Frontline Tech

Author: marco

  • Women of Color in Tech

    Description

    Women of Color in Tech is a set of free stock photos created to show a different representation of all women in tech. The images can be used to depict entrepreneurs, software engineers, infosec professionals, IT analysts, marketers, and other people who make up the tech ecosystem. #WOCinTech photos are available under a Creative Commons (Attribution) license. This means that you may copy, distribute, and display the images as long as you attribute #WOCinTech Chat. Otherwise, you are free to use them as you wish. The images are available through stock photography sites Pexels and Unsplash, as well as their original home on Flickr.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • These images are used on sector websites, flyers, event pages, as well as presentations, wherever visuals are used.
    • Women of Color in Tech can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create representative visual information of diversity and Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    The photos are free to use.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    The pictures are easy to access and download.

    Mobile friendly

    The pictures can be used in mobile settings.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Not applicable.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Not applicable.

    Additional resources

  • Black Illustrations

    Description

    Black illustrations provides digital designs of black people in various settings for use on websites and other visual media.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • These illustrations are used on sector websites, flyers, event pages, as well as presentations, wherever visuals are used.
    • Black Illustrations can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create representative visual information of diversity and Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Some illustration packs are free and others have low licensing fees.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    The illustration packs are easy to access and download.

    Mobile friendly

    The illustrations can be used in mobile settings.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Not applicable.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Not applicable.

    Additional resources

  • Unsplash

    Description

    Unsplash is a stock photography site of freely-usable images. It includes the Women of Color in Tech collection among other diverse and inclusive pictures.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • These images are used on sector websites, flyers, event pages, as well as presentations, wherever visuals are used.
    • Unsplash can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create representative visual information of diversity and Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    The photos are free to use.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    The pictures are easy to access and download.

    Mobile friendly

    The pictures can be used in mobile settings.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Not applicable.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Not applicable.

    Additional resources

  • Pixabay

    Description

    Pixabay is a stock photography site of freely-usable images. You can download images from the Pixabay website, as well as directly within Canva.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • These images are used on sector websites, flyers, event pages, as well as presentations, wherever visuals are used.
    • Pixabay can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create representative visual information of diversity and Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    The photos are free to use.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    The pictures are easy to access and download.

    Mobile friendly

    The pictures can be used in mobile settings.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Not applicable.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Not applicable.

    Additional resources

  • Pexels

    Description

    Pexels is a stock photography site of freely-usable images. You can download images from the Pixabay website, as well as directly within Canva.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • These images are used on sector websites, flyers, event pages, as well as presentations, wherever visuals are used.
    • Pexels can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create representative visual information of diversity and Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    The photos are free to use.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    The pictures are easy to access and download.

    Mobile friendly

    The pictures can be used in mobile settings.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Not applicable.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Not applicable.

    Additional resources

  • Prezi

    Description

    Prezi is an online presentation and video maker that offers an alternative to PowerPoint and Google Slides. Prezi has three different products: Video (incorporating photos, gifs, and presentation slides), Present (more visually interesting experiences using a unique zoom transition animation), and Design (for charts, reports, maps, infographics).

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Prezi can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create engaging visual information for Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Prezi has a free version that allows you to store up to 5 projects. They have additional pricing levels for individuals, students & educations, and businesses.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Prezi can be used through their website or downloaded software (Mac and Windows). Prezi Video automatically creates a transcript of your video, available on the video’s view page. You can also download the subtitles from the video admin page.

    Mobile friendly

    Prezi allows you to save your project in a mobile layout for viewing on mobile devices.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Prezi complies with GDPR (The General Data Protection Regulation) requirements. You also have privacy options for your videos, presentations, and designs. You can choose either public+reusable or unlisted.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Prezi Video supports 24 different international alphabets you can use when adding text in the Prezi Video online editor.

    Additional resources

  • Powtoon

    Description

    Powtoon is an online platform for creating short video presentations. You can select from royalty-free libraries of animation, live-action video, images, designed backgrounds, soundtracks, and moving graphics, or you can use your own visual content and add audio voiceovers.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Staff can create short how-to videos.
    • Used as an engagement tool, Newcomers can create video presentations to show their understanding of a topic or concept.
    • Powtoon can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create visual information to help inform and engage with Newcomers visually.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Powtoon’s free account allows you to create videos up to 3 minutes long with Powtoon branding on the video. They offer different levels of pricing plans. They do not appear to have nonprofit pricing, but do have educational institution pricing available.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Like many tools, it takes some time to become oriented to the tool and how to use it. Powtoon has a useful knowledge base with articles and how-to information.

