January 22, 2016
On January 28-29th, 2016, TASCHA and our partners at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS), Myanmar Book Aid and Preservation Foundation (MBAPF), and Enlightened Myanmar Research (EMR) will hold an Information Symposium in Yangon, Myanmar.
December 17, 2015
As millions of people come online across the globe through mobile devices, mobile information literacy is vital for those who have leapfrogged from traditional media to digital devices that provide instant access to information. Mobile information literacy is necessary to help people learn how to find and evaluate the quality and credibility of information obtained…
December 14, 2015
The Maker movement evolved out of Punk and DIY culture and has grown at a rapid pace over the past six years, spurred by the creation of Make Magazine and the Maker Faire. A manifesto has been published (Hatch, 2014) and ‘how-to’ guides on making and building makerspaces abound (Makerspace.com, 2012; Bagley, 2014; Kemp, 2013; Lang, 2013). Touted as havens for techies, artists, and entrepreneurs, makerspaces are being developed at an astounding rate, both domestically and internationally. Makerspaces are community-operated facilities that provide access to the tools of production, usually wood shops, metal shops, and digital fabrication technology.
November 13, 2015
On November 12th, 2015, Samantha Becker and Melody Clark presented an overview of the U.S. Impact Study and TASCHA for University of Washington students.
October 19, 2015
Are you interested in the effects of technology on economic and social development? Do you wonder if mobile phones will replace PCs? Interested in the role libraries play in communities and development? Curious about open data and open research? Passionate about access to technology, communication, and information resources? Well, we have a great event for you! Come learn about us and the U.S. IMPACT Study on November 12th, 2015! At this event, we will introduce TASCHA and the U.S. IMPACT Study, two research groups focused on issues like digital inclusion, impact & evaluation, and access to information, communication, and technology resources.
October 14, 2015
Earlier this summer, Thomas Fuller of the New York Times published a memo from Yangon lamenting the lack of political vocabulary in the Burmese language, in which words like “democracy,” “institution,” and “privacy” lack direct translations. Even more notable than Fuller’s nuanced sociolinguistic discussion is the way he ends it: with a conclusion that leaves…
October 6, 2015
As part of the Advancing MOOCs for Development Initiative (ADMI), TASCHA is excited to announce the launch of an Expert Committee. The Committee, comprised of non-profit, academic, and corporate member organizations from around the world, will work to further help the Advancing MOOCs for Development Initiative.
August 25, 2015
As part of the Advancing MOOCs for Development Initiative (AMDI), we are conducting a short survey to understand how young people (ages 18-35) around the world participate in massive open online courses (MOOCs). Some MOOC providers include Coursera, edX, Udacity, MiriadX, UP Online Program, and TESDA, that work in partnership with universities and other institutions.
June 24, 2015
The American Library Association (ALA) is holding their annual conference June 25-June 30, 2015 in San Francisco. This year, TASCHA collaborators Samantha Becker and Stacey Wedlake from the U.S. Impact Study group will be attending and highlighting some of their great work on library measurement and evaluation. So, if you’re heading to ALA, be sure to join them as they represent two of their projects, the Impact Survey and the Edge Initiative.
June 15, 2015
Until mid-2011, Myanmar was very much closed off from the rest of the world. As the government continues to liberalize media and open up telecommunications markets, mobile phone use is skyrocketing across many parts of Myanmar. The country is on pace to make a giant leap in the digital divide, with mobile penetration rates expected to jump from about 4% in 2014 to 80% by the end of this year. For many in Myanmar, using a mobile phone marks their first experience with the internet and digital technology, not to mention having a wealth of information at their fingertips, which is a far cry from the once heavily censored and government-controlled media environment.
