H79.2774 Lecture 4 Credits
Instructor(s): McGraw, Murphy
In this course, a hybrid of social theory and practical action, we link creative developments at the intersection of technology/energy/communication with the needs of real people at the “Bottom of the Pyramid”—those earning less than $2 a day, lacking electricity, trying to cobble together a living and be happy. The class provides an overview of the language and contemporary theory of international development (i.e., rights-based approaches, capabilities and freedoms, livelihoods, sustainability science, appropriate technology, social constructivist approaches). Through readings and case studies, students meet real institutions (actors in the nonprofit and private sectors) and appreciate how they operate and discover opportunities that exist in fields of design, social entrepreneurship, community development, project management and health. The course analyzes experiences from recent applications of new media and digital technology in Kenya, including (1) an interactive Internet-based guide for home-grown nutrition targeted to HIV+ people in East Africa, (2) research on uses and problems of a new digital technology—the mobile phone—in an African village, and (3) support to a Kibera Artists Collective for digital storytelling, marketing and civil society action. Through the case studies, students engage real men and women: artists, housewives, farmers, and educators. The instructors aim to help students understand the Kenyans’ potential (i.e., creativity, resources, groups, land, and sun) and address their problems (i.e., lack of electricity, poor communications, corruption, ill-health). Assignments include individual writing exercises around core texts and articles in the first half of the course and a major collaborative project in which students collectively and creatively respond to the situations presented with practical, conceptual, and/or institutional projects (as pertinent to the case and the students). While the course revolves around actual projects and experiences of the instructors from Kenya, the ideas, vocabulary, approaches, and lessons-learned are relevant to students seeking to apply their ideas around the world.
