Workshop Overview
Welcome to the Ethics Introduction for Public Interest Technology workshop. This series provides a light-lift, reflective, and participatory space to explore the ethical dimensions of public interest technology with your fellow PiTech scholars.
Our Approach
Using the Values at Play framework as our central structure, we'll take a systematic approach to ethical perspective-building in technology. Discussions will be driven by themes in readings and your experiences as PiTech fellows.
Workshop Format
Our sessions are designed to be co-constitutive—we'll keep lecturing to a minimum while focusing on discussion and participation. There's no required homework or reading, though optional materials will be provided for those interested in deeper exploration.
Bring Your Work
We invite you to bring your own projects and experiences to be workshopped from an ethical perspective. We'll offer modes of reasoning that can be applied to your work, with volunteer opportunities for focused discussion.
The overarching question we seek to address is: What does it mean to build and evaluate technology in the public interest?
This workshop provides a valuable opportunity to gather with other fellows on a regular cadence, creating a community of practice around ethical technology development. We'll update readings and resources as the workshop progresses.
Workshop Schedule
Welcome & introductions. Why choose Public Interest Technology? What do you hope to get from this space? How does ethics relate to public interest? How is public interest tech different from "responsible" tech and private sector work?
✊🏿 No session on June 19 (Juneteenth)
Wednesday, June 18
Office Hours with Hauke
2:00 PM via Zoom
We will discuss advice on how to successfully run a PiTech project.
Previously, Hauke worked on a PiTech project with YAI focused on values such as privacy, autonomy, and dignity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Introduction to the Values at Play framework. How does technology embed values? We'll explore how design choices inherently reflect and promote particular values, whether intended or not.
🇺🇸 No session on July 3 (Independence Day)
Wednesday, July 2
Office Hours with Jae June
3:30 PM via Zoom
Workshop ideas on utilizing VAP Discovery and Definition. Join to discuss applying the Values at Play framework to your specific projects.
How can we identify the values embedded in systems and designs--whether intended or not? We'll explore the Discovery Heuristic, sources of values, and definition of abstract concepts in operational terms through hands-on activities (Discovery 1 and 2).
We'll wrap up Discovery Part 2 from our previous session and then provide an outlook on implementation. How can we translate identified values into design features? We'll introduce the VAP implementation heuristic.
Continuing from session 4, we will complete our coverage of the VAP implementation heuristic. How can we translate identified values into design features? We'll extend the implementation framework with methods for resolving value conflicts and provide comprehensive guidance on applying these concepts.
Apply the VAP implementation framework to your PiTech projects through hands-on activities and collaborative problem-solving. Work through implementation challenges with peer feedback and instructor guidance.
How do we know if our design actually reflects the values we care about? Introduction to verification techniques for evaluating whether your implementation successfully embodies the values you intended to prioritize. We'll explore methods for assessment and measurement.
Continuing verification techniques with advanced methods and case studies. Apply verification concepts to your PiTech projects. Workshop wrap-up: revisit your goals, reflect on your learning journey, and discuss next steps for applying Values at Play in your ongoing work.
Communication
Stay connected with classmates and instructors via Slack
