"So many of the works in the Man at Work Collection illustrate points I make in class," said Dr. Jennifer K. Alexander.
Dr. Alexander, a professor at the University of Minnesota, uses the collection catalog in her course "Technology in Western Civilization since 1750: From Waterwheels to the Web." This freshman-oriented course consists of about half engineering or sciences students; the remaining students come from humanities, social sciences, biology and business majors. Generally between 80 and 160 students enroll for this course per semester.
On the MSOE campus, Dr. Katherine Wikoff , associate professor in General Studies, tours the Man at Work collection with her humanities course "Humanities Selected Topics: Images of Man at Work."
"Work is the unifying theme of this," Dr. Wikoff said. "Using the imagery of work in film, literature, music and the Man at Work collection, we interpret the meaning of work in America and how the paradigm shifts over time." The course includes a guest lecture and tour by John Kopmeier, director of the art collection. She added that students benefit from seeing the collection in person and later use the Man at Work collection book during review and exams.