The Information Revolution in Latin America:
Obstacles and Opportunities through the Internet

Course Description:

Draws from multiple disciplines to analyze the opportunities and obstacles the Information Revolution presents for newly developing countries in Latin America. Students develop framework and tool set for formulating, evaluating and recommending possible policy changes and courses of action through case studies. Topics include internet infrastructure issues; technology transfer, human capital formation, and capacity-building; challenges of access and opportunity; government policy and the role of the private sector; strategies for enterprise development. Mandatory weekly section. Enrollment limited.

Lecture: Wednesdays 4:30-6pm Gates 100

Section: Mondays 4:30-6pm Gates B08

Head TA: Heidy Maldonado, heidym@cs.stanford.edu

TA: Bill Danon, bill_danon@yahoo.com

The purpose of the course is to explore from a multidisciplinary perspective the opportunities and obstacles posed by the internet in Latin America. Invited experts will present theoretical and practical issues in each week's general lecture. Subsequently, students will work in teams to develop specific country case studies that incorporate information ranging from technical restrictions and economic barriers to the specifics of computer science training to public and private initiatives for internet expansion.

Today: If you are interested in taking the class, you must fill out the Application Form, and give it to the Course Staff before the end of today’s lecture. There will be limited enrollment for the course. We will email accepted students by noon, Friday, 9/24, and also post the Class Lists outside Bolívar House, as well as outside Gates 100. There will also be a small Waiting List, whose students will be similarly notified.

If you are admitted to the class, come prepared on Monday, September 27, to pitch yourself to your potential teammates, for we will be organizing into country teams by Wednesday, September 29. Give a short presentation on your particular background and expertise that you would bring to the team.

Often, interesting research and developments in the field are presented during section times, and occasionally they will be full-length lectures. We urge you to take advantage of the first few section meetings, where the schedule is purposefully left less structured, to report on the early stages of your research and get as much help as you need to overcome data-finding difficulties. As the quarter progresses, the distinction between lectures and section times will blur — but remember that they are scheduled in different rooms! Please bring all your research concerns to our attention at the beginning of class, so that the solutions and tips can be shared with your peers.

The readings you will be responsible for each week will be handed out in class the previous week. Since this involves a considerable number of photocopies, there is a $10 fee which is payable the first week of class after Class Lists have been posted. Make checks payable to the Center for Latin American Studies, and give them to the course staff at any time. This payment is mandatory for all students: failure to do so will result in an Incomplete.

Prepare for lectures and section. Make insightful comments, since those that repeat and restate points, as well as those that merely take up air-time will count against you! Come prepared to also speak about your group’s progress every meeting, since you will occasionally be called upon to report.

You will be grouped into interdisciplinary teams by the third class meeting, and will remain within that team for the rest of the quarter. The number of teams, and students per team allowed will be announced during the second class meeting, once the course list stabilizes. The more disciplines and experiences featured in your team, the easier it will be for you to complete the assignments and presentation benchmarks.

Choose your partners wisely and realize that they will be grading your performance as a teammate! You also get to grade them as a teammate at the end of the quarter in the TPPR at the end of the quarter. Note that is only one document, due Friday, December 3rd, by 6pm (after the Final Presentations). We are looking for a very concise reflection and analysis of your team and teammate’s performance, short falls, and team dynamics. Criticism, when due, must be constructively presented. Points will be taken for petty complaining and rambling. The TPPR must have a maximum length of three double-spaced pages.

There are two mid-quarter presentations, and a Final Presentation. They all follow the same format -- the day your team presents, the corresponding web-page should be up and running by the time class starts.

Quality:

We are looking for analysis during your presentations. All the data collection you did must be on your group’s web-page. You should show what is required to give us a good understanding of the research you did, and the reasons behind your conclusions. We will occasionally give you specific data-collection benchmarks that must be met, and will usually recommend others. Please use PowerPoint (or a similar product) for your presentation slides. You decide who will present for your team; not every teammate must present every time. Presentations must be cumulative -- make sure to draw upon, and take into consideration, your previous research for each presentation. By the end of the quarter, you should have a comprehensive picture of the Internet Development in your chosen country — not unassembled puzzle pieces.

We are looking for high-quality presentations, that sparkle and sizzle with wit and information, so pick speakers accordingly! Moreover, the teams responsible for the best presentations may be invited to participate in International Congresses and Seminars planned for next year, another reason to do the best you can!

The Report:

All the data you are using for your analysis, as well as your presentation slides and written commentary, must be in your group’s web-page. You are responsible for maintaining the web-page and updating it prior to every presentation, accordingly with the required research. The information presented must be factual, verifiable, and linked to the appropriate areas of your presentation.
The web-page’s purpose is not only for grading, it is your team’s showcase to the world. It will contribute to your team’s communicating the analysis and results; offering legitimacy when approaching research contacts; and exchanging information with other research labs around the world. Add a feedback option to your web-page, and post any comments that you receive, as well as your response/defense to the feedback. You can be as creative with the layout as you want, but presentation will not affect for your grade: content is the key.

Time Pressure:

Every presentation will have a time-limit. If your team goes overtime, not only will your grade suffer, but you will also be hurting the grade of the following team, who is allowed to start as soon as your time runs out. Time yourselves wisely, and rehearse accordingly!

Peer Reviews:

Your peers will be grading your presentation along with the course’s staff, another reason to make it sparkling and enlightening!