Author: Ravyn Whitley

You are rebuilding ITP to encourage some important aspect to learning in the future. You have limitless resources and spaces. What kind of layout would you imagine? Furniture and appliances? What kind of technology capabilities would be offered? Share sketches and describe your decisions on the class blog.

While I do believe ITP works well I think there are areas that could be improved. Most issues are a result of too many students and lack of space. I think the lack of space is the biggest issue, so if ITP could expand to two floors it would help out a lot. I’ve also noticed from my time here, that people are at various levels in terms of programming and physical computing, what might it look like if there was an accelerated track for those who are already fluent in programming, so that the people who are knew to it can have more time to focus on concepts. Even if there was an option to take Phys Comp and ICM in different semesters so that the student isn’t overwhelmed by all of the knowledge.

I’m still in the research phase. I’m considering focusing on the prison system in one state. After research, I plan to meet with professors at NYU who are conducting research on jails to see what insights they may have. I’d like to meet with a researcher from the NYU law department and the NYU Psychology department. I know it will also be worthwhile to interview a few inmates or someone who is working for inmates’ rights.

Research–>Interviews–>Prototype–>User Testing?

I found this organization and think it might be useful to contact them for more info.

http://www.law.nyu.edu/studentorganizations/prisonersrightsandeducationproject

Also plan on contacting someone from this event:

http://blogs.law.nyu.edu/docket/pilc/oct-14-beyond-criminal-justice-reform-conversations-on-police-and-prison-abolition/26279/

http://www.law.nyu.edu/areasofstudy/criminal

I’m deeply upset by the number of people who are incarcerated in the United States, especially since many of those people are minorities, and many of those minorities are black.

Problem: Mass incarcerated individuals have little to no access to higher educational resources beyond vocational and training certificates.

Solution: Bring higher education to those who are mass incarcerated.

While there are a few opportunities for incarcerated individuals to obtain limited education: vocational courses, trade certificates, associates degrees, licensures, etc., I doubt this is enough to make them viable candidates at succeeding at life once let out.

Provide incarcerated individuals with necessary life tools: education on mental health, finance skills, job skills, etc.

Design question:

How to teach the mass incarcerated? Implement programs to pursue higher education in prison.

Education provides more opportunities.

Constraints:

Also consider the quality of education that would be available to those incarcerated. Like I’d rather not have it if it’s not good. Is it possible for colleges and universities to partner with local or state prisons?

Lack of funding limits the resources available to those who are incarcerated. I wonder if there is a way to bring higher education opportunities to those who are incarcerated and if so, to what capacity. I want those who are incarcerated to have a better outlook on life and

empower those who are marginalized and forgotten by giving them a chance to receive education.

Impact:

Not just preparing students for jobs but teaching them to think creatively and convert smart ideas into tools and services that benefit a wide range of communities. —> is it possible to do the same with those who are incarcerated? HOW?

Skills & deep thinking

Less of an avenue towards employment and more as a life long commitment to personal growth and inquiry. —> do the same for incarcerated

Thinking of how to improve society rather than one own’s life in regards to education.

References:

The 13th

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/26/america-has-locked-up-so-many-black-people-it-has-warped-our-sense-of-reality/

http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/10/is-entrepreneurialism-at-odds-with-deep-thinking/503825/?utm_content=bufferb0db9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/10/20/higher-education-should-be-a-public-good-not-a-private-commodity/?postshare=221477185207253&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.1a884eb4a227

http://ecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=jcshesa

For this assignment, I made a quick video showing how to make a smoothie. I chose not to include audio. I created two surveys on Google Forms to evaluate the effectiveness of my video as a teaching tool.

 

Hello all! I’m Ravyn, 23 year old, second-year graduate student at ITP. I’m from Texas and really close to my family. I have three older brothers and two younger sisters. I love a lot of things: Beyoncé, Kanye, books, music, television shows, art, technology, design, and cooking to name a few. I am interested in studying topics related to race and gender.

Before ITP, I studied Strategic Communication and Studio Art in undergrad at TCU, a small, private, liberal arts college in Fort Worth, Texas. During my college career I interned/worked for a few non-profits. I worked all through college (and again through grad school lol) and I feel I learned just as much outside the classroom in my internships. I also had the chance to study abroad my junior year of college and feel I learned the most during that time.

What is the value of pursuing A Higher Education? / Why attend ITP? What to learn?

Messy answer:

I see the ability to pursue higher education being a privilege that not a lot of people have access to. It is something that is expected, maybe even ingrained into people at a young age. I think it’s valuable in that it allows you to experience new ways of doing something, thinking, learning and people. However, I think it always comes down to accessibility. If you really wanted to learn something you could do so by teaching yourself but you would have to have access to such tools to teach yourself. And even in doing so, I think there are things you miss out on.

For me, a masters degree was expected. Before I even graduated undergrad, family members and friends were asking me about grad school. I felt the pressure to attend grad school, but even without the pressure from others I knew a masters degree was in my path. I’m lucky that I found a program that caters to my interests and forces me to excel and fail. ITP still scares but I think the fear is also motivational, it drives me to keep going.

In terms of what I hope to learn, idk, I can only think broadly, as ITP has proved to be a mecca of discovery. Discovering things I’ve never heard of. It’s a foreign environment that I’m still adjusting to.

I think a higher education degree is necessary to make a comfortable living. I think its possible to go through life without pursuing a higher education. But I believe a higher education degree leads to reaching a certain status or having more opportunities. It’s a door opener.

While I do believe that there are ways to learn outside the classroom: internships, apprenticeships, online courses, traveling, etc., I think attending school gives one access to tools, networks, and opportunities.