Cornell University INFO 4505: Computing and Global Development
Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
To date, most computing technologies have primarily benefited urban, affluent, and literate people in developed regions by empowering them with more information, resources, and agency. These technologies currently exclude billions of people worldwide, such as rural residents, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities, who are too poor to afford modern devices, too remote to be connected, or too low-literate to navigate the mostly text-driven Internet. In recent years, researchers and practitioners have examined how computing technologies can be designed or appropriated to empower such underserved communities. This course introduces students to the field of Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD). Through discussions of case studies from the Global South, students will study how computing technologies are used in different global development domains, such as agriculture, finance, health, social justice, and education. They will gain understanding of socio-economic, cultural, and political forces that impact technology adoption in low-resource environments and will learn to design, build, and evaluate inclusive technologies to empower marginalized people.
Cornell University INFO 6600: Technology for Underserved Communities
Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
This course examines the design, deployment, and adoption of computing technologies that aim to improve the lives of underserved populations in low-resource environments. Through discussions of case studies from all across the world, we will study how computing technologies are used in different global development domains, such as agriculture, finance, health, education, civic engagement. We will also explore many of the big debates in the field of ICTD through reading and discussing seminal papers, including how to approach and measure success, how to consider failure, what constitutes 'good' research, how to broach the 'digital divide'. The course will enrich students’ foundational knowledge and information about current research in ICTD, and will better equip them to create and evaluate computing technologies for people in low-resource environments.
Cornell University INFO 7905: IS PhD Professionalization Seminar
Fall 2023
This course is aimed at helping first-year IS PhD students make the transition into the program and the field. The course is structured around three main goals:
Fall 2022, Fall 2021, Fall 2020
To date, most computing technologies have primarily benefited urban, affluent, and literate people in developed regions by empowering them with more information, resources, and agency. These technologies currently exclude billions of people worldwide, such as rural residents, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities, who are too poor to afford modern devices, too remote to be connected, or too low-literate to navigate the mostly text-driven Internet. In recent years, researchers and practitioners have examined how computing technologies can be designed or appropriated to empower such underserved communities. This course introduces students to the field of Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD). Through discussions of case studies from the Global South, students will study how computing technologies are used in different global development domains, such as agriculture, finance, health, social justice, and education. They will gain understanding of socio-economic, cultural, and political forces that impact technology adoption in low-resource environments and will learn to design, build, and evaluate inclusive technologies to empower marginalized people.
Cornell University INFO 6600: Technology for Underserved Communities
Spring 2023, Spring 2022, Spring 2021, Spring 2020
This course examines the design, deployment, and adoption of computing technologies that aim to improve the lives of underserved populations in low-resource environments. Through discussions of case studies from all across the world, we will study how computing technologies are used in different global development domains, such as agriculture, finance, health, education, civic engagement. We will also explore many of the big debates in the field of ICTD through reading and discussing seminal papers, including how to approach and measure success, how to consider failure, what constitutes 'good' research, how to broach the 'digital divide'. The course will enrich students’ foundational knowledge and information about current research in ICTD, and will better equip them to create and evaluate computing technologies for people in low-resource environments.
Cornell University INFO 7905: IS PhD Professionalization Seminar
Fall 2023
This course is aimed at helping first-year IS PhD students make the transition into the program and the field. The course is structured around three main goals:
- Identifying and discussing many of the common issues that PhD students face, ranging from doing and defining research projects and programs, to being part of an academic community, to self-care and well-being.
- Providing a place for incoming students to meet many field faculty and hear about both their research and their experiences in academia, with the goal of helping students find potential projects, committee members, and mentors to help them through the program.
- Encouraging incoming students to form a supportive cohort which has been shown to be a powerful tool to support effectiveness, retention, and well-being.