The Educational Technology department at Gettysburg College is soliciting applications from rising sophomores and juniors for a summer Digital Technology Summer Fellows (DTSF) program.
What is the Digital Technology Summer Fellows Program?
This program is designed to give students hands-on development experience working on a complex technological project. The DTSF student will plan the project’s mission and goals, then do research to work out the best methods to realize the project while keeping detailed documentation of the process.
Possible projects might include (but are not limited to)
- Using an automated drone to survey the population of plants or animals
- Developing an accurate virtual reality reconstruction of a physical location or building
- Using 3d cameras and VR systems to develop a tour of a historical site.
- Using photogrammetry and high resolution 3d printers to create accurate physical models of an object
- Using Arduinos and sensors to track body motion during a baseball pitch
- Using cameras and automated photo analysis software to study insect activity around a hive.
Students will be expected to
- Participate in a 8-week program designed to provide them skills and information relevant to their project as well as oral and written presentation skills. This will include a variety of outside reading, in-person classes and workshops
- Work to develop each stage of the project including
- Defining mission and goals
- Developing a detailed timeline for development
- Learning about software and hardware options and selecting appropriate ones
- Creating a realistic budget for materials, software and tools
- Accurately documenting progress
- Present the projects in public sessions after the conclusion of the project
- Create documentation of any processes, procedures, tools, and code used in the creation of their projects
- Assist students, faculty, and staff with the design and implementation of projects and assignments that involve digital tools
- Agree to provide Gettysburg College a non-exclusive license to adapt, publish, reproduce, or distribute each project; creators maintain copyright of their projects
- Reflect on the process through weekly blog posts and meetings with other DTSFs.
For examples of prior projects, visit the 2021 DTSF blog at http://dtsf.sites.gettysburg.edu/dtsf2021/
Once the summer is complete, DTSFs may be called in during the school year as paid consultants for professors interested in using similar technologies for their class.
Basic information
There are openings for up to 3 positions: the application deadline is 18 March 2022. Sophomores and juniors are preferred, but all students as of Spring 2022 are welcome to apply. Applications are through the Center for Career Engagement’s Handshake site, job ID #5949084.
Statement of Interest:
Students interesting in applying should write a ~500 word statement to answer the following questions
- Why are you interested in the DTSF program and what are you hoping to learn and accomplish during this time? If you have a specific project in mind, please give some details about the project and why you are interested in it.
- Have you worked on a similar project either at Gettysburg College or in high school/elsewhere? If so, what went well, what didn’t work as well and what are you hoping to learn by continuing?
- What is your experience with digital tools, both software and hardware? Previous experience with specific tools is not necessary but a willingness to tinker and play is.
Faculty Reference:
Please provide the name and email address of a faculty member who may serve as a reference. While not necessary, it might be helpful to choose a faculty member who can potentially support any research consultations that may come up during the Digital Technology Summer Fellowship. We also recommend to share with them this application prior to submission so they are aware of your interest. Faculty members can contact Eric Remy, Director of Educational Technology at x6958 or eremy@gettysburg.edu with any questions about the program.
Interview:
Potential Digital Technology Summer Fellows will be selected from the initial pool for a followup 30 minute interview with the DTSF Advisory group, made up of members of Educational Technology, Information Technology and Musselman Library. Interviews will be scheduled for the week of 21 March.
Selection of Fellows:
Fellows will be notified the week of 4 April. Followup meetings will occur through the rest of the Spring semester to discuss potential projects and materials. The fellowship will begin on 30 May 2022 and will run until 22 July 2022.
COVID and Summer housing:
At the time of this writing it has not been officially announced if students will be permitted in campus housing during the Summer of 2022. The DTSF program was designed as an in-person activity and we will be planning in the hopes that this will be possible as projects often require equipment or materials not easily available at home. If students are not permitted on campus the DTSF committee will discuss with candidates modifications to their projects that would be possible to complete at home.
Pay:
DTSFs will be paid $9.50 an hour plus a housing and meal allowance for the duration of the program.