optiMize, U-Ms Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship unit within LSA, specializing in positive impact entrepreneurship, is hiring an Instructional Aid for ALA 256 Innovator's Toolkit: Stewarding Technological Futures. This course is for scholars who want to do more than just innovate—they want to innovate with purpose. Students in the class will explore how to become responsible stewards of emerging technologies by moving beyond a "move fast and break things" mindset. Instead of designing for users, they will practice relational design: a process of designing with communities, understanding that we have a profound ethical responsibility to the Earth and to each other. By embracing a simple but powerful mantra, "pause, reflect, protect," they will begin to slow down, assess risk, and respect both people and the planet before we act. This approach pushes beyond "human-centered" to consider whole ecosystems, non-human life, and the reciprocal relationships that create a healthy world to lead transformative change.

The role of the Instructional Aid will be to attend each class, support with attendance and grading, and co-ideate on developing the curriculum.

The course is on Mondays and Wednesdays between 2:30-4pm. It is held in room 3254 in the Literature, Sciences, and the Arts building. Applicants must be available to attend the course weekly. 

A student who is interested in tech justice and how it applies to social innovation will be a great candidate for this position! All majors are encouraged to consider this opportunity.