Hello SIGCIS members,

Here’s an odd request: you might want to consider not coming to the latest SIGCIS workshop on the Sunday of the SHOT meeting this year in Portland Maine. Specifically, Atsushi Akera (himself a former acting leader of our group and winner of our book prize) has asked me to forward the announcement below. SIGCIS is having a full day workshop.

Now, what Atsushi wants you to know and I thus feel honor bound to tell you, is that he has organized an entirely separate Sunday morning event for the Prometheans SIG on the theme of “How Should We Teach the History of Technology?” The other organizers, Ann Johnson and Jonathan Coppersmith, are also active SIGCIS members. They are hoping that you come to it. Their lineup of panelists looks very interesting, though hopefully not so interesting as to drag everyone away from our cutting edge workshop on “Old Ideas.” So this gives you another good reason to stay in Portland on Sunday, and of course you would be free in the afternoon to attend the second half our workshop even if you opt to consider pedagogical matters in the morning.

(Our own workshop page is www.sigcis.org/workshop13 although the provisional program is not up yet. I’m travelling with my family this week, but should get it posted soon).

Tom

The Prometheans

SHOT’s Engineering SIG

Atsushi Akera (Rensselaer), Chair                                                                                                                              

Ann Johnson (University of South Carolina), Chair Elect

Jonathan Coopersmith (Texas A&M), Outreach Coordinator

A Prometheans (Engineering) SIG Sponsored Session

Sunday, 13 October 2013

9am – 12 noon

@ The SHOT Annual Meeting
Portland, Maine

How Should We Teach the History of Technology?

A Roundtable on Education

Final Program

9am               Welcome & Opening Remarks
Atsushi Akera (Rensselaer)
Roundtable Organizer & Prometheans SIG Chair

915am          Roundtable Discussion I
Voids, Opportunities, Audience

Opening Statements

                      Starting Points and Trajectories of STS/History of Technology and What It Excludes
Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga (MIT)

Selling the History of Technology to History Majors
Arwen Mohun (University of Delaware)

Graduate Seminars that Reach Out to Science and Engineering Students
Matthew Wisnioski (Virginia Tech)

Preparing Students for the Emerging Innovation Economy
Lars Heide (Copenhagen Business School)

The History of Innovations and Transitions Inspiring New Engineering Practices: Why History Matters
Ulrik Jørgensen (Aalborg University)

Perspectives on Environmental Ethics & Sustainability
Sara Pritchard (Cornell University)

1030am        (break)

1045am        Panel Discussion II
Pedagogic Challenges

                      Opening Statements

Technology and the History of Technology in General Education (Gen Ed) Programs
Heidi Voskuhl (Harvard University)

Inspiring Students at a Small Liberal Arts College
William Storey (Millsaps College)

Rigor in the Humanities at an Engineering School
Atsushi Akera (Rensselaer)

Student Engagement with Normativity
Ann Johnson (University of South Carolina)

Challenges and Rewards of Integrating History of Technology with Technical Projects
Robert Martello (Olin College)