this sounds like a very relevant talk from our friends at the ischool. i've added it to the change calendar. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Madeline Sanabria <mms2@u.washington.edu> Date: Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 12:06 Subject: [dub] iSchool Research Conversations - 'Evaluating outcomes and impacts of public access ICTs', Speaker: Shaun Pather *FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED. PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN DRINK.* WHEN: Monday, January 25, 2010, 12:00-1:20pm WHERE: Mary Gates Hall 420 TITLE :  Evaluating outcomes and impacts of public access ICTs Over the years business researchers have been challenged in their quest to develop evaluation models and instruments to evaluate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) effectiveness.  In the current era in which ICT4D (ICT for Development) has been firmly entrenched in the social and development agenda, researchers have been confronted with the same challenge. In this presentation Dr. Pather will reflect on the Information Systems evaluation literature; discuss an investigation, in which we designed a study to evaluate socio economic outcomes of a national programme of community based telecentres in South Africa; and lastly examine some of the challenges faced in the ICT4D evaluation arena with a view to frame critical areas for this research agenda. QUESTIONS 1.  Which extant theories and models are adaptable to the ICT4D evaluation context? 2.   Are causal paradigms for evaluation useful in this context? 3.  What are the most suitable approaches and methods, including those developed within programme-evaluation research paradigms, to evaluate outcomes and impacts facilitated through ICTs in a developmental context? OBJECTIVES The objective of this presentation is to : *       provide an overview of the context and environment of ICT4D in a (semi) developing country, using South Africa as an example; *       further the discourse on ICT4D evaluation, and seek directions for the refinement and progress of my research agenda. *       harness the wealth of experience of i-Schoolers in this area, drawing especially on work being done in similar projects (e.g. global impact study, landscape study, us impact study) and thus entrench the basis for future North-South research collaboration. BIO Shaun Pather is an Associate Professor of Informatics in the Faculty of Informatics & Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa and a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Information School, University of Washington (2009-2010). Shaun has over twenty years of experience in the public and private education and training environment and joined academe as a Lecturer of Information Systems in 1996.   His post graduate qualifications include a Doctoral degree in Information Technology, and a Masters degree in Public Administration.  His research has focused on the evaluation of Information Systems (IS) effectiveness, particularly within e-Commerce, e-Government and other web enabled contexts. He has developed models for evaluating e-Commerce success, and also has an interest in the application of e-Service Quality evaluation.  Shaun has also extended his interest in IS evaluation into practical community engagement and Information Society issues, centered around societal upliftment facilitated by ICT's.   He has published several articles, conference papers, book chapters and technical reports on both the former and latter. In pursuance of his research goals, Shaun has led several projects with partners i!  n both the private and public sector. Shaun also serves on several conference committees, and the editorial boards of the Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation (as editor), Journal of Community Informatics and the International Journal of ICT Research and Development in Africa.  Shaun has a rich history of association with civic, NGOs and the public sector in South Africa and is a board member of the Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA).