Develop and offer Environmental Philosophy (PHIL 3400)

Environmental Philosophy has been on the books since before I began at City Tech, but has never been offered. There is more reason now than ever to offer this course, both because of the increasing prominence of environmental issues in politics and social discourse and also because this course is now a recommended offering in City Tech’s recently developed Environmental Studies Minor. I am currently negotiating an OER Fellowship for the 24-25 academic year to develop an OER section of this course. Additionally, I hope to open this course to more students by making it a 2000-level course (thus eliminating an unnecessary prerequisite). I may also develop it into an interdisciplinary course.

Redesign All Courses Around Assignments that Disincentivize the Use of Artificial Intelligence

Although I am not against harnessing generative artificial intelligence in some contexts, students are most likely to use generative AI to circumvent the kinds of thinking that philosophy classes prioritize. Even if students often get caught and are infrequently able to use AI in ways that generate top grades, assignments should ideally be designed in ways that maximize student learning without leaning too heavily on formal enforcement of academic integrity standards. Many of my classes already employ scaffolding of assignments, in-class assignments, and other elements designed to increase participation and discourage plagiarism. More recently I have begun developing assignments specifically intended to disincentivize the use of AI, specifically in Argument Papers for Philosophy of Law (see the explanation under Assignments). A major pedagogical goal is to redesign all of my courses in similar ways.

Develop an interdisciplinary course on Health and Race

Prof. Almond and I have talked about developing a co-taught course on health and race that could expose students to a variety of important concepts, philosophies, and data about the various intersections of these topics. I expect this would be an extremely popular class at City Tech, given the diverse make up of the student body and NYC in general. 

Teach at the Graduate Center

I have begun to explore opportunities to teach a Health Justice course at the Graduate Center. This topic is the subject of the book project in which I’m currently engaged, and I think I could be challenged in a significant way by preparing a course for graduate students on the topic. This could improve both my book and my teaching.