Emma May

Teaching Philosophy

As a critical informatics scholar, my teaching philosophy is informed by and shapes my research. I encourage students to explore the implications of information infrastructure in their everyday lives. In doing so, it is my hope that my students develop the skills to question and engage in principled dialogue around the technical aspects and the broader societal implications of technology throughout their academic and professional careers.

Student Quotes (From Course Evaluations)

“[Emma] encourages us to ask questions and asks students what they would like to learn in order to keep interest. She shows genuine care for students and provides valuable feedback. Emma May has been the most thought provoking and supportive professor I have had in all four years of my undergrad experience. She challenged all of her students to think outside of the box and provided guides on how to do so not only to be successful in her class but in classes beyond. She demonstrated how lessons in the classroom can be applied in the workforce, and directly contributed to my growth as a student. Emma May also demonstrated her expertise in the subject matter by providing a plethora of documents for a variety of subjects during the case study (semester long project), which demonstrates not only her extensive knowledge in the field but also her own personal passion for the subjects.”

“[Emma created] an open and trusting/positive conversation environment.” 

“It was fun working with [classmates] on the deliverables. I really enjoyed the in-class projects that we worked on (photo collages, a consulting SWOT analysis case, drawings) and it felt like a fun and unique way to engage with course concepts. Emma is also a good person. I can tell she has a strong moral and ethical compass.”

“I learned so much about the social power of technology and see the world differently.”

“The class discussions sparked meaningful conversations both in and outside the classroom. The topics felt incredibly relevant to real life, and inspired me to engage in thoughtful discussions with my peers and friends beyond class hours. What I appreciated most was how applicable the information was. It wasn’t just theoretical or confined to textbooks, but practical and deeply connected to real-world experiences.”

“I thank Professor May for bringing such elaborate vision into to use multimedia resources. It is a positive aspect of the course that the readings are supplemented with videos. It is noteworthy that she has an obvious desire to teach and to support the intellectual growth of her students.”

“I really liked how previously I did not have any interest in the course, after registering and going to classes, the course became more interesting and relevant in my life. I think that the round table discussions and the in-class activities pushed students to think creatively about the codependency of gender and technology. Professor May also answered students’ questions if anyone had any, with great detail and made the weekly assignments easy post lecture.”