Interview with EveryoneOn Digital Instructor Joanna Aceves
In conversation with Jessica Scadron, VP of Strategic Communications, EveryoneOn
How did you become interested in digital equity and inclusion work?
I love teaching. I started my teaching journey as a tutor during high school. When I graduated, I taught English to Spanish-speakers for private companies, then decided to start my own private business teaching out of my house. I did that for four years, teaching adults and children.
When COVID hit, it wasn’t safe to have students in my house, and I wanted to transition to virtual classes. I saw an EveryoneOn digital instructor position posted on LinkedIn about teaching digital skills classes to under-resourced communities. When I read the organization’s mission and the communities it serves, I knew the role was for me. There’s a need for people to learn digital skills, but it can be scary for an adult to take classes, especially in technology. I wanted to change that experience for participants, so I applied for the position and have been an instructor for 1.5 years so far.
Describe your own personal experience with technology
I’ve always been interested in technology, in learning and teaching. I took tech classes after college. One of my teaching jobs out of college was as an instructor teaching coding, python, security and other technologies to people who weren’t underserved. I was teaching all over the states, including to employees at Boeing.
I wanted to teach tech skills but wanted to focus more on communities who need extra support and attention - people like my parents who get nervous when trying to learn tech. They migrated from Mexico to Los Angeles. Their education ended at elementary school. They do jobs that don’t require tech, like factory work and construction. People like my parents are those I want to help.
Why did you choose EveryoneOn as the organization for which you provide instruction?
I really enjoyed meeting the EveryoneOn team when I first started - it’s like a family work environment. I love the support, availability and care the team shows for the students’ experience. They’re not just trying to put a teacher in a classroom; they want them to learn about the students and their knowledge levels. They prepare them before classes begin with their devices and other details so they’re ready to learn on day one.
As an instructor, do you have any observations of the relationship between women and the digital divide?
90% of EveryoneOn class participants are women. The high number spotlights how many women in these communities struggle with getting online and operating a computer. The jobs underrepresented people usually have are ones that don’t require tech skills, like working in restaurants and factories. If women can take these classes, they can build their skills, gain the confidence to use tech and open up to more opportunities than they thought possible simply by taking a 6-week course.
What keeps you motivated to teach digital skills to under-resourced communities?
Remembering how I grew up. I taught my parents everything related to tech, like using an ATM, calling people and listening to voicemail. My dad did attend a tech class, but it was in English so he didn’t learn much because he only spoke Spanish at that time. The lack of bilingual instructors is a hurdle for many, but EveryoneOn teaches in both Spanish and English.
My goal in teaching is to make sure people have fun while they’re learning. I’ve attended classes my whole life, and the most essential part of teaching a class is that it has to be fun and welcoming in order for people to learn. I want it to be interactive and to acknowledge participants and their small successes.
I get emails after every class from students thanking me for being patient with them and sharing how they didn’t know they could learn digital skills. It gives me joy to see people grow to help them learn tech for themselves and take their knowledge beyond the classroom to open new doors in their lives.
What is one thing you want people to know about the digital divide that you see in your work as an instructor?
There are a few things I see. The first is that the digital divide exists. People don’t have to be an instructor to help - we can pitch in with kindness and offer to show someone a skill. If we’re all hands on, we can close the divide.
Secondly, I see that many students haven’t placed a lot of value in the digital world and how beneficial it can be to their lives. Once they step into the classroom, they see there’s so much they can gain from the internet, having a computer and increasing their skill sets.
Lastly, it’s difficult to find information about internet access and trainings. There has to be outreach in the community to let people know about the digital world and all the opportunities that are available to them.