[JUS 494] Mapping Inequality
The first week of semester is almost passed and I survived the first week class of JUS 494: Science, Technology, and Inequality. I got 30 students filled all seats in my class (max 30) and still have some students emailed me asking for an override. We’ll see whether there’s any student who drop next week or not.
The first week is all about introduction. Introduction to the class, to the syllabus, to the professor, to the students, to all. Professor-students’ introduction part was quite fun. I got each of students in the class spoken about who she/he is, what she/he likes, and why she/he is in my class — all in less than one minute :). I got a couple students who love dancing — so perhaps we can have some dance-with-the-star-sessions. I also have one who loves sleeping, that’s pretty much like me! Some students were honest in saying that they are in my class because they need it to graduate. Some said because the class sounds very interesting. Some others said because it fits their schedules (unlike students in Indonesia or in private US schools, most ASU students work either part-time or full-time). A couple students took my class because they had me before. The funniest reason was from two students who said that they took this course because my rating at ratemyprofessors.com is pretty good. Hahaha.
And then I delivered my first lecture on Thursday… introduction to inequality issue followed by class discussion — very good one for the first week!
Please find below a slideshow from that particular lecture. Click the second button from the left for ‘full screen’ viewing.
5 Comments so far
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Thanks for sharing your slideshow. You make my old social-democratic heart beat faster.
Two marginal remarks if you allow me:
- I want to move to Japan ( where life expectancy - for males also?- is 82, while it’s only 79 for males over here)
- to my surprise I noticed Turkey is and Russia isn’t part of Europe (Although I’m the first to admit boundaries are arbitrary, I reckon Turkey culturally and geographically is less European than Russia - at least the part West of the Ural- is).
mer: you’re most welcome. yes, Japan is the best when it comes to life expectancy, but they you’ll face see more people who get stressed out there… Dutch are among the stress-free societies, I think… well, both of them are Eurasian, right? so, they could be divided into two colors… but i guess it’s not practical to do so, statistically.
By colson on 09.01.08 1:20 am
“great prof. teaching very well. can explain complicated abstract concepts in simple words. and she is hot too…woohoo!”
I didn’t know that you are so famous… did anybody try to seduce you? 
Too bad my life is already occupied with science and technology. I don’t think I have time to visit your lectures…
haha Mer, nice feedback on the rate my teacher site
mer: haha.. no, i am not that famous :p seduce me? well, even if some did, i am tough
the class is exactly for those who are occupied with S&T … hehe…. come and visit Arizona, it’s beautiful out here... 
By Ajin on 09.01.08 5:48 am
Beautiful maps of inequality, I got lost most of the time, something wrong with my brain (mapping).
Perhaps I should behave like cows, always stand north-south, following the flow of magnet earth.
What about inequality among universities both in the first world, second, third or fourth world.
I thought univ like Harvard (investment, endowment etc) getting billion from this inequality
mer: i’m sorry the maps didn’t work for you. they worked for my students, making them easier to see that our world is so unequal and it’s their job to at least not contributing for more inequalities, and if they can, alleviating them. of course there’re inequalities everywhere, even among universities in the US. you’re welcome to make those maps. tons of maps can be created, i just showed some basic maps in my class
By neon on 09.02.08 7:18 pm
Oh curses! ratemyprofessor[dot]com takes a loooong time to open. I didn’t know such site exists. Do you think it was founded by students who have too much time on their hands? Or by jealous professors?
Anyhoo, this course sounds interesting. Your slide show is also very helpful. Gosh, the last time I took some 400 level course was almost 6 years ago at ISU’s School of Journalism and Communication. It was [I think] about journalism in third world countries. And no, my dear professor was not so techie, therefor no cool slide shows nor power point. Nevertheless, it was quite fun!
mer: for some unknown reasons, the very day you tried to clik ratemyprofessors.com, the site was down! do you have magical power or what? ;p whoever founded it…. apparently north american students really rate their professors…!
By Diny on 09.03.08 8:03 pm
mba aku dah pulang ke jakarta. susah nih buka buka ginian. lama. gimana ya biar bisa dapet slideshow nya. as if i take online lectures gt..hehe
By mulia on 09.19.08 10:57 pm
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