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 change-makers 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
This course is self-paced, which means that you can access all of the content as soon as the course begins on September 1, 2020. You have one year to complete all of the materials.
The course is structured around a series of pre-recorded video chapters and includes comprehension questions, readings, discussion activities, and a final exam. Each of these course components can be completed at a time that is convenient for the learner prior to the deadline, which is the last date of the course. Each video chapter will have a short quiz that directly follows it, followed by a discussion activity at the end of each module.
In addition to the asynchronous components of the course, we will also host special live events with course instructors and climate action experts throughout the year. Keep an eye out for updates from this course, subscribe to the SDG Academy newsletter, and follow us on social media to learn when these special live events will take place.
The estimated time commitment to complete all course components is 3-5 hours per week, though this depends heavily on the learner and his/her objectives in taking the course.
Structure
Course components include:
- Pre-recorded lectures (3-7 videos per week)
- Readings
- Comprehension questions
- Discussion activities
- A final exam (Verified learners only)
- Pre- and post-course surveys
Grading & Certificates
While this course is not credit-granting, we encourage learners to work with their own institutions to explore the option of granting credit for online coursework.
This course contains ungraded video chapter questions, reading quizzes, and discussion activities. Verified learners also have access to a graded final exam.
VERIFIED LEARNERS: The discussion activities count for 50% of your final grade, and the final exam counts for the other 50%. The Final Exam consists of information from all of the lectures and readings. You must pass with a 70% or above to receive your Verified Certificate.
Whether or not you are pursuing a certificate, you are encouraged to complete all of the ungraded assessments, as they are your opportunity to gauge how well you understand the material.
Translations
The course videos have been recorded in English, and text transcripts in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian 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!
For any further communication and questions about the course, email us at courses@sdgacademy.org. Since this email is used for multiple courses, please specify that you are inquiring about the “Tech for Good” course.