MARCH Updates

29.03.2018 | Feeling stuck on a project?

"Self-paced learning can be like the gym, only that you CAN do it from your sofa, or even at the park with the phone. Don't stop thinking of your work in progress while you’re doing something else, keep your files always open on the laptop, so at random times you can type in a little something for the project to keep the fire burning. If you get stuck, take a little “break” and do other smaller refinement tasks for the project...and then move back to the problem."

Makes sense, right? This is the advice from Kostas, one of our Slack Coaches. As you can see, they are wise, helpful and, since they graduated from Nanodegrees themselves, they know what you are going though.

Slack Coaches are yet another great resource that could help you progress with your projects!

Who are they? Where to find them? We covered these, and many other questions you might have in our brand new How to Use Slack Coaches page.

23.03.2018 | Our Google Site is still growing:

• [New] Webinars – since you liked our first two webinars so much, we will organise more! The topics, and speakers will vary, so stay tuned. In case you missed a Webinar, or simply would like to rewatch it again, you will be always able to find them on our new section here on Google Site.
• In this week's Student Spotlight meet Abbie Turner – young (22 yo) but powerful driving force behind the Student-Generated Swag competition. Following just a short exchange during an AMA Session, Abbie collaborated with a bunch of Scholarship friends (AKA: Squad) and in no time they brought to life the super-duper cool initiative:

Student-Generated Swag competition:

Get the chance to design Udacity T-shirt the others will be able to buy! 100% of the profits will go to a charity that goes by the name weCare Africa – an international non-profit charity committed to empowering children as catalysts for the sustainable eradication of poverty in rural sub-Saharan Africa. More details HERE.

19.03.2018 | Approaching with big steps – Udacity Intersect Viewing Parties!

Intersect is Udacity’s annual live conference which takes place in Mountain View, on March 27. This year’s theme is Lifelong Learning, and there are going to be some really cool speakers:

Some Silicon Valley Icons, from the Head of Data Policy at the World Economic Forum to a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, to the VP of Bertelsmann, to the Co-founder of the Malala Foundation, to many many more…

Can’t make it to California this month? Don’t worry, because Intersect is coming to you!

As we want all our students to join us in this amazing experience, the entire conference will be available to you on a free livestream! We are organising 3 Viewing Parties:

• Udacity Intersect: Berlin Viewing Party – Tue, March 27, 2018, 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM CEST
• Udacity Intersect: London Viewing Party – Tue, March 27, 2018, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM BST
• Udacity Intersect: Munich Viewing Party – Tue, March 27, 2018, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM CEST
• Udacity Intersect: Cairo Viewing Party – Tue, March 27, 2018, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM EET

Make sure you also check your local country Slack channel to see if there's a Viewing party being organised in your area!

13.03.2018 | We've selected the Student Leaders!

You should be able to recognise them by the special Leader Badge attached to their name on Slack (courtesy of @Asher & @nicolas).

These Student Leaders are a resource for you, and we encourage you to reach out to them with questions that you have. The Leaders represent their country Slack channel, but also are active on their track-related channels, and the general Scholarship channels.

• If you have a question about the programme, the course, or a specific lesson or project, just check with your Leader.
• If you have an interesting story to tell, they will make sure that we hear it.
• If you have an idea for how to better use a Slack channel, they are the ones to talk to.

Here is the complete list of Student Leaders together with the Slack channels they will be active in.

09.03.2018 | Thanks everyone who took part with us in the `#PressforProgress` campaign! You rock! But don’t forget – we should Press for Progress and for equality not just one day a year, but every. single. day. Let’s make this world a better place

• To celebrate this day, Udacity’s official Medium blog has featured the fantastic Famous Women App created by the Ladies from the ABND #women-tech-makers channel. Most of them haven't had any coding experience, and with some amazing teamwork they managed to create this gem of an App! This deserves some serious R.E.S.P.E.C.T! Read how the app was born here.
• We also highlighted some of this app’s co-creators in this week’s *Student Spotlight*. Meet some of the _Ladies Who Code_ here.
• Finally, we've compiled the pictures that you've submitted to us into a quick slideshow below. Please take a moment to check it out :D

06.03.2018 | International Women’s Day is approaching (March 8), so we’ll dedicate this week to the Ladies!

• Make sure to check out The Women Techmakers Global Event Series Celebrating International Women's Day in your area.
• In Student Spotlight we will feature (exceptionally this time) a group of women from the Scholarship community who deserve a special attention for their great work and for being such an amazing example for all the tech ladies out there. So stay tuned!
• Every day during this week each Community Manager will post their pledge to commit to pressing for progress: to challenge the status quo and to press for positive change for women. We encourage you to do the same and share your pledge in our Facebook group and other Social Media. Magda and Marat already did that!