Steinkuehler’s video is surrounding the topic of connecting learning and gaming. She explains that teenage boys tend to be disinterested in school yet are the biggest audience of video games. She learned that a “follow-their-interest” model is most effective and advocates that education material aligns with the goals and interests of the students learning it. On the NPR podcast, experts got together to discuss a bias in technology. They explained that algorithims are sorting people by various groups like gender, race, class, etc. and this leads into a conversation about context. How do we judge and decide good algorithims from the bad? This is where Algorithims of Oppression comes in. The message there is that algorithims are inherently racist and sexist, making it very important that something gets done to change that. Degand’s research looks at the “social success skills” that are needed to achieve social success. This is then connected to the difference of how different races are portrayed in the media and the issues that come with misrepresentation.
When I was in highschool, I was in a robotics club where we built, wired, and coded a robot from scratch to compete across California. In order to do the building, we had to fundraise and get sponsors. My focus in the club was on electrical work and raising funds. Often, when our robot needed fixing during the competetion, people were surprised to see me, a Mexican girl. When it came to presenting our project to potential sponsors, people were surprised to see me, a Mexican girl. I know that in the media, Mexican people are often portrayed in a negative light, and especially immigrants. I know that my existence in those spaces challenged people’s perceptions and I am grateful to be able to do so.
How can we approach these topics in the classroom? When and where?
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