D-Lab Development addresses issues of technological improvements at the micro level for developing countries—in particular, how the quality of life of low-income households can be improved by adaptation of low cost and sustainable technologies. Discussion of development issues as well as project implementation challenges are addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Students form project teams to partner with mostly local level organizations in developing countries, and formulate plans for an IAP site visit. (Previous field sites include Ghana, Brazil, Honduras and India.) Project team meetings focus on developing specific projects and include cultural, social, political, environmental and economic overviews of the countries and localities to be visited as well as an introduction to the local languages.

D-Lab Development addresses issues of technological improvements at the micro level for developing countries—in particular, how the quality of life of low-income households can be improved by adaptation of low cost and sustainable technologies. Discussion of development issues as well as project implementation challenges are addressed through lectures, case studies, guest speakers and laboratory exercises. Students form project teams to partner with mostly local level organizations in developing countries, and formulate plans for an IAP site visit. (Previous field sites include Ghana, Brazil, Honduras and India.) Project team meetings focus on developing specific projects and include cultural, social, political, environmental and economic overviews of the countries and localities to be visited as well as an introduction to the local languages.

This resource intends to give a general outline of ICT for development (ICT4D). No previous knowledge about ICT4D is needed. The resource focus on major definitions and terms. An overview of the different phases of ICT for development initiatives and an outlook to the future of ICT4D projects is given.

In the Introduction you will find definitions of key terms of the field.

In the unit ICT4D Evolution you'll find a description of the different ICT4D phases and why most ICT4D projects failed.

The unit ICT4D & Openness gives a short explanation why openness is important in the ICT4D field.

The Future of ICT4D unit lists some important points of future ICT4D projects.

In the Resources part you'll find the bibliography, a reading list of key articles and examples for further reading as well as a list of more videos.

The full course of the Rwanda ICT Essentials for Teachers Course. The materials covered include:
Unit 00: Orientation & Baseline Survey

Unit 01 - Hardware
'Describe and demonstrate the use of common hardware' is the competency of this unit

Unit 02 - Troubleshooting ICT
Demonstrate ability to perform basic maintenance and repair on hardware and assist in software troubleshooting.

Unit 03 - Educational Internet
Describe the functions and purposes of internet in the classroom and demonstrate the capability of using internet.

Unit 04 - Word Processing
Describe and demonstrate the basic tasks and uses of word processors, such as text entry, editing text, formatting text and printing.

Unit 05 - Record Keeping (Spreadsheets)
Use ICT to support class administration through the keeping of a digital class record system using a spreadsheet package.

Unit 06 - eMail & Social Media
Describe the functions and purposes of internet in the classroom and demonstrate the capability of using internet including e-mail, search, and social media functions in classwork.

This course will provide an intensive introduction to the field of information technology and global development, in its historical, policy, and design dimensions. Part One offers a comprehensive overview of key historical and contemporary debates, problems, and issues in international development. Part Two explores crucial information policy issues in developing country contexts, ranging from technology transfer, research and innovation systems, and intellectual property to telecommunications, wireless, and other critical infrastructure development. Part Three explores the growing ICT4D project literature, with special reference to programs and applications in the health, education, finance, governance, agriculture, and rural development sectors. Through readings, discussions, and course assignments, students will gain critical research and professional skills in the analysis and design of information policies, programs, and projects in a range of developing country settings. Through geographically focused project and discussion groups, students will also develop specific regional or country-level knowledge and experience.

Can you make a cellphone change the world?
NextLab is a hands-on year-long design course in which students research, develop and deploy mobile technologies for the next billion mobile users in developing countries. Guided by real-world needs as observed by local partners, students work in multidisciplinary teams on term-long projects, closely collaborating with NGOs and communities at the local level, field practitioners, and experts in relevant fields.
Students are expected to leverage technical ingenuity in both mobile and internet technologies together with social insight in order to address social challenges in areas such as health, microfinance, entrepreneurship, education, and civic activism. Students with technically and socially viable prototypes may obtain funding for travel to their target communities, in order to obtain the first-hand feedback necessary to prepare their technologies for full fledged deployment into the real world (subject to guidelines and limitations).

In 1999, Dr. Sugatra Mitra placed a computer into a hole in the wall of an urban slum in New Delhi India and watched with a hidden camera to see how children of the slum interacted with this foreign device. His "Hole in the Wall" project, along with subsequent studies, demonstrates that even in the absence of direct input from a teacher, an environment that stimulates curiosity can cause learning through self-instruction and peer-shared knowledge.