New Media for Development

Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs

New Media and Development Communication, Fall 2012

Class Projects

Mobile Technology in Global Politics

For developed and developing countries alike, the Internet and mobile technology are changing the way the public relates to the political elite. On the small screen, we receive information about political events, we donate money to campaigns and we can even find information that the government may not want us to know.

Introduction

Key Topics:

Telemedicine

Description
Combining Information and Communication technologies with health care, telemedicine provides alternative medical services to accidents victims, the elderly, emergency rooms, chronic disease patients and vulnerable population. It covers a variety of practices and is now common all over the world. As much as it is appreciated, people have their suspicions and worries. To improve telemedicine, both of the developed and the developing world have a long way to go. This process may consume enormous human and capital resources.

Introduction

Key Topics:

Ode to the Landfill Harmonic, Nicole Margaretten

Current Trends in Digital Narratives

This page explores the concept of digital narratives by investigating some of the innovative ways that people are sharing narratives on digital platforms. A number of case studies demonstrate how digital platforms can be used to amplify authentic voice through narratives and how people are learning from these initiatives. The case studies also illuminate some of the challenges the initiatives face and suggest ways to overcome these challenges. Finally, the case studies explore the promises and perils of different types of digital narratives to see how digital narratives can help further social change.

Key Topics:

Public Health: Introduction to mHealth Initiatives in Africa

Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most-populous continent. The continent covers six percent of the Earth’s total surface area and 20.4 percent of the total land area. It has about 30.2 million km² (11.7 million sq mi) including adjacent islands, accommodating 1.0 billion people it accounts for about 15% of the world's human population. Healthcare reach which is an ever growing concern in this region especially due to the hostile terrains and limited accessibility in some of the countries in this continent, Africa is up for a great transformation given the leaps in technology. According to the Africa Media Initiative, the number of mobile phones in Africa stands at 650 million (from a mere 4 million in the late 1990s) and is set to reach the 1 billion bar in less than 5 years. Africa is now considered to be the largest market for mobile technology in the world.

Introduction

Key Topics:

Education in Development

Discussion about the use of technology in education will remain absolutely useless without considering the pedagogical approaches appropriate in different settings. What kind of technology will be used can widely vary depending on exactly where a particular approach stands between two extremes – traditional institutional on one side and highly individualist on the other side. While researching existing projects and initiatives on ICT integration in education, the project team has found that both individual and institutional approaches were used in different degrees.

Introduction

Key Topics:
Institutional Approaches

Individual Approaches

Integrated Approaches

The Fall 2012 New Media and Development Class Photo.