Photo of some Telmex Fellows removed due to copyright restrictions.
The Fellows Forum
Jonathan Varsanik
Brian Moore
Julianne Palazzo
& two anonymous
MIT students
Team Advisor:
Andrés Monroy‐Hernández
Telmex Contact:
Marco Escobedo
December 10, 2008
1
What is the fellows forum?
y Web and mobile technology based network
y Promotes academic and professional development
y Medium for exchanging ideas, finding career and
professional advice, and connecting with peers
y Gateway for students to pursue ambitions inside and
outside of school
the fellows forum
2
Context
y Telmex Fellows
y 10,000 students from low‐income areas with excellent
academic records
y Enrolled in colleges throughout Mexico
y Receive stipend, computer, and net access
y Huge potential to impact social development of their
communities
How do we help these students realize the value
that they can generate together?
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3
Solutions
Current Solution:
www.interactuando.org
y
Bias towards social
networking
y
Underutilized
y
Lack of focus
Image removed due to copyright restrictions.
Screenshot of http://www.interactuando.org.
the fellows forum
4
Needs Assessment
How do we refine the existing solution?
y
Conducted survey to inquire about internet use and
mobile use
y
Approx 1300 responses gathered
y
Audio conference
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5
Needs Assessment
y Results
y
Agreement on desire to have exclusivity
Would you be interes ted in
being part of an exclus ive
s ocial s ite for the community
F ellows T elmex?
Y es
No
Maybe
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Needs Assessment
y Results
y
Agreement on desire to have exclusivity
y
Academic and professional advice over social
connection
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7
Needs Assessment
y Results
y
Agreement on desire to have exclusivity
y
Academic and professional advice over social
connection
y
Preference for internet and SMS, but should be low cost
the fellows forum
8
Needs Assessment
y Results
y
Agreement on desire to have exclusivity
y
Academic and professional advice over social
connection
y
Preference for internet and SMS, but should be low cost
the fellows forum
9
Our Solution
y Online (and mobile) network to foster lasting
connections and motivation among students.
y Network has two main activities for the students:
– Posting and responding to
Challenges
• Open‐ended questions that are
chosen to promote discussion
– Sharing Goals
• Post career goals on personal
profile
• Get feedback from peers and
alumni
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10
System Layout
Web Page
Students
Database
SMS
Bridge
Alumni, Companies
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11
Usage scenario 1: Sharing Goals
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12
Usage Scenario II:
Challenges
Demo
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13
Sustainability
• Fellows
• Foundation
Sustainability
• Fellows
• Foundation
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14
Sustaining the Costs
y Operational Costs
y server management
y labor for website
y Student Costs
y local cost for SMS
y Generating Revenue
y advertising on website
y companies paying to be members of network
y companies post challenges
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Sustaining the Concept
FELLOWS:
y Appeal of “Challenges”
FOUNDATION:
y Website aesthetics and
functions align with
student preferences
y Transitioning:
independent committee to
handle the network
y Create exclusivity and
sense of community
y Building status and
reputation; furthering
scholarship
y Ensure fresh content
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16
Conclusions from our work
Developed a possible structure for networking:
y Encourage participation of group members
y Encourage planning for future
Testing Prototype…
Open questions:
y SMS component
y Incentivization
y Success?
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Future Outlook
y Metrics for Success
Usage: number and speed of responses / users
y Focus group feedback
y Attendance at other Telmex Foundation events
y
y Applicability
y
This can be used for any environment that calls for a
unique, productive way to connect its members
y
y
Universities
y
y
Especially those looking for academic/professional discussions
Programs within a university (i.e.: MITES program)
Scholarship/Fellowship Programs
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Acknowledgements
y Telmex Foundation
y Marco Escobedo
y MIT NextLab
y Course Intructors: Jhonatan Rotberg
Luis Sarmenta
y Course TA: Paul J.H. Yang
y Project Advisor: Andrés Monroy‐Hernández
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MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu
MAS.965
/ 6.976 / ES.S06 NextLab I: Designing Mobile Technologies for the Next Billion Users
��
Fall 2008
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