May 12, 2016
iSchool PhD candidate and Technology & Social Change Group’s (TASCHA) Sheryl Day will be presenting at an iSchool Research Conversation about our Mobile Information Literacy work in Myanmar.
Data for Democracy: New TASCHA project
March 28, 2016
The Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) is pleased to announce a new project, Data for Democracy. This new project is based in Myanmar in partnership with the Enlightened Myanmar Research Foundation (EMReF) and the Myanmar Book Aid Preservation Foundation (MBAPF).
Information Symposium to address challenges presented by Myanmar’s digital revolution & democratic transition
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.
Mobile Information Literacy Curriculum now available for use & adaptation
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…
Translating technology terms into Burmese
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…
Teaching information literacy & digital skills in mobile-centric Myanmar
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.
Myanmar: Temples and towers
April 10, 2015
Incredible temples range across Myanmar; from the magisterial Shwe Dagon in Yangon to Bagan’s sprawling complexes they show the country’s rich Buddhist art, culture and heritage. The monks often built them high up, as in Mandalay Hill, above. Sitting closer to God and above the everyday,as in many other religions, was a beneficial position for…
Myanmar’s online and democratic frontiers
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.
TASCHA Research Seminar offers students an opportunity to get involved
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.
Myanmar leaders develop information strategies for societies in transition
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.
