to worry about anything. THANK you! I hope we will be able to meet one day in person! <3” - Mag

• “Omg Linh! Your curiosity and desire to learn is truly admirable. You look for opportunities for growth at every turn and it is something I have alway admired about you - super happy that you have been involved with JUMP and really looking forward to seeing what your future holds. You are also quickly following the path to becoming a tech guru and doing so so well! <3” - Gen

• “! I LOVED connecting with you. Talking to you when everyone else was in breakout rooms. Your vulnerability and openness in sharing, with me and with my group. LOVED having yyyou in my group all the time. Thank you for appreciating us and me so much, you really do say the sweetest things! I don't want to stop writing, noooooo” - Vikkrant

• “Linh - Thank you for the sweet energy you bring to the group. It made me feel calm and remember the bigger picture - like don’t get STRESSED. It’s remarkable how calm you were solving all the tech issues, I would’ve been pulling my hair out, esp all those CHROME BOOKS” - Sofia

This is appreciation from my team in the latest Connected program for Jakarta Intercultural School:

• “Thank you Lihn for your continuous support during the program and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Thank you for always being a consistent smile through out the program and also giving ideas on ways we can run the activity too. ALSO THANK YOU FOR MOVING BETWEEN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS FOR THE PROGRAMS, must not be easy and I appreciate the effort you put in for this program.” - Kai

• “So smiley and supportive. Help us with lots of tech issues and struggles. Your positivity, calmness and smile makes all bad mood goes away. And stepping to a crazy program like this while in school doing all those projects must be busy, but thanks you being with us! I love having you on the team. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 you like birds right? And trees ok” – Mengya

• “You are so smart, smily and lovey Linh. Thanks for the support and for being aware of all the details. I appreciate you were always proactive and saying yes to the things we proposed. Thanks for also trying hard with studies and all the other commitments. Having to manage all things but still been in program 100%, thanks for that!!”- Ila

I really love the debrief meeting with the global team that we had fun reflective activities together.

JUMP! team program-close photo

The question for this picture was to take a photo with an object representing a SDG that means the most to you. These beautiful faces blow away my tiredness of Zoom fatigue.

Let’s find opportunities and find a space that you can fit in. The world needs you if you care about it. Contact me if you are interested in becoming a Tech Host for JUMP!

Join this ongoing Course/ Event co-organized to learn more about ICT by my university: https://web.facebook.com/GirlsinictasiapacificTH/

Importantly, contexts really matter to make us learn the tech knowledge effectively. For example, you learn Microsoft Office but never use it. All in theory will be forgotten without putting it into practice. Just like you learn a language but never use it. I used to learn how to make Powerpoint when I never presented with slides in class. I learnt Power BI and Tableau for data visualization but didn’t understand and apply it anywhere because I simply don’t have any context to utilize it, then I forgot them all HAHA. Find opportunities that make sense with what you are involved with in order to digest the information practically.

Thank you for reading this blog.

I am Never tired of writing. 😉

#ICT

#reflection

#inspiration