URAP

OSKI Tech (Open Skills and Knowledge Initiative) Digital Media Project

Emma Fraser, Professor  
New Media, Center for  

Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2024 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2025.

OSKI Tech is a program that introduces new technology to a range of students. It is designed to work as a portable technology instruction lab, with a focus on expanding participation in technology for students in media studies, new media, arts and social sciences. The core of OSKI Tech is a mobile “PUG” cart that will rove around campus full of fun and interesting interactive technology.

The project provides support to faculty in the Berkeley Center for New Media, Media Studies, Art Practice and Geography to revise their courses to include development of technical skills by setting up mobile and collaborative teaching resources (e.g laptops, VR headsets). OSKI-tech is directed at undergraduate students in arts and social sciences who may require technical skills for their courses, but have limited access to, or don’t feel included in, classes where these skills are routinely taught and resourced.

The structure of OSKI Tech is a series of sessions that will run outside of scheduled class time, and will be optional for students who wish to develop beginner-intermediate skills in digital tools and technologies in a fun and low-stakes environment.

Role: We already have one continuing URAP, and are seeking one or two more for Fall/Spring. The URAP roles on this project will work with the core members of the OSKI Tech team to research and develop pedagogical and technological practices for the grant project.

The tasks will be focused on:
- researching and creating databases of digital media technologies (learning research skills like boolean search and database creation and management)
- peer research to gather ongoing data about the use and effectiveness of OSKI Tech (qualitative and quantitative research methods)
- research support for appropriate topics for OSKI Tech workshops (general academic research skills)
- research assistance for events (academic event development)
- supported production of documentation on pedagogical best practice for the technical kit (academic writing)

Day to day tasks will include
- Using Qualtrix, Google Forms, or Redcap to develop surveys for courses involved in OSKI Tech; collating survey data (with supervision and support)
- Developing the OSKI Tech database and tracking equipment use in classrooms (including classroom visits, but no teaching or instruction is permitted/required)
- Reviewing the previous years' OSKI Tech performance and working on improvements to the research and learning model
- Researching best practice in digital education and pedagogy
- Working with core members, including PhD students, to support the development of OSKI Tech as an educational tool

Qualifications: It is essential that students are organized, manage their time well, and are committed to the project. Due to the nature of OSKI Tech, we expect to provide students with the opportunity to develop technical skills and research knowledge, so experience on a similar project is not required. Other essential requirements include:

- Interest in digital media and technology
- Interest in digital pedagogy
- Interest in DEIBJ and educational access

One or more of the following skills would be desirable, but not essential:
- Intermediate-advanced knowledge of digital technology (e.g. installing software, side-loading, connecting devices and downloading/uploading data)
- Intermedia web design knowledge (e.g. how to make a WordPress of Google Sites page)
- Experience with surveys or other data collection, qualitative methods (can include students’ own research or methods-related coursework)
- Data entry or database experience (not advanced - e.g. basic knowledge of adding things to a spreadsheet)
- Knowledge of technical and safety documentation
- User design
- Basic to intermediate coding

Hours: 3-5 hrs

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