November 18, 2014
I will soon be travelling to Myanmar as part of the project, Information Strategies for Societies in Transition, to encourage better understanding and use of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in the rapidly developing country. Formerly known as Burma, it is undergoing an incredible political, social and economic transition after years of authoritarian rule.
November 4, 2014
We are often asked how students can get involved with the work that we do at TASCHA. During Winter Quarter 2015, TASCHA is leading a Research Seminar in the Information School (INFX 571), offering students a chance to get real world ICTD and research experience by working on one of our current projects, Information Strategies for Societies in Transition.
October 22, 2014
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 3rd, 2014! 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.
September 24, 2014
TASCHA is pleased to sponsor September’s ICT4Drinks event by buying the first round of drinks for everyone. We even have a couple of special guests, including Microsoft Research India’s Jonathan Donner. He’ll be in town all the way from South Africa to chat about his research on mobile phones, development, and public access. Don’t miss your chance to hear more about Jonathan’s exciting work! Join your fellow tech & development friends to kick off fall at the next ICT4Drinks Seattle on Thursday, September 25th – the Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) is buying the first round for everyone.
September 22, 2014
During the summer, TASCHA and the UW Jackson School hosted 25 of Myanmar’s leaders from government, civil society, political parties, ethnic communities, libraries, and the media for a five-week workshop. During the five weeks, the fellows honed their leadership skills and developed information strategies that will broaden information literacy throughout the country, facilitate the peace building process, and support fair elections in the next year.
September 3, 2014
As noted in the previous post, Democratized Tools of Production: New Technologies Spurring the Maker Movement, the power and opportunity purported to emerge from the maker movement is strongly focused on STEM education and the ‘tools of production’. This post will focus on the history of STEM, how other schools of thought have critiqued and added new areas to STEM, and the relationship of these issues to ‘making’ and the maker movement.
August 29, 2014
This summer TASCHA, along with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, hosted 25 of Myanmar’s leaders from government, civil society, political parties, ethnic communities, libraries, and the media. The fellows took part in a 5-week professional development program focused on information strategies for societies in transition. These distinguished individuals and the UW-Myanmar project team invite you to join them for a lunch reception where you can learn about their proposed projects and the plans for a Myanmar Information Laboratory.
August 28, 2014
Family farming is a predominant form of agriculture both in developed and developing countries, with over 500 million productive units in the entire world, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO is promoting 2014 as the international year of family farming. This particular form of agriculture work refers to farms that are managed by family members and are usually small or medium in size and productivity. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are playing a key role in this scenario. New generations of younger farmers are embracing ICTs, demonstrating that the two spaces can be complementary. Mobile phones, particularly, are providing a great platform to connect them to the “rurbanity,” a new (key) concept to understand hybrid spaces where cities and the countryside are part of the same social reality.
August 18, 2014
The discourse surrounding the Maker Movement, particularly in the political spectrum, focuses heavily on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education, manufacturing, and jobs (Kalil, Extreme Marshmellow Canons, 2012). It is the technology and tools that are ushering in “the new industrial revolution” (Anderson, 2012). Through democratizing access to these tools, “anyone can change the world” (Hatch, 2014 p.10). Makerspaces are said to give communities facing social and economic challenges the ability to create jobs, innovate, and grow small businesses, through access to the tools of production (Barjarin, 2014) (Gershenfeld, 2005).
August 13, 2014
This summer TASCHA, along with the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, is pleased to be hosting 25 of Myanmar’s leaders from government, civil society, political parties, ethnic communities, libraries, and the media. The fellows are taking part in a 5-week professional development program about information strategies for societies in transition. Please join us for a panel discussion and reception with the fellows of the UW-Myanmar Leadership Program to learn about Myanmar on Thursday, August 21st, 5-8pm, at the UW Club.
