To download the IYS DigiSpark app:
Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/iys-digispark/id6736342756?platform=iphone
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nb9938c906ae.app&pcampaignid=web_share
Integral Youth Services has launched a groundbreaking app designed to empower the Klamath Community.
Now available on the Apple and Android app stores, the IYS DigiSpark is an innovative educational tool designed to equip Oregonians (and even beyond) with the skills and knowledge necessary to be prepared and successful in a digital workforce.
The app offers career exploration, skill development, financial literacy, resume building, interview preparation and much more, with even more planned to come with future updates.
“The biggest part of this app is that it allows the broader public to interact and engage with our learning services. IYS DigiSpark is essentially a virtual version of our Tech Spark Lab,” Hampton said.
What is IYS DigiSpark?
The IYS DigiSpark app is an innovative educational app designed to equip Oregon youth with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workforce. As classes are taught in person at our physical Spark Lab, this app will continue to offer up to date and comprehensive curriculums that covers essential career readiness topics, including:
- Career Exploration
- Skill Development
- Resume Building
- Interview Preparation
- Financial Literacy
- Networking
- Internships and Job Search
With engaging content, interactive features, and real-world applications, IYS DigiSpark empowers students to take charge of their career journeys and achieve their professional goals. Whether they’re exploring their first job or planning for a long-term career, this app provides the support and resources they need to succeed.
The IYS DigiSpark app is user-friendly and segmented by a courses tap, an event tap, a to-do list, a community section and a quiz section to test proficiencies on a given course.
“The quizzes we are hoping to have aligned with real-life examinations so that an individual can get real-world certifications and be able to bring those to a potential employer,” Hampton said.
The app has an AI Sidekick described as being a “personal mentor in your pocket” that allows users to ask questions on any given subject and receive informed and accurate responses.
How we got here:
Over the summer, IYS staff conducted a resource assessment utilizing clients, partners, and outskirting communities to act as data points in fueling a new digital literacy program. The goal was to serve a broader audience and make the subject of digital learning fun and accessible in a rural setting. From this assessment, two projects emerged:
The first project, a community hub where knowledge meets innovation. IYS’ Tech Spark Lab hosts seminars on the above-listed curriculums including culinary and computer coding all with the vision to transform lives and help families thrive while working to foster a vibrant community of learners, thinkers and creators.
The second project, a digital platform for those who aren’t able to come to courses physically. The IYS DigiSpark project is a bridge for learners to engage and get the materials for free without being present. That way if transportation, times, or resources are a barrier, there is still capacity to gain insight from beyond.
In addition to creating this app, IYS is hopeful about placing laptops within library branches that will give additional access to homeless and poverty struck communities to access career specific resources, including materials on the app.
Made possible through a grant received from Microsoft’s TechSpark grant program which was issued to one nonprofit in every state to help bridge the digital divide in rural communities and provide access to technology and career education, Hampton said that IYS had used the funds for programs such as a Minecraft computer coding camp for youth and digital literacy classes (now found on the app), but after attending a retreat with other grant recipients, learned that there was “more we could be doing”.
“We had listened to what other fellows were doing, such as the Family Coding Nights in Buffalo, New York, and development of apps with AI integrations, and I thought it was something we could make happen here in Klamath,” Hampton said.
Returning to Klamath Falls motivated, Hampton set to work researching app development and looked to other nonprofit organizations for inspiration on design. She worked closely with members of Microsoft and partnering workforce development programs while developing the app.
“We’re excited to see it take off and how it’s going to do,” IYS executive director Craig Schuhmann said. “IYS Digispark takes us into a whole new era and makes our outreach more accessible and broadens the lives we can impact.”
A 501©3 organization, IYS is dedicated to helping at-risk youth develop life skills and realize their full potential. Since its founding in 1988, IYS has provided support to over 55,000 youth across Klamath and Lake County with programs focused on nutrition, life skills, education, workforce development, and housing.
