{"id":345102,"date":"2021-09-28T00:51:08","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T21:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/microsoft-course-teaches-the-non-tech-skills-you-missed-in-school\/"},"modified":"2021-09-28T00:51:08","modified_gmt":"2021-09-27T21:51:08","slug":"microsoft-course-teaches-the-non-tech-skills-you-missed-in-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/microsoft-course-teaches-the-non-tech-skills-you-missed-in-school\/","title":{"rendered":"#Microsoft course teaches the non-tech skills you missed in school"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3befe9777cf\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3befe9777cf\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/microsoft-course-teaches-the-non-tech-skills-you-missed-in-school\/#Why_non-tech_skills_matter\" >Why non-tech skills matter<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/microsoft-course-teaches-the-non-tech-skills-you-missed-in-school\/#Putting_inclusiveness_at_the_forefront\" >Putting inclusiveness at the forefront<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#Microsoft course teaches the non-tech skills you missed in school<\/strong>&#8221;<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image?fit=796%2C417&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2021%2F09%2FMicrosoftTeams-image-1-1536x864-1.jpg&amp;signature=48fa7d9de8b95e953e3e1875db67cc26\" \/><\/p>\n<div>It\u2019s no secret the tech industry often doesn\u2019t fully represent the people it attempts to serve. Tech companies can often be homogenous, and many of those who leave the industry can end up feeling excluded by workplace cultures that don\u2019t feel inclusive.<\/p>\n<p>And yet, paradoxically, there are more spots open for technical jobs than there are people to fill them. It\u2019s a clear sign the tech industry can do more to ensure the success of underrepresented groups.<\/p>\n<p>Microsoft\u2018s new <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.microsoft.com\/en-us\/learn\/paths\/tech-resilience\/\">Growth and Resilience in Tech Toolkit<\/a>, a free 6-hour course available on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.microsoft.com\/en-us\/learn\/\">Microsoft Learn<\/a>, aims to do just that. I was able to speak with Amanda Silver, Microsoft\u2019s CVP of Product for Developer Tools, about the new curriculum.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_non-tech_skills_matter\"><\/span>Why non-tech skills matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The free curriculum\u2019s goal is to help anyone learning computer <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"5\" title=\"Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">science<\/a> or working in the field develop the subtler skills essential to navigating their careers. Rather than improving technical skills, the program is focused on improving \u2018confidence, resilience, and belonging\u2019 to help students succeed. It\u2019s also designed to help mentors and managers provide a more welcoming environment to ensure success at work.<\/p>\n<p>Silver says right now \u201cas an example, 80% of minority students drop their intro to computer science courses \u2014 80%. And black and African-American students make up only 6% of computer science graduates in the US. So it\u2019s a big challenge.\u201d This is compounded by the fact that when underrepresented groups graduate, \u201cthey can actually see this workplace culture that doesn\u2019t match their background or experience. A lot of people leave and these are issues of equity and access and inclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, Microsoft began a <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/reboot-representation\/how-dell-microsoft-are-investing-in-higher-education-15e3dec79607\">pilot program<\/a> in partnership with Mount Holyoke College with the idea of supporting essential non-technical skills such as \u201cbelongingness, emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility, and how to receive and give feedback that\u2019s inclusive.\u201d The program began with over 1,000 students \u2014 more than 40% who identified as both women and people of color \u2014 and 200 Microsoft employees.<\/p>\n<p>The current course is organized around three principles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Recognizing Discomfort: Working in tech requires you to constantly learn new skills and be pushed out of your comfort zone. It\u2019s important to be able to recognize when you\u2019re uncomfortable with a task and know how to overcome these obstacles \u2014 including asking an expert for help.<\/li>\n<li>Strategizing Solutions: When you\u2019re faced with a difficult problem, you won\u2019t always know where to start. This part of the course is aimed at helping you strategize solutions, but also to help you be aware of your own emotional state when tackling a difficult project.<\/li>\n<li>Pivot and Persist: This part of the program is aimed at helping you learn to react and overcome unexpected setbacks rather than giving up or getting down on yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>While building skills like \u201cconfidence\u201d and \u201cresilience\u201d may sound like fluffy corporate buzzwords, Microsoft\u2019s research suggests participants found the program invaluable. Of the original 1,200+ people who completed the curriculum, \u201c97% claimed the program had a profound impact teaching them skills they can im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ly in school and life,\u201d according to Microsoft\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.microsoft.com\/blog\/2021\/09\/14\/microsoft-launching-tech-resilience-curriculum-to-foster-a-more-inclusive-future\/\">announcement<\/a>. In speaking with Silver, she says students who\u2019ve gone through the experience \u201chave found it to be life-changing and one of the best courses or kind of training they\u2019ve ever gone through.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Putting_inclusiveness_at_the_forefront\"><\/span>Putting inclusiveness at the forefront<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>I think most of us working in the tech industry can relate to the fact that there are some skills that you just don\u2019t learn in school. People skills, organizational skills, problem-tackling skills, and more are often just as essential as becoming fluent in a programming language. Developing these skills can often be more difficult for underrepresented groups who don\u2019t feel as welcomed in the industry from the get-go.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s something Amanda Silver is familiar with herself. As an undergraduate, she\u2019d experienced gatekeeping in the industry, which was even less welcoming towards women. \u201cSomeone tried to convince me that I should go into a different field rather than go into computer science,\u201d says Silver.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, she joined Microsoft in 2001 and has since been a major force in its shift towards embracing open source, including helping develop the immensely popular Visual Studio Code and make the acquisition of Xamarin and GitHub possible.<\/p>\n<p>The gatekeeping Silver experienced helped fuel her passion to \u201cusher in a new and diverse generation of tech workers and recognizing that you need not only technical skills, but also non-tech skills to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where Microsoft Learn\u2019s new course comes in. It\u2019s just one step towards making it easier for a diverse group of computer scientists to be on a stronger, more equitable footing when entering the tech industry. You can join the Growth and Resilience course on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.microsoft.com\/en-us\/learn\/paths\/tech-resilience\/\">Microsoft Learn<\/a> now.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, that\u2019s just one part of the equation, and hopefully, the industry can adapt to become more inclusive as well. For her part, after being told she should leave computer science, Silver says \u201clooking back on it 20 years later, I think I\u2019ve done okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Amanda Silver will be speaking at TNW Conference 2021, taking place September 30th and October 1st. She\u2019ll be joined by 150 other experts who will share their latest insights from the world of business and tech.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><i>Did you know we have a <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>letter all about consumer tech? 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Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/microsoft-tech-resilience-amanda-silver\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Microsoft course teaches the non-tech skills you missed in school&#8221; It\u2019s no secret the tech industry often doesn\u2019t fully represent the people it attempts to serve. Tech companies can often be homogenous, and many of those who leave the industry can end up feeling excluded by workplace cultures that don\u2019t feel inclusive. And yet, paradoxically,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345103,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/plugged?filter_last=1&fit=1280,640&url=https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/09\/MicrosoftTeams-image-1-1536x864-1.jpg&signature=8ba8ac28c9fec2a2815d27d799382d4f","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-345102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345102\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/345103"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}