🗨 What to do
Essential Digital Skills: Navigating Slack & Google Search
Overview
Slack is a professional communication and collaboration tool widely used across industries, especially in tech.
Search engines (such as Google Search) are powerful tools that IT professionals rely on to quickly find solutions and troubleshoot issues.
This step aims to help you:
- Become familiar with Slack so you can use it effectively in MigraCode’s courses and also in a professional setting
- Enhance self-sufficiency in finding solutions using search engines
Part 1: Mastering Slack Communication
Getting Started with Slack
Slack organizes conversations into channels and direct messages (DMs). Think of it as having different rooms for different topics, plus private conversations.
Complete this tutorial first: Slack for Beginners
Channels vs Direct Messages
Channels (public or private) are for group discussions and team updates. Direct Messages are for private conversations between individuals or small groups.
Seeing Who’s in Channels
- Click the channel name → “View channel details” → “Members” tab
- Green dot (●) shows who’s currently active
- Hover over usernames to see their status (Active, Away, Do Not Disturb), view their profile or send them a direct message
Message Reactions and Threading
Reactions are quick responses using emojis (hover over message → click emoji icon). Use ✅ for acknowledgment (confirming you have seen the message), ❤️ for appreciation, 🙌 for “Nice job.”
Threads keep conversations organized. Click “Reply in thread” to respond without cluttering the main channel. Use threads for follow-up questions and detailed discussions. It is also an easy and organised way to manage multiple people wanting to respond to the same initial question.
Key rule: Always acknowledge direct questions, even with just an emoji reaction.
Part 2: Mastering Search Engines
Google Search for IT Professionals
Effective searching is crucial for troubleshooting and learning new technologies.
Key techniques:
- Use specific keywords:
"HTTP 500 error troubleshooting"not"website broken" - Exact phrases in quotes:
"cannot connect to database" - Exclude terms:
Python tutorial -snake - Site-specific:
site:stackoverflow.com JavaScript arrays - Recent results: Tools → Past year
Reliable sources: Official documentation, Stack Overflow, GitHub, MDN Web Docs
Practice: Try searching for “CSS Grid layout documentation” and “JavaScript const vs let difference”
Prove Your Understanding
Task: Complete this challenge to show you’ve mastered these skills:
Slack Challenge: Post a message in the ITD channel
- Stating something that you`ve learnt in ITD (this step or another step)
- React with an emoji to at least 2 other students’ posts (of introductions or about what they learnt)
- Responding to a student in a thread is a plus
E.g. your message could look like this:
Hi everyone! I'm [Your Name] 👋
One thing I learned it ITD is ....
Looking forward to learning with you all!
✅ Acceptance
Step 1 Acceptance Criteria
To successfully complete Step 1 (Essential Digital Skills: Navigating Slack & Google Search), make sure you meet all the following criteria:
✅ Slack Usage
- You posted a message in the
#itdSlack channel - You reacted to at least 2 other students’ messages using appropriate emojis (e.g. ✅, ❤️, 🙌)
- Your message includes something you’ve learned in ITD so far
- Bonus: You replied to someone in a thread (helps keep conversations clean and organised)
✅ Search Skills (this will not be evaluated, it is just for you!)
- You practiced using advanced search techniques, such as:
- Using quotation marks for exact matches
- Using
site:for targeted results - Filtering by date (e.g., “Past year”)
- You located and read from at least one reliable technical source (e.g. MDN, Stack Overflow, official docs)
💡 Your contributions should reflect respectful communication, clear writing, and thoughtful engagement.
📩 Step 1: How to show us
How to Submit Step 1
To complete this step, you only need to engage in Slack. Here’s what to do:
✅ What to Do
Post a message in the
#itdSlack channel:- Say hello and share one thing you’ve learned in ITD so far
React to at least 2 other students’ messages with emojis like:
- ✅ for acknowledgment
- ❤️ for appreciation
- 🙌 for encouragement
(Optional but encouraged): Reply to someone’s message in a thread
Once you’ve done this, you’re done with Step 1. No need to upload or send anything — your Slack activity is your submission!
How to get help
When you have a question, ask it.
💡MigraCode is a Community
Remember, MigraCode is a community of adults sharing skills. We are all here to help each other, and learn. You are meant to ask questions at MigraCode.
When you see someone else has a question, help them if you can.
When you have questions about coursework, ask in on
More common issues
I don't have a computer
Here are some ways MigraCode solved this problem in the past:Use a computer in a local library.
Borrow a computer from a friend or a relative if you can.
Use one of our laptops while at our office at Carrer del Rec 27 in Barcelona. We do not have enough laptops to borrow to all of the prospective students, therefore we can only lend you a laptop once you are enrolled. If you are accepted as a students you can borrow a laptop for the entirety of the bootcamp- which you can take home. Let us know you need one at barcelona@migracode.org or text us on the MigraCode Slack.