This course will focus on innovative uses of mobile phones to improve health, human services, and economic development in Nairobi’s informal settlements. Interdisciplinary student teams will work on projects with three partner organizations—Umande Trust, Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), and Karura Youth Sports Association (KYSA)—and in collaboration with colleagues (faculty and students) in computer science at the University of Nairobi.
Other readings will either be on the course website or easily accessible through the Stanford library (e-journals).
We have concentrated the required reading in the first few weeks of the course so that you will be able give your attention to your projects for the bulk of the course.
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Wed-Mon |
April 2: Design thinking and the d.school
- Staff introductions
- Course introduction and plans
- Introductory design exercise
- Introduction to the d.school: being a good d.citizen
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April 4: Course introduction
- Student introductions
- Traveler’ reports
- Description of University of Nairobi colleagues and their activities
- Form teams based on interests/diversity
EVENING - First meeting with Coaches
Readings:
Background:
- Krista Donaldson, “The Future of Design for Development,” Information Technologies and International Development 5, 4 (Winter 2009), pp. 97-100.
- Cynthia Putnam, Emma Rose, Erica J. Johnson, Beth Kolko, “Adapting User-Centered Design Methods to Design for Diverse Populations,” Information Technologies and International Development 5, 4 (Winter 2009), pp. 51-73.
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April 9: About Nairobi/Kenya
- Discuss readings about Kenya, Nairobi, Kibera, Mathare, etc.
- Students from previous projects discuss their projects and the experience of moving the project forward
- M-Maji
Readings:
- Sumila Gulyani and Debabrata Talukdar, “Inside Informality: The Links Between Poverty, Microenterprises, and Living Conditions in Nairobi’s Slums,” World Development 38, 12:(2010): 1710-1726.
- Sumila Gulyani and Debabrata Talukdar, “Slum Real Estate: The Low-Quality High-Price Puzzle in Nairobi’s Slum Rental Market and its Implications for Theory and Practice,” World Development 36, 10 (2008): 1916-1937.
- Michela Wrong, It’s Our Turn to Eat, Chapter 7, The Call of the Tribe. 99-119, , Chapter 9. The Making of the Sheng Generation. 145-162.
Background:
- Daniel Branch. Kenya: Between Hope and Despair, 1963-2011
- Gabrielle Lynch, I Say To You: Ethnic Politics and the Kalenjin in Kenya
- Gerard Prunier, “Kenya: Roots of Crisis”
- Richard Dowden, Altered States, Ordinary Miracles, chap. 15, 415-438.
- World Bank, Kenya Economic Update: Navigating the Storm, Delivering the Promise, December 2011.
- Communications Commission of Kenya, Quarterly Sector Statistics Reports, available at: http://www.cck.go.ke
- Kibera Kid (DVD)
- Check Kibera TV, MapKibera, MapMathare (all online)
- Slum descriptions (Pamoja Trust)
- Binyavanga Wainaina, “Generation Kenya,” Vanity Fair (July 2007).
- Michelle Osborn, Fuelling the Flames: Rumour and Politics in Kibera, Journal of Eastern African Studies 2, 2: 315-327.
- M-Maji Launch
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April 11: m4d and deepening understanding of user data
- Discussion of assigned readings
- Synthesis session: working with user data: teams present to other teams some of the issues they are starting to see in the materials prepared by the travelers
Readings:
Background:
- World Bank ICT4DReport
- James G. Kahn, Joshua S. Yang, and James S. Kahn, ‘Mobile’ Health Needs And Opportunities In Developing Countries
- Indrani Medhi, Somani Patnaik, Emma Brunskill, S. N. Nagasena Gautama, William Thies, Kentaro Toyama, “Designing Mobile Interfaces for Novice and Low-Literacy Users,” June 2009.
- Jerry Hausman, “Mobile Phones in Developing Countries”
- Datzilis, Dinkelman, Oster, et al., “New Cellular Networks in Malawi: Correlates of Service Rollout and Network Performance,” NBER working paper
- Muto and Yamano, The Impact of Mobile Phone Coverage Expansion on Market Participation: Panel Data Evidence from Uganda,” World Development 20 (2009).
- Jenny Aker and Isaac Mbiti, “Mobile Phones and Economic Development in Africa,” Journal of Economic Perspectives 24, 3 (Summer 2010), 207–232.
- William Jack and Tavneet Suri, Risk Sharing and Transactions Costs:
Evidence from Kenyas Mobile Money Revolution
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Saturday, April 14: All-day design workshop, with focus on needfinding
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April 16: technology and development
- Debrief of Saturday workshop
- Ethical issues in development projects
- Discussion of readings : teams will pick a project from the readings and explain why they find it especially interesting and relevant
Readings:
- Rachel Glennerster, Michael Kremer, et al., "Small Changes, Big Results"
- Kentaro Toyama, with Nicholas Negroponte, Jenny Aker, Nathan Eagle, Christine Zhenwei Qiang, et al, Boston Review “Can Technology End Poverty”
- Ivan Illich, To Hell with Good Intentions (for discussion of ethical issues)
- Michael A. Cohen, Maria Figueroa Küpçü, and Parag Khanna, “The New Colonialists,” Foreign Policy, July-August 2008.
Background:
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April 18: synthesis, point-of-view
- In-class work on team project materials to construct a point-of-view
- Ideation presentation and discussion
EVENING
Readings:
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April 23: POV presentation (stage 1 deliverables)
- Present POV statement (see the document on deliverables) to teaching team and other students
- Revise and develop POV
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April 25: Prototyping/Testing
- Prototyping and testing presentation/discussion
- Team process
EVENING
Background:
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April 30: Prototype presentation 1
- Present, discuss, iterate prototypes (which also means: clarifying POV)
Readings:
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Wednesday May 2: viability
- Overview of general viability issues
- Peer feedback: why-it-did-not-work exercise
EVENING
- Exercise/discussion on viability of projects
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May 7: presentations (Stage 2 deliverables)
- Project teams will present drafts of their five-slide powerpoints and initial prototypes in preparation for presentation to Nairobi partners at times to be arranged by the team on Tues or Wed (see document on deliverables).
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May 9: testing
- Team reports on presentations to partners
- Team presentations of testing plans
Readings:
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Monday May 14: coaching/critiquing
- Work with teams on prototyping and testing: coaches in class
- Other material on as-needed basis
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May 16: Stage 3 presentations with external advisors
- Present stage 3 deliverables to external advisor
EVENING
- Social with external advisors
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May 21: coaching and revision
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May 23: critiquing and working session on final prototype
- Show and discuss final prototype
EVENING
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May 28 – no class, Memorial Day |
May 30: Dry run
- Dry run presentations
- Arrangements for partner presentations
EVENING
- Coaching on presentations
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Monday June 4: [including time other than class]: Individual team partner presentations
- To be scheduled and arrangements made with partners and other potential reviewers
Tuesday evening June 5, 7-9pm: showcase
- Evening presentations for class, guests, and public
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Wednesday June 6: reflections and next steps
- Reflection on the course
- Getting started with continuation plans
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After June 6
Schedule as desired individual team meetings for comments on projects
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