Why did we start Logic School?

Over the past few years at Logic Magazine, we’ve seen the growing demand for change in the tech industry. In 2020, Ben Tarnoff, Christa Hartsock, Dorothy Santos and Xiaowei Wang started dreaming up a school for tech workers of all kinds, whether software engineers or gig workers. Inspired by the work of numerous community organizations and worker movements, we believe there is a strong desire for a more critical, interdisciplinary approach to technology among tech workers. 

Top-down corporate policies are incapable of promoting real change within tech. Logic School’s curriculum gives tech workers the tools and knowledge to transform the industry from the bottom up. 

We believe good relations and community building are the foundation for change, which is why Logic School is a community built school. Logic School year 2 (2023) is led by members of the first Logic School cohort. 

OK, the nitty gritty:

Logic School runs for thirteen (13) weeks, from March 23 2023 to June 15 2023. It is entirely free, thanks to the support of the Omidyar Network! 

This is our second cohort, and we’re excited to have engaged participants. 

Before the first class, we’ll come together to practice our collective organizing by creating the school’s community guidelines and agreements for the thirteen weeks. We see collective learning as a form of organizing — it’s a kind of mental muscle, so this is the perfect way to start.

How should I expect to grow by the end of 13 weeks??

• Be comfortable discussing structural inequities, and if/when tech has deepened structural inequities with your community, co-workers and the broader public. 

• Gain hands-on experience in advocating for change in tech through working towards a Logic School final project.

• Have reflected on your theory of change, and who your community is.

• Feel confident in advocating and articulating (through writing or other forms) inequities in tech. 

• Be familiar and knowledgeable about a range of writing and research on tech and the tech industry, especially from the fields of critical race theory, economics and sociology.

• Be part of a supportive network and community in the tech industry who you can seek advice and encouragement from in the future, especially in discussing race/ethnicity/gender/sexuality/nationality/class across the industry’s internal and external practices.

• Be part of strengthening and building forms of collective action that will solidify into new practices and infrastructures throughout the industry.  

Oh, and there’s a final project (don’t panic):

The final project serves a few purposes. You’ll gain hands-on experience, strengthen fluency in talking about structural inequity, and explore different forms of advocacy and organizing. We will work with you to refine your concepts. And you’re not alone — all projects receive extensive mentorship from our Logic School network of guest lecturers and guest mentors. We understand that working on a final project takes time. If you anticipate any difficulties, be sure to flag them for us in the last question on the application form.

Below are some projects and movements that have inspired us!

• Creative media, storytelling, tools and technical interventions:

  • Storytelling projects using film, audio (like the Clarissa Redwine’s podcast series), or other interactive media.

  • A tool, like everest pipkin’s Image Scrubber, to easily blur out faces from protest photos.
    Creating a decolonial programming language, like Ramsey Nasser’s قلب.

  • Create a community technology project using storytelling, AR and community built platform.

  • Create empowering TikTok content around internet safety for young femmes. 

• Organizing:

  • Starting an ERG (employee resource group) within one’s workplace. 

  • Beginning to unionize your workplace.

  • Find and build allies in the workplace by starting a reading group.

  • Creating a “toolkit” of interview questions around DEI efforts. 

  • Sparking and stewarding internal company subcultures for organizing efforts.

• Starting/building upon alternative models:

  • Worker owned cooperatives at regional scales, like Driver’s Seat.

  • Contributing to open source, non-profit digital infrastructure models, like Shared Streets.

  • Support and create ways for gig workers to contest algorithmic management.

• Data visualization / activism projects:

  • Offering tech skills to a local organization or a national organization like the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project, or finding a collaborator to start a long-term data visualization/activism hybrid project with. 

  • Projects like Our Data Bodies and their Digital Defense Playbook.

  • Mapping the intricacies of digital health ecosystems and their ties to money. 

What are the 13 weeks like?

We will meet live each week for two (2) hours, with exception of April 27th, our school break. Each session is NOT recorded – we prioritize a commitment to showing up and being present for each other as a learning community. 

We use a “flipped classroom” model, where the live meeting is a time to talk, exchange ideas and participate in activities. What that means is:

• * We prioritize active learning. This means we will expect you to have read/listened to and synthesized materials before the live meeting session. There is no “written” homework due before the class.

• * Sessions feature different guest lecturers for the first half of class. Logic School participants are expected to help organize and moderate the conversation. 

• * During the second half of class, LS participants will be in conversation with each other about their projects, as well as assignments that help build towards a final project. Towards the end of the thirteen weeks, students will work on and finesse their final projects during class time.

What’s the admissions timeline?

• November 22 2022 - Admissions open 

• January 13 2023 - Admissions close

• January 23-30 - Interviews 

• February 9  - Cohort finalized

• March 23 2023 - Logic School meeting 1

Can I be a full time student?

We welcome all tech workers — whether you’re a project manager, warehouse worker, software engineer, ride share driver or micro-task worker. Applicants must not be full time K-12 or university students. 

Will the materials, syllabus, etc from Logic School be available?

Yes! Take a look here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LO-n1df0YagaylbJ5F8zOIDsuiewHTum?usp=sharing

Do I need to be located somewhere specific?

No. You can be located anywhere as Logic School is entirely online. However, in the spirit of self-care, we prioritize applicants whose time zones generally overlap with our meeting times. 

What time/day of the week will the live meeting be?

Thursday evenings 4-6pm Pacific/7-9 Eastern time. 

What if I have more questions?

Email us at school@logicmag.io.