Questioning Technology In this course, we will critically approach and think deeply about the ways in which we shape, and are shaped by digital technologies of the 21st century. What does society give up for the benefits of a given technology? Who is harmed and who benefits from the technology? What are the unexpected impacts of the technology? Informed by texts such as Weapons of Math Destruction, Design Justice, and Race After Technology, we will explore contexts such as surveillance, privacy, exploitative tech, discriminatory design, and AI. We’ll also explore speculative futures as a framework for imagining a different future with technology. (This course is not open to students who have already taken FYSE 1040.)  Dr. Sarah Lohnes Watulak is the Director of Digital Pedagogy and Learning in the Office of Digital Learning and Inquiry at Middlebury.  Dr. Amy Collier is the Associate Provost for Digital Learning and head of the Office of Digital Learning and Inquiry at Middlebury.

Questioning Technology In this course, we will critically approach and think deeply about the ways in which we shape, and are shaped by digital technologies of the 21st century.  What does society give up for the benefits of a given technology? Who is harmed and who benefits from the technology? What are the unexpected impacts of the technology? Informed by texts such as Weapons of Math Destruction, Automating Inequality, and Race After Technology, we will explore contexts such as surveillance, privacy, exploitative tech, discriminatory design, and AI. We’ll also explore speculative futures as a framework for imagining a different future with technology.

Inclusive Design and Design Justice in Practice Inclusive design is intentional, participatory, and iterative design work that supports a range of human diversity, with the goal of counteracting exclusionary, racist, or exploitative designs that pervade our society. In this course we will learn about inclusive design and design justice through a project-based approach in which students put inclusive design principles into practice in their own project. These inclusive design principles and processes can be broadly applied across industries and design contexts, including but not limited to architectural, technology/UX design, and curriculum design. Our work will be informed by texts including Design Justice: Community-Led Practices to Build the Worlds We Need; Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code; and What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World. (Honors Pass/Fail) Dr. Amy Collier is the Associate Provost for Digital Learning at Middlebury, leading the Office of Digital Learning (DLINQ) and working as part of the Office of the Provost team. /Dr. Sarah Lohnes Watulak is the Director of Digital Pedagogy and Media for DLINQ at Middlebury./

Amy Collier

Reviews and ratings for Amy Collier at Middlebury College.Amy Collier teaches Questioning Technology, Inclusive Design & Design Just and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Amy Collier good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I really enjoyed this course. It was really eye-opening and I learned a lot about the ethics of technology. My favorite part of the course was when we learn about surveillance. We were given ample time to complete assignments. The speculative story that we were assigned to write was really fun to write as allowed me to be creative!

Both Professor LW and Collier were super nice and enthusiastic every class, which was very appreciated. There was a lot of reading and participation in the discussions is an important part of your end grade. There is also a bigger paper/assignment at the end of the month along with assignments building up to it, so it is a good amount of work but would not say incredibly challenging. 