Mechanical Engineering and Racial Justice with Professor James Holly, Jr.
Professor James Holly Jr., addresses his MECHENG 499: Mechanical Engineering and Racial Justice in the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building on the North Campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday morning, March 22, 2023.
This is the second time the course, developed by Holly in 2021, has been offered. He typically begins with a key question, such as: “Is technology a barrier to, a tool for, or a non-factor for racial justice?” In this course, Holly wanted his students to use critical thinking in their responses.Traditional curricula often emphasize making, doing, and calculating—the tangible sides of engineering. Yet there isn’t always time and space for students to examine how their thoughts are being deliberately created and facilitated. Discussion questions are designed to give students the opportunity to both think collaboratively with others, as well as to speak up. Holly calls it “Think-Pair-Share,” where students first think of their own answers, pair up to discuss them, and then share with the whole classroom.
Photo: Brenda Ahearn/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing
Mechanical Engineering and Racial Justice with Professor James Holly, Jr.
Professor James Holly Jr., addresses his MECHENG 499: Mechanical Engineering and Racial Justice in the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Building on the North Campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on Wednesday morning, March 22, 2023.
This is the second time the course, developed by Holly in 2021, has been offered. He typically begins with a key question, such as: “Is technology a barrier to, a tool for, or a non-factor for racial justice?” In this course, Holly wanted his students to use critical thinking in their responses.Traditional curricula often emphasize making, doing, and calculating—the tangible sides of engineering. Yet there isn’t always time and space for students to examine how their thoughts are being deliberately created and facilitated. Discussion questions are designed to give students the opportunity to both think collaboratively with others, as well as to speak up. Holly calls it “Think-Pair-Share,” where students first think of their own answers, pair up to discuss them, and then share with the whole classroom.
Photo: Brenda Ahearn/University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Communications and Marketing