More than ever, technology is shaping, and being shaped by, public policy. This has an enormous impact, particularly for marginalized communities. The artificial intelligence and computer algorithms increasingly driving government and industry decisions—from the allocation of social services to hiring—are reflecting and reinforcing social biases towards women, people of color, and disabled people, among others. Global climate change is having a disproportionately negative impact on low- and middle-income countries, and on historically disadvantaged communities of color in the United States. Communities are increasingly concerned they are not benefiting from government research funding, and that the regulation of emerging technologies is inadequate.
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The interconnectedness of technology, policy, and equality raises crucial questions for scientists, technologists, and leaders in public policy, civil society, and industry. How can technology be built, implemented, and governed more equitably? How can the concerns of marginalized communities be integrated better into technology and related policies? How should community knowledge and concerns be integrated with technical expertise and scientific evidence in the development of public policies?
This course aims to help learners understand how inequity and injustice can become embedded in technology, science, and associated policies, and how this can be addressed.
Combining real-world cases with scholarly insights, this course introduces learners to these challenges and offers tools for navigating them. You will learn about:
- The landscape of technology policymaking
- How technology, and related policies both reflect and reinforce social values, biases and politics
- The power and limitations of technology in solving social problems
- New ways to think about “experts” and “publics”
- The politics of innovation policy
The course is designed for people from diverse professional, advocacy, and academic backgrounds. No scientific, technical, or policy background is necessary.
Syllabus
WEEK 1
How do Values Shape Technology?
In this week first week of the course on How do values Shape Technology?, you'll be learning about social values, political priorities, and how the impacts of values, biases and assumptions shape design. You can expect a few graded quizzes and discussion prompts.
WEEK 2
Technology and Equity
In this week on Technology and Equity, you'll be learning about traditional goals and values, hiding bias and inequities in language, and hidden assumptions and embedded inequalities in technology design and development. You can also expect two graded quizzes and a discussion prompt throughout the week.
WEEK 3
Technology Policy and Equity
In this week on Technology Policy and Equity, you'll learn about how social values and political priorities shape policy, institutions and patents, science and technology policy and equity, and hiding bias and inequalities in technology regulation. You can expect one graded quiz, three ungraded quizzes and a discussion prompt in this week.
WEEK 4
Rethinking Expertise
In this week on Rethinking Expertise, you'll be learning about expertise and public mistrust, and expanding expertise. In addition to two graded quizzes, you will get the chance to apply what you're learning in your first short peer reviewed assignment.
WEEK 5
Rethinking Design
In this week on Rethinking Design, you'll be learning about community based design and a framework for responsible innovation. In addition to a graded quiz and two discussion prompts, you'll continue applying what you're learning in another short peer reviewed assignment at the end of the week.
WEEK 6
Rethinking Policy and Governance
In this final week of the course on Rethinking Policy and Governance, you'll learn about rethinking technology policy for equity, democratic engagement, and change in governance of technology. After completing a graded quiz and a discussion prompt, this week and the course will conclude with a final peer reviewed assignment.
