“Facilitating the Google Cloud Study Jams: My Personal Journey”

I’m Deepak Sreeram, GDSC Lead of SVR Engineering College, Nandyal. Not only the GDSC Lead but also the facilitator of this Google Cloud Study Jams.

Google Cloud Study Jams is a program designed to help students learn about Google Cloud Platform. The program is free to join and offers a variety of courses and labs that can be completed at your own pace.

This year, the Google Cloud Study Jams happened in two phases: the first phase was in September, and the second phase was in October. For my convenience, I chose the Second phase and joined the orientation of Google Cloud Study Jams on September 21, 2023.

As both Lead and Facilitator for my college, I am excited to share that we have successfully completed tier-1 of the Google Cloud Study Jams program. We had 180 students participate in the program and 150+ completed the courses and labs. We also had a number of online sessions where on an average 80–100 people joined in.

The success of our Google Cloud Study Jams program can be attributed to the following factors:

• Promotion: We promoted the program to students and faculty through a variety of channels, including email, social media, and flyers. We also made sure to attend student events and talk to students about the program. After initiating the program promotion at our university, we received an overwhelming response, with nearly 150+ registrations exceeding the available 150 slots. Fortunately, the GDSC India stepped in and expanded the program capacity to 10,000 slots all over India, and there we got a chance to enroll all the registered people in the program, and finally we got 180 correct registrations.

Our Core team played a tremendous role in program promotion at the university and on social media. The team worked hard to enroll participants, help them fill out the application, and redeem the pathways to their Google Cloud Skill Boost account.

• Supportive and collaborative environment: We created a supportive and collaborative environment where students could learn from each other. We held regular online sessions where students could ask questions and get help from the core team.
• Resources: We provided students with the resources they needed to succeed. This included access to the Google Cloud Platform, as well as course materials and labs. We also offered one-on-one support to students who needed help. Provided labs after college hours and students willingly stayed back till 6.30pm dedicated to complete the campaign. The core team has been really helpful and the way they helped students is one of the reasons for this successful achievement.
• Patience and encouragement: We were patient and encouraging with students as they learned about Google Cloud Platform. We knew that it could be a challenging program, but we were always there to support students and help them succeed.
• Celebration of successes: We celebrated successes along the way. This helped to keep students motivated and engaged in the program. We held regular check-ins where students could share their progress and celebrate their successes.

Challenges in Hosting Google Cloud Study Jams as a Facilitator

In response to the limited tech awareness and development skills among students at our Tier III college, I took the initiative to establish a robust tech community. The goal was to raise awareness about emerging technologies and industry programs, ultimately empowering students to cultivate their careers in the IT sector. I started Google Developer Student Clubs at SVR Engineering College, the first ever tech community in our college.

On October 7th, we conducted the first in-person event with 144 attendees on “What is Google Cloud and How to Get Started” We delved into the fundamental concepts of cloud computing and explored how it is transforming various industries and organizations. Additionally, we provided a concise overview of navigating the GCP platform.

We hosted a second session on Google Cloud Study Jam 2023 using Bevy, with 110 attendees participating in a week-long bootcamp from October 22nd to 27th! This Session exposed students to the power of cloud computing and inspired them to leverage its capabilities to develop innovative solutions for the public. This session helped students to become more familiar with the cloud and how to use it to build applications. The presenter covered a variety of topics, including cloud infrastructure, cloud services, and cloud application development.

The students were also given the opportunity to ask questions and get hands-on experience with the cloud.

Success stories of the Google Cloud Study Jams

Participants in GCSJ actively completed the pathways of Google Cloud Computing Foundations and Gen AI arcade games to obtain skills in one of the emerging technologies, Google Cloud.

We established a collaborative community group where participants actively support one another in navigating challenges during hands-on labs. My core team and I assisted all participants with their significant problems during our weekly Q&A sessions. These sessions prioritize student interaction and effective doubt resolution.

My personal Growth and Development with the Campaign

As a naturally introverted individual, I was initially hesitant to take on the role of community lead at GDSC. However, through hands-on experience and dedication, I have overcome my self-doubt and developed leadership qualities. I have successfully navigated the challenges of my facilitatorship in the campaign, and I am proud of the progress I have made.

Google Cloud Study Jams was a transformative experience that allowed me to develop my technical skills, enhance my leadership abilities, and advance my career. It was a game-changer that propelled me forward in my profession.

My personal experience with the program

The Google Cloud Study Jams program has been a highly rewarding experience for me.As a facilitator, I have had the opportunity to help students learn about cloud computing and Google Cloud, as well as develop their skills in the cloud.. I have also grown and developed personally, gaining leadership and communication skills.

I would like to thank Google for providing this valuable program and for their support of GDSC. I would also like to thank the core team for their dedication and hardwork. I am excited to see what the future holds for GDSC and for the students who participated in the Google Cloud Study Jams program.

Here are some tips for running a successful Google Cloud Study Jams:

• Promote the program to students and faculty.
• Create a supportive and collaborative environment.
• Provide students with the resources they need to succeed.
• Be patient and encouraging.
• Celebrate successes along the way.

In addition to the above, here are some other things that helped us to run a successful Google Cloud Study Jams:

• We created a schedule that was flexible and accommodating for students.
• We provided students with access to a variety of resources, including course materials, labs, and one-on-one support.
• We held regular check-ins with students to monitor their progress and provide feedback.
• We celebrated successes along the way to keep students motivated and engaged.

We are confident that the Google Cloud Study Jams program has been a valuable experience for our students. We have seen students develop new skills, build confidence, and connect with other students who are interested in cloud computing. We are excited to continue offering this program in the future and to see what our students accomplish.

Thank you for reading!

Here are some additional details about the program:

• The program was offered over a period of 10 weeks.
• The program was free to attend.
• The program culminated in a final project, where students used their new skills to build a cloud-based application.

We were very pleased with the success of the Google Cloud Study Jams program. We were able to reach a large number of students and help them learn about cloud computing. We also received very positive feedback from the students who participated in the program.