Imagining a Social Justice Technical Communication “Dream” Course

Abstract

Technical and professional communication (TPC) has taken a more proactive approach to social justice initiatives with the reintroduction of the “turn.” Based on the authors’ teaching and research experience with a range of students and across diverse institutional contexts, this paper outlines four key arenas that enrich and support commitments to social justice and equity. Focusing on areas including user experience (UX) & design, crisis and risk communication, surveillance technologies, and pedagogies, policies, and assessment, this “dream course” aims to show how social justice can be embedded into TPC course design, content, activities, assignments, and assessments throughout the process of building, facilitating, and evaluating courses.