DISCO TECH (Teaching, Energy, Community, Hope) Projects
Hosted by the Digital Accessible Futures (DAF) Lab at the University of Michigan, DISCO TECH (Teaching, Energy, Community, Hope) Projects empower students of color and disabled students to create joyful, collective visions of technologies where they are the center, rather than an afterthought or add-on, through curriculum development, research, and instruction.
DISCO TECH gathers data about the impact of teaching race, gender, and disability to budding designers, programmers, and creators enrolled in digital studies courses, then shares those findings in both public and academic venues for the broadest impact. DISCO TECH will also foster new collaborations with community organizations, develop new undergraduate courses, and host a symposium on current issues in disability justice and digital access.
DISCO Curriculum Research Study
The Digital Accessible Futures Lab and the XR-DEI Project at the University of Michigan are collaborating on a new research study to explore how undergraduate students learn about race, gender, sexuality, and disability within the classroom.
The DISCO Curriculum Research Study will assess the impact of humanistic teaching approaches on student learning about digital technology, race, gender, sexuality, disability, and liberation. The study team will administer surveys and conduct interviews with students enrolled in Digital Studies courses at the University of Michigan.
This study aims to answer the following questions:
How are undergraduate students learning about social justice in the classroom, both inside and outside of their Digital Studies courses?
In what ways do students’ unique identities and individual experiences influence their understanding of race, gender, sexuality, and disability?
How can college educators enhance their teaching about the impact of digital technology on race, gender, sexuality, and disability?
How can new and emerging technology (e.g., VR/XR) be used as a teaching tool to facilitate learning about race, gender, sexuality, and disability?
How can including discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the classroom inspire students to foster inclusivity and accessibility in their future careers?
How can we inspire the next generation of technologists and policymakers to engage in cultural critique about digital technology, identity, and inequality?
How can the field of digital studies address curricular gaps that exist in professional schools that train our future designers, programmers, and digital creators?
The study will culminate in a publicly accessible report aimed at helping college educators integrate discussions of identity into their classrooms.
Upcoming Projects
Microgrants for long-term community partnerships with disability-led organizations
A new undergraduate course about current issues in disability justice and digital access
A multi-day symposium about current issues in disability justice and digital access