    Mobile friendly

    According to Powtoon, “Currently, it is not possible to edit your Powtoon on a tablet or iPad and we recommend that you use either a desktop or laptop computer.” However, the article outlines a few things that can be done using their Powtoon Connect Apple and Android mobile app.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    According to this help article, “If you have a free subscription plan, your privacy setting will be set to Public by default and cannot be changed. A public Powtoon is searchable in search engines. If you have a paid subscription plan, your privacy setting will be set to Unlisted by default. An unlisted Powtoon is not searchable in search engines.”

    Multilingual capabilities

    None found.

    Additional resources

  • Loom

    Description

    Loom is a screen recording tool where you are able to record your screen, add your video or voice, annotations, and share the video with others. Loom can be used on both Mac and Windows computers, as well as mobile devices.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • As one teacher says, “The use of video in the classroom has allowed me to create effective online teaching and social presence through the creation of a course introduction video, welcome (meet the teacher) video and weekly announcements. It’s a great way to personalize learning! To help learners with cognitive load, I use screencasts to record lessons segmented into bite sized chunks. Video can be used to answer questions, create technical how-to videos, support absent students, provide feedback and more. As a benefit to students, video screencasts allow students to watch at their own pace, learn by example, and free up class time in a flipped classroom approach.”
    • Loom can also be a great tool for Newcomers to use to show their thinking or understanding of a topic.
    • Loom can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create useful videos for a variety of situations.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Loom has a free version and a number of paid options. They offer a free version for educators that has many more features than the free option.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Loom is user friendly and intuitive and features a video series showing how to use the tool. There’s also a page showcasing possible uses for the tool. 

    Mobile friendly

    Loom has Android and iOS apps which can be used to record with your camera, or to record the screen. It is it is not possible to record screen + cam simultaneously on iOS. On Android you can record Screen + Cam or Screen Only mode, but not camera only mode.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    The Loom privacy policy outlines exactly what data is collected, how and why the data is used, and who has access to the data. The policy also outlines GDPR compliance and the Chrome Extension Agreement. 

    Multilingual capabilities

    Loom applications only support English at this time.

    Additional resources

  • Audacity

    Description

    Audacity is a free and open-source multi-track digital audio editor and recording software for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Audacity can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create audio content for and by Newcomers to use in classroom and other settings.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Audacity is free.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Audacity has a learning curve, like any audio editing tool. Those who use audio editing tools indicate that Audacity is easy to use compared to other similar tools.

    Keyboard shortcuts can be used in Audacity.

    Mobile friendly

    Audacity is a computer-based software.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Audacity collects very little user data and provides an overview of their privacy settings.

    Multilingual capabilities

    The software’s interface is in English. Of course, you can record audio in any language! 🙂

    Additional resources

  • Portail d’intĂ©gration franco-immigrant (PIFI) (case study)

    This case study comes from the Refugee 613 Using Digital Messaging to Support Newcomer Communities – A Toolkit for Individuals and Organizations.

    Created by 5 francophone community organizations in Ontario:

    • le Centre des services communautaires Vanier
    • le Conseil de la coopĂ©ration de l’Ontario
    • le Conseil Ă©conomique et social d’Ottawa-Carleton
    • M9 MĂ©dias
    • la SociĂ©tĂ© Ă©conomique de l’Ontario

    What it is

    A private Facebook group for francophone newcomers to Canada. Members can ask any question and get answers from settlement professionals within 48 hours on business days.

    Why it started

    In response to a call for proposals from the DMSI project, the founding organizations identified potential to address a gap by providing useful information to French-speaking newcomers. In individual Canadian communities outside Quebec, francophones may represent a small proportion of the newcomer population, but there is a critical mass of French-speaking newcomers who need information to help them settle.

    Why Facebook

    • It was a commonly used tool by the partners and the newcomers they serve and there was a high level of awareness of it and how to use it.
    • The information can be delivered in French.
    • It is accessible from a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
    • The group can be moderated, and the administrators have the ability to accept and remove participants.
    • It allows for people to share information and experiences informally, but also allows the administrators to respond with vetted answers, post trusted reference materials and/ or ensure validity of the information posted by others.
    • There was no limit to the number of participants.

    Key Lessons Learned

    The founding organizations applied training, including tips learned in a DMSI Community of Practice, about using social media to engage participants. They applied lessons about how to keep the communications light and practical, which led to strong engagement among the target audience. Also, a high level of satisfaction was based on the moderator’s practice of going beyond the basic information to provide personal referrals to websites and organizations that could directly help a participant resolve an issue, and then following up later to see how it went.