This class seeks to connect UCSD students to the problems and the potential found within the developing economies of the world. Through an innovative syllabus and class structure, “Social Design” seeks to provide students the opportunity to design sophisticated technologies for social change. While a previous Social Design class was taught in Spring 2007 (“Social Architectures”), this current class intends to extend the interventionist design discourse to the perceived needs of the developing world.

Value of Remote Pedagogy

This class will be taught from India through a variety of contemporary web-technologies. While it might initially seem like an undesirable challenge teaching a class at UC San Diego from Mumbai, India, the pedagogical opportunities are substantial. While contemporary technology has only recently reached a point where classes could be taught remotely, rarely is there a reason why classes should be taught from afar. This class, however, requires a tightly knit understanding and empathy for the realities of the developing world, and by serving this class remotely, my role extends from lecturer to on-the-ground informational agent. Secondly, distance education itself is a technology that is being widely considered for its potential to enhance the knowledge capital of developing economies. That students will be faced with a technologically mediated educational experience will provide them with the opportunity to critique (and potentially improve) distance education. Finally, in the enactment of this class, UCSD will be gaining additional institutional knowledge about distance education and tele-presence, hopefully improving the potential range of other, more advanced educational opportunities in the future.

While not exclusively focusing on India, this class will use India as the primary example of issues facing developing societies.

Recruiting Students for the Class

This class is specifically designed to cater to students across multiple disciplines, from Engineering to Political Science to Anthropology. Word of mouth, email lists, and “Facebook” postings will be the primary avenues for attracting students to this class. Students who have taken the Spring 2007 Social Design class “Social Architectures” will also be encouraged to take the class and/or recommend it to their friends.

In order to take the class, students must answer a short set of questions via email.

This class will optimally hold between 10-14 students, as this number will fit comfortably in the lab space available in Calit2.

Proposed Technical Setup

The Social Movement Laboratory on the second floor of Calit2 (Atkinson Hall) will be the site of the class, and the 24” iMac will be the primary technological point of contact between the students and myself.

This computer will enable students to listen and watch me lecture, live from Bombay. I will be able to control the desktop of this computer from my own computer, which will enable me to show students pictures, video and other media.

This class will maintain a wiki website for class information and assignments, an email discussion list, and a real-time online discussion forum.

Remote Conduct:

I will hold online office hours for the students, using ubiquitous video or text messaging software. During the class, the class leader will remain in contact with me via an online real-time discussion board, taking notes with me on topics of discussion. This backchannel could even be projected for the benefit of the students.