UXPA K-12 & Ohio Tech Day

Today (September 30, 2022) was the second annual Ohio Tech Day, a day of events inspiring the next generation of Ohio’s technology and innovation leaders (that is, K-12 students). As the UX Roundtable, we produced a video about UX Careers that debuted today on OhioTechDay TV.

By coincidence, today I was also part of a UXPA International webinar on K-12 education, where I told the story of our UX career awareness activities and partnering with OhioX.

The recording will be posted in the UXPA webinar library.

Highlights of my slides are below.

The Ohio “Plan”

1. Build a statewide community of UX “activists” (e.g., local group leaders)
   1. UX Career Awareness was the first common goal we agreed to
2. Find a statewide partner (OhioX) and an activity to contribute to (Ohio Tech Day)
   1. OhioX (trade association): “Building Ohio as a tech hub”
   2. Ohio Tech Day (last Friday in September): “Ohio Tech Day is designed to include and inspire students: our next generation of leaders in tech and innovation.”
3. Year 1 (2021): Webinar about UX Careers on Ohio Tech Day
4. Year 2 (2022): Video of Early UX Professionals telling their stories
   1. Debut on Ohio Tech Day, year-round resource for teachers and students 
5. Ongoing: Career Awareness Team

Early Professionals Telling Stories

OhioX ask: “Create some content about tech careers to debut on Ohio Tech Day for teachers and students to watch all year-long”

• Used our network to find potential candidates from a variety of backgrounds (graphic design, CS, etc.)
  • Product designer with a computer science background
  • Graduate student at university lab with a computer science background
  • Accessibility analyst
  • Product designer with communications background + bootcamp
• Recruited mentors to help them craft their stories
• Recorded a “panel session” for teachers & students

Questions

• Who are you and what do you do?
• How did you first learn about UX?
• What do you enjoy about your role?
• What advice would you give to high school students seeking to enter this career?

Our Approach to Advancing the UX Profession in Ohio

• Pick common goals to address long-term needs
  • UX Career Education, for example
• Collaborate across local chapters
• Partner with “industry”: OhioX, Ohio Tech Day
• Work at a state level, because that is where the funding and resources are
• Have fun!