IDSB10 Orientation Session

1. IDSB10H3
Knowledge and Communication
for Development
Orientation Session
September 14th, 2012
Web Casting 10am – 12 noon
Leslie Chan
University of Toronto Scarborough

2. A note about “note-taking”
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3. About this course
Why is this course online?
What are the key themes?
What will students learn?
How will you be evaluated?
Expectations and concerns ?
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4. Why is this course online?
History of the course
From IS to IDS
Provost’s initiative (2011)
Beyond the traditional classroom
Modeling the online learning process
Constructivist nature of collaborative knowledge building
Understanding the limits and potential of technology supported
learning 4

5. Students will:
Gain skills and knowledge on how to participate in a
network society and be able to think and act critically
about the benefits and downsides of the widespread
use of communication technologies in the context of
development.
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6. Students will:
Develop online learning skills, including collaboration,
peer learning, resource based learning and self-
directed learning
Gain appreciation of the political economy of
knowledge production in a global context
Understand the interplay between technology, policy,
economic and social freedom
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7. Themes

8. “ What has Wikipedia got to do with the
49 percent of the population of Congo
that lacks sustainable access to improve
water resources?”
Yochai Benkler (2006) The Wealth of
Networkhttp://cyber.law.harvard.edu/wealth_of_networks/Chapter_9%2C_
section_2
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9. Course format
Weekly topics accompanied by key readings
Modular components combining and linking to relevant
resources (video-cast, slideshare, online video, blogs
etc.)
Online discussion to reinforce topic and issues from
previous week
Weekly online activities to enhance learning of key
concepts
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10. Course tools
Blackboard
Pbwork (Pbwiki)
ePresence
Vimeo, YouTube
Google map, docs, etc.
Dropbox
Blog
Twitter #idsb10
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11. Course wiki
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12. 12

13. Examples of collaborative learning
Mind-mapping (concept mapping)
Co-authoring, peer-review, editing (wiki)
Production of multimedia case report
Constructive commentary and criticism
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14. Evaluation
Due date Weight
Participation Including online Ongoing
activities and
discussions
Quizzes To be conducted Week of Oct.
on blackboard Week of Oct.
Week of Nov.
Week of Nov.
Group report Week of Nov. 26
Final ??
To be continued on course wiki
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15. Questions??
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