May 2010 - change - Mailing Lists

A few spots open in the ICTD master's program in CO
by Ed Lazowska 29 May '10

29 May '10

The good folks at Boulder have opened up a few additional places in their Masters program. If you know of any great students who are interested at this late date, have them contact Revi Sterling, below. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Revi Sterling <revi(a)wildwood.cs.colorado.edu> Date: Wed, May 26, 2010 at 7:04 AM Subject: a few spots open in the ICTD master's program in CO To: lazowska(a)cs.washington.edu Hello Ed – it was great to see you and hear you last week! I am opening up a few more spots in our upcoming ICTD master’s program… however, at this late date, I thought you might know of some students interested in ICTD but who did not get into their desired PhD/other program and are considering a more applied approach to ICTD. After all, I have you to thank for bringing Heather to the doctoral program; now I just need to build up a really good masters degree program… If you do know of potential fits in your network, would you please pass this flier and program description along? I have also pinged the CHANGE group members. Thank you very much and happy summer! Revi

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thoughts on games for change
by Mark Chen 28 May '10

28 May '10

Hey all, Thanks for the discussion on games yesterday. I thought I'd write a follow-up email of things that have been on my mind since then... 1. Not all gamers are the same Average gamer? Woman in her thirties. But that's because of the casual game revolution. That said, not all gamers are the same, obviously. So, when talking about gamers, I'd like to see people be specific about which players and focus on actual practice around specific gaming genres. 2. Not all games are the same Yet all games (in my book) have in place certain constraints that force players to make interesting decisions based on limited resources or abilities. This is why multilearn isn't a game but more a platform. 3. Some ways to think about games for change - educate about current issues (content knowledge) traditional educational "games" have focused on content knowledge training... I don't agree that they've been proven to be successful. In fact, I find there's a dearth of good solid research to show their efficacy. One problem is that many of the software titles aim at conveying certain bits of info that is completely devoid of authentic context, ignoring decades of research that shows people learn in situated moments of activity (making the whole idea of transfer problematic). - simulate systems to foster conceptual change (algorithmic training--getting people to think more like scientists) the ludic argument: gamers learn how to recognize patterns (cf. Koster's Theory of Fun for Game Design) and exploit game mechanics for game goals - role-play hypothetical future settings (Jane McGonigal's stuff) the narrative argument: gamers are motivated by stories and like to explore many possible futures. Jim Gee (of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy fame) and David Shaffer (How Computer Games Help Children Learn) make this argument coming from a sociocultural framing and identity building model. - add game-like elements to other activities this is the earning points with your credit card model. Another take on it is chorewars.com where families can set up quests in the form of doing dishes, doing homework, etc. Yet another example (tho maybe making a stretch here) is slashdot's rating system for comments. Urgent Evoke includes giving out points in certain attributes when people contribute to the imagined, emergent story. I don't have any good answers and, supposedly, I'm a games scholar. I do agree, however, that more and more people are playing digital games, so it's potentially very fruitful to think about these issues. thanks, mark -- Mark Chen | @mcdanger | markdangerchen.net PhC | Games Ethnographer | LIFE Center | UW Education This was sent from a PC with a full-size keyboard; misspellings and brevity are entirely my fault.

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other ICTD-related programs
by Yaw Anokwa 28 May '10

28 May '10

From: emma brunskill <emma(a)eecs.berkeley.edu> Subject: [Ict4dev] other ICTD-related programs To: ict4dev(a)csail.mit.edu One of the list members asked me if there are other academic courses on ICTD. Here's a list I came across with some other courses: http://ictlogy.net/wiki/index.php?title=ICT4D_Offline_Courses

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Slides for today, was Re: Check out these games!
by Mark Chen 27 May '10

27 May '10

Hey all, It'll be pretty low-key. Attached are the slides we'll be using to get our conversation started. mark On Wed, May 26, 2010 at 7:08 PM, Eleanor O'Rourke < eorourke(a)cs.washington.edu> wrote: > Hi everyone, > > Just a reminder to take a look at these three games that will be discussed > during the Change seminar tomorrow: > > http://www.worldwithoutoil.org/ > http://www.superstructgame.org/ > http://www.urgentevoke.com/ > > > See you all tomorrow, > Nell > > > > On May 25, 2010, at 2:35 PM, Eleanor O'Rourke wrote: > > This Thursday at Change, Mark Chen and Katie Van Horne will be leading a > discussion about how online games can be used to address global issues like > hunger, poverty, and homelessness. > > This discussion will be based around a talk by Jane McGonigal of the > Institute for the Future given during TED2010. They will begin by showing > the brief video of her talk (view online<http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.html>) > and will follow up with additional details about the ideas discussed. They > will then lead a discussion focused around some of the more contentious > issues brought up by this talk. > > In order to facilitate discussion, Mark and Katie asked that you all try to > take a look at the three online games McGonigal mentions in her talk: > > - http://www.worldwithoutoil.org/ > - http://www.superstructgame.org/ > - http://www.urgentevoke.com/ > > Please take a look! > > *What:* Mark Chen and Katie Van Horne on Games to Save the World > *When:* Thursday, May 27th at noon > *Where:* Paul Allen Center, Room 203 > > > > _______________________________________________ > change mailing list > change(a)change.washington.edu > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > > -- Mark Chen | @mcdanger | markdangerchen.net PhC | Games Ethnographer | LIFE Center | UW Education This was sent from a PC with a full-size keyboard; misspellings and brevity are entirely my fault.

