This course on development centres on the use of information technology. A first semester course provides the necessary theoretical underpinnings. This 13-week, second semester course is assessed by three pieces of written work. Its aim is to extend students' understanding of development issues to develop further their competencies in the use of information technology. The course involves a range of uses of information technology.
Students research a development issue using the Internet.
Selected reviews are sent to the publisher for comment. In the former they vary a base model's assumptions and learn what effect their decisions have on the number of deaths from starvation. In their report they have to criticise the assumptions of the model as well as examining the development issues involved. Students also interrogate several major databases and examine their assumptions and relevance to development issues. Course evaluations suggest that there has been a considerable improvement in students' confidence in using information technology and also in the level of their critical awareness of development issues.