Personal Inquiries

DLINQ Interns take on a Personal Inquiry every session (Fall, Spring, Summer). The goal is for the Interns to explore their own interests pertaining to Digital Fluency and Literacy, while making their work visible so that others may learn from their efforts. The Inquiry process helps the DLINQ Interns build valuable project and time management skills, while also building proficiency with the digital tools and services that support Middlebury’s academic activity.

Interns may choose to focus their Inquiry in one or more of these categories of topics:

An exploration of a digital object or service.

In this category Interns build proficiency with a digital tool or service by building and implementing a learning strategy. Some explorations have included applications in the Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), Procreate, Canva, and MiddCreate.

The intersection of the digital and a discipline or practice.

In this category Interns explore the applied use of digital tools and services. Examples include Privacy in an Invasive World, The Digital Cyborg: Algorithmically Created Art, and Growing Into Our Role as Digital Citizens.

The use of a digital method.

In this category Interns explore the digitally supported techniques used to collect and analyze data.  Examples include A Dab of Data Visualization,  Language in the Digital Sphere, and How to Increase Attendance in Online Student Organization Events.

More examples of Intern Personal Inquiries are available in the reflections at the bottom of this page.

Cycle of Inquiry

Personal Inquiries follow a twelve week cycle. Interns are encouraged to maintain or exceed the pace of the cycle.

One-Page Proposal

The One Page Proposal should be started during the DLINQ Intern’s first week of employment. The OPP answers the following questions:

• What is the question that is being explored? What is the challenge that is being addressed?
• Why is this important?
• Who is this for?
• Who is working on the project?
• How will the work be done?
• When will the work be done?

Discovery

Interns gather information during the first five weeks of the term. During this time they initiate conversations with mentors, gather media pertaining to their topic, and identify skills they need to develop.

Pitch

Interns present their ideas as a pitch to members of DLINQ during the third week. The pitch includes the answers to the first three question in the OPP.

• What is the question that is being explored? What is the challenge that is being addressed?
• Why is this important?
• Who is this for?

Design

Interns should start designing the results of their inquiries by the sixth week. They should be working towards a high-fidelity prototype that allows others to learn from the work they have done.

In-Progress Presentation

By the eighth week Interns should be ready to present their work to date to DLINQ and Partners. the presentation includes:

• Restate the question that is being explored or the challenge being addressed.
• What has been done so far.
• What still needs to be done.
• What challenges still need to be addressed.

Develop

By the ninth week Interns should be building and iterating.

Publish

During the twelfth week Interns will be publishing the results of their inquiry, including the following:

• A presentation for DLINQ and Partners.
• The launch of the website, application or event.
• A reflection post on the DLINQ site that invites others to explore the topic of their inquiry.
  • Reflections are for a public audience.
  • Should include links to references and terms that may be unfamiliar to a general audience.
  • Should include images and/or screenshots where appropriate.
  • Should include clear step-by-step instructions where appropriate.
  • Text should be about 2000 words or equivalent media.