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Fwd: Imagining the Future: Technology and Development
by Gaetano Borriello 27 May '10

27 May '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: The Rockefeller Foundation <Media(a)rockfound.org> Date: Thu, May 27, 2010 at 10:54 AM Subject: Imagining the Future: Technology and Development Having trouble viewing this? Try the web version<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/e/ntyqh/irhidyikl/> [image: The Rockefeller Foundation]<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/r> *Imagining the Future: Technology and International Development* There is little doubt that technology will continue to drive change across the developing world. However, uncertainty exists about the role of technological advances in alleviating poverty. To uncover the range of possibilities that may emerge, novel approaches like scenario planning are essential. “*Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development*," a new report, features four very different—yet very plausible—visions of how technology could profoundly alter how we address some of the most pressing challenges in the developing world. Scenario planning—an innovative method of creating narratives about the future—is a powerful tool for assisting organizations in considering how complex problems could evolve and be solved over the long term. The scenario planning process helps to identify unique opportunities, rehearse important decisions by simulating their broader implications, and illuminate previously unexplored areas of intersection. To learn more, read *the PDF of the report*<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/y>, published by the *Rockefeller Foundation*<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/j>and *Global Business Network*<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/t> *.* ** The Rockefeller Foundation: Our Current Work<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/i> Scenarios for the Future of Technology and International Development (PDF) <http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/d> Foresight for Smart Globalization: Accelerating & Enhancing Pro-Poor Development Opportunities <http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/h> Global eHealth at the Foundation<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/k> www.rockefellerfoundation.org<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/u> [image: www.rockefellerfoundation.org]<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/o> www.rockefellerfoundation.org<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/l/ntyqh/irhidyikl/b> | Unsubscribe<http://rockefellerfoundation.createsend5.com/t/r/u/ntyqh/irhidyikl/> | Forward this Email to a Friend<http://rockefellerfoundation.forwardtomyfriend.com/r/irhidyikl/61C39924/nty…>

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Mark Chen and Katie Van Horne on Games to Save the World
by Eleanor O'Rourke 26 May '10

26 May '10

This Thursday at Change, Mark Chen and Katie Van Horne will be leading a discussion about how online games can be used to address global issues like hunger, poverty, and homelessness. This discussion will be based around a talk by Jane McGonigal of the Institute for the Future given during TED2010. They will begin by showing the brief video of her talk (view online) and will follow up with additional details about the ideas discussed. They will then lead a discussion focused around some of the more contentious issues brought up by this talk. In order to facilitate discussion, Mark and Katie asked that you all try to take a look at the three online games McGonigal mentions in her talk: http://www.worldwithoutoil.org/ http://www.superstructgame.org/ http://www.urgentevoke.com/ Please take a look! What: Mark Chen and Katie Van Horne on Games to Save the World When: Thursday, May 27th at noon Where: Paul Allen Center, Room 203

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Open Spots in Colorado's ICTD Master's Program
by Yaw Anokwa 25 May '10

25 May '10

attached is a flyer describing the program and you can find out more at http://www.colorado.edu/atlas/newatlas/masters. if you have questions email revi directly... ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Revi Sterling <revi(a)wildwood.cs.colorado.edu> Hello Washington ICTD friends – I am opening up a few more spots in our upcoming initial year of our master’s program in ICTD – a two year program with a mandatory semester-long paid (by us) fieldwork requirement (in case you need a semester of labor/M+E/etc.). However, at this late date, it’s a little more difficult to recruit, and I thought your networks might offer some opportunities for interns you currently have, or students who did not get into their desired PhD/other program and are considering a more practical approach to ICTD. While I have two wonderful incoming ICTD PhD students, including Heather Underwood from UW, I want to get the best class I can for our inaugural master’s cohort. I’d be grateful if you’d consider passing this along to potentially interested parties, and I will follow up with them with a larger prospectus, including program philosophy, course lists, and the practicum. Thank you very much, Revi

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Grant available for a mobile application
by Melody Clark 24 May '10

24 May '10

Here is the link with more info on submitting an LOI/EOI: http://www.startupafrica.com/2010/05/grant-available-for-mobile-application… -- Melody Clark MLIS Candidate 2010 - University of Washington Gates Foundation Global Libraries Graduate Research Assistant mobile: 206.303.7910 personal email: melody.r.clark(a)gmail.com or melclark(a)uw.edu

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UNICEF Developer for RapidSMS
by Yaw Anokwa 22 May '10

22 May '10

UNICEF is seeking a developer to customize the rapidSMS framework (www.rapidsms.org) for a prototype deployment in an emergency context. The development would be based on a usecase of a pelican case deployed to an emergency. The usecase would be defined in collaboration with UNICEF - but would involve mapping features based on GPS messages received from phone handsets. Timeframe for this work is < 1 month (need to have prototypes ready by 3rd week June). The developer will work closely with UNICEF's Innovation Unit - work can be done remotely. To apply send code sample/link to repo + cover letter + cv to unicef.jobs(a)gmail.com with subject line: "INNOVATION UNIT / BRN / DEV". Applications close Friday 28 May. http://www.scribd.com/doc/31794268/UNICEF-Innovation-Developer-Job-listing

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Fwd: USAID Kenya Systems Engineer Java Programmer Position
by Yaw Anokwa 22 May '10

22 May '10

the open data kit team has worked closely with ampath over the last year or so and they are doing incredible work. i think last i checked they had more than 100k hiv patients in their system and they are expanding into primary care for 2 million people. i believe this is the reason why they are hiring... ------------------------------------- The Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) is a project under the auspices of Moi University and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital whose aim is to provide sustainable efforts in HIV prevention and primary health care. Besides the MTRH site, AMPATH also runs satellite clinics at 24 outreach sites in Rift Valley, Nyanza & Western provinces. Applications are invited from qualified candidates for the following vacant position in AMPATH Program. See http://naombakazi.blogspot.com/2010/05/usaid-kenya-systems-engineer-java.ht… for more.

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