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./

Sarah Lohnes Watulak

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

It was a decent course idea, but I felt as though we were beating around the bush, and covering similar topics every day. However, I think the discussions were still interesting and it wasn't an over the top work load so I wasn't drowning in work.

Both Professor Watulak and Collier were very passionate about the material and knew a great deal on the topic. There is a 3 smaller writing pieces that add up to one larger one at the end but it is not too hard an honestly interesting.