About | People | Coward | PBAF 537
1. Research Project [50% of grade]
The primary output will be a group project (ideally 3-4 students per project) on a topic that is being addressed by the World Summit on the Information Society. The topics should be substantive issues in which ICT is being utilized to promote development, not matters related to the process of WSIS itself (e.g. civil society inclusion, though this can be addressed within your chosen topic). Products from the first phase of WSIS (Geneva, 2004) and in preparation for the final phase this fall are widely disseminated, so there is a wealth of information on which to draw -- scholarly articles, popular press, and online forums that have hosted debates on WSIS.
For your topic, you will:
i) Provide some history and context (why is the topic important?)
ii) Identify and analyze one or more specific initiatives that represent your topic. You should reference class readings in conducting your analysis. For example, if your topic is gender, you will want to analyze a project (could be comparison of a group of projects) that deal with women’s use of ICT for empowerment, employment, education or some other purpose. This will be the main section of your project.
iii) Research and follow debates or points of contention (online discussions will be particularly useful for this)
iv) Summarize the WSIS outcome on this topic and provide your own assessment of whether WSIS has been (or will be) important to the topic. For example, do you believe that WSIS will make a difference in gender and ICT issues? A class website will be used to collect and share information. Some starting points have already been entered, and as you find more resources you should upload them for others to use as well. Groups may also use the site to maintain your projects (especially useful since we only meet once per week).
Output:
You may write a traditional research paper, and/or you may elect to create a blog or wiki as the product of your efforts. A blog/wiki format would allow you the flexibility, for example, to comment on an online posting, especially since much of the discussion on WSIS will be occurring in real time over the course of the fall quarter. You may combine a research paper (e.g. for your analysis of specific ICT initiatives – section ii) with a wiki/blog (for the other sections). Or, you could include your assessment and encourage someone associated with the initiative/s you’ve analyzed to comment on your findings via the blog. The possibilities are endless!! In any case you will be expected to cover the four sections listed above.
October 17: Submit topic and group members
November 4: Interim report (in-class presentation and brief report)
December 9: In-class presentation
December 14: Final product due
2. Class Task [25% of grade]
Each student will be responsible for completing one of the following group or individual “tasks” during the term. Given the number of students and limited class sessions, we have created a menu of choices
a) Seminar Discussants: Total = 8 students
Two students each for four classes will be responsible for initiating the class discussion on the topic of the day. We envision a 15-20 minute presentation in which you synthesize the main issues, relate the readings to previous discussions or speakers, and state some questions that you believe are important and will provoke discussion. (You may find it useful to prepare material for students to ponder in advance of the class). We do not want just summaries of the readings since everyone will have completed these on their own. Rather, the emphasis is on drawing out and thinking critically about the more important points in the readings and presenting them in a way that will lead to a productive group discussion.
b) Video Conference: Total = 4-6 students
This task involves setting up a video conference (or two) with a class (or two) overseas. We have agreement in principle from two professors, one in India and one in the Philippines, who are teaching classes on a similar topic this term. For this task you will be responsible for organizing the video conference session: the topic, format (how will the time be used), readings (if any), and the technical details (including testing). We will provide you with an introduction to the two professors, and you can utilize the new videoconferencing facility established by the Jackson School Student Association (info here: http://www.css.washington.edu/content/?Videoconferencing).
In addition to setting up the conference you will write a brief (2 page) description of your contribution and reflections on this exercise.
c) Propose your own
Individually or in small groups, propose an activity that you would like to do for this assignment. Be imaginative!
d) Short analytical paper
For students not participating in one of the above activities, write a short paper (approx. 4-5 pages) on a topic of your choice. Your paper must incorporate several readings.
3. Class Participation [25% of grade]
Self-explanatory. In particular, we will be looking for comments that reflect thoughtful consideration of the readings, and engagement with and reflections on the speakers.
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