Systems and Society Blog Post: Week 2


Blog Post Assignment

Part 1: Write a 100/150-word 'positionality' statement. 

 Task 1. To write you positionality statement, you can use the “Wheel of Power & Privilege” (below) to scaffold your thoughts and reflections. See also, Catherine D’Ignazio’s positionality statement (below) as example. However, it is entirely up to you what you include or exclude from this statement to describe who you are.

Example:



My Positionality

Annie Lambert is a post graduate HCI student at Newcastle University. Before moving to Newcastle, she worked 3 years in South Korea and 2 years in Las Vegas upon completing her Undergraduate from BYU. From a white middle class background, she primarily grew up in Phoenix Arizona but moved to Redmond Washington where she was exposed to more cultures and diverse perspectives. Upon expanding her connections with people she become more self aware of her privilege. 


She also had the opportunity and privilege of traveling to many countries in her youth. 


Task 2. Consider the following questions. 

  • Were there aspects of yourself that you were comfortable or uncomfortable to write about? Were there aspect that you thought were not appropriate to share professionally? Why? 

  • How your social locations & identities impact what you know about the world and experiences?  

  • How does this impact you approach design and research problems, including choices around what problems to solve, and how these might be solved? 


Make some notes for yourself. These will become useful as you progress with your report.


Part 2: Consider values  driving your design project or area of interest. 

Remember that Reflection and Reflexivity in RRI is about the values of designers, scientists but also institutions, organizations and funders. This includes developing understanding and awareness of (i) the ways value-systems of designers/organizations might be in conflict with those of social groups/societies; and (ii) the ways designers can make assumptions about what might be good for users. 

Task 1. The values driving your design project.

  • List: What are the value-system driving your design project? Or chosen area of interest? For this, you might consider the values we explore earlier this week in the group activity on Tuesday. Values might include - user's control over their data, transparency, privacy, inclusion, etc.
  • Prioritize: Are there some values that are more important for you than others? Why?  
  • Is your design project or area of interest reflecting well the values that matter to you? Why? Why not? 

Write 200-words articulating your reflections. 

3) Share any reflections or question that doing this activity sparked for you as a comment in the discussion below. 



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