About the Course
Tech for Good: The Role of ICT in Achieving the SDGs was developed by UNESCO and Cetic.br/NIC.br, the Brazilian Network Information Center’s Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society. The course brings together thought leaders and changemakers in the fields of information and communication technologies (ICT) and sustainable development to show how digital technologies are empowering billions of people around the world by providing access to education, healthcare, banking, and government services; and how “big data” is being used to inform smarter, evidence-based policies to improve people’s lives in fundamental ways.
It also addresses the new challenges that technology can introduce, such as privacy, data management, risks to cybersecurity, e-waste, and the widening of social divides. Ultimately, Tech for Good looks at the ways in which stakeholders are coming together to answer big questions about what our future will look like in a hyper-digitized world.
You can expect to learn:
- ICT can improve access to knowledge and services, promote transparency, and encourage collaboration
- Responsible collection and use of data requires governance, security, and trust
- ICT projects should be contextualized and inclusive
- Technology is not neutral! Be aware of bias in design and implementation
Course Logistics & Requirements
The course launches October 8, 2018. Students can enroll at any time before or after that date and can complete the course materials at any time through December 30, 2018, at 0:00UTC (use this time converter to figure out your local time).
Structure
New content is released every Monday. Once the content is released, it remains accessible for the duration of the course. All course components can be completed at any time that is convenient for the students. Course components include:
- Pre-recorded lectures (3-7 videos per week)
- Readings
- Weekly quizzes
- Discussion activities
- A peer-reviewed final assignment
- Pre- and post-course surveys (required)
- Q&A sessions with course instructors (exact dates will be indicated in relevant modules)
Certificates
Students who successfully complete the course may choose to purchase a Verified Certificate signed by the course instructors. In order to successfully complete the course, students must score an average of 70% or higher on the graded components of the course. You can decide to purchase a Verified Certificate up to 10 days from the close of the course.
Translations
The course videos have been recorded in English, and text transcripts can be shown to scroll adjacent to the videos by pressing "cc" at the lower right corner.
Contact Information
Questions? Concerns?
Please be sure to direct any technical questions about the course to edX using the "Help" button at the top of your page!
Questions about course content or the SDG Academy in general should be addressed to techforgood@sdgacademy.org.