Application Deadline: July 1, 2022
Description:
Researchers from the Youth, Media & Wellbeing Research Lab and the Computer Science Department at Wellesley College are hosting a free virtual summer workshop for middle school girls about designing healthier social media experiences. This workshop is being sponsored by Wellesley Centers for Women and the Wellesley College Summer Research Internship program.
The workshop will have 3 main components: a) reflection activities to explore how to address emotional and mental health, self-image, and social relationships online, b) app co-design and STEM activities for imagining positive social media experiences, c) interactive small and whole group learning experience featuring Wellesley College students as co-facilitators as well as expert speakers on app design, digital citizenship, and digital wellbeing.
Dates and Details:
The workshop will be virtual using Zoom and run Monday - Friday, July 11-15 from 12:30pm to 3:00pm EST. Although we are based on the east coast, participants are welcome from all over the country. We are accepting approximately 25 workshop participants. Zoom login details will be sent to each student ahead of the workshop start date.
Eligibility:
Participants must have Wifi access and a home computer to attend Zoom meetings, access websites, type in responses to our activities. We are focusing on the experiences of girls and their digital worlds. Preference will be given to girls traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, e.g., as racial/ethnic minorities, first-generation to attend college, etc. We welcome those who have low to high familiarity with social media. Priority will also be given to those from the summer 2021 waitlist, students entering 6th-9th grade in Fall 2022, and students who can attend all 5 days of the workshop. Since workshop themes change from year to year, past workshop participants are welcome to join again!
Evaluation of Workshop:
Participants will be asked to complete a survey prior to the start of the workshop and then again a few weeks after the program ends. The survey will ask students about their interests and what they hope to learn/learned during the workshop.
For more details on our past workshops including a past workshop agenda and sample activities, check our webpage which will be updated as the event draws near:
https://www.wcwonline.org/summerworkshops