Community Informatics (COMU7014)

Course overview

The primary objective of this course is to enable students to get a better understanding of community informatics, its applications in context, and its impact on development and social change. The course will specifically deal with the political and economic drivers that condition the uses of community informatics and will provide a broad overview of the affordances of community informatics. Using case studies of contested issues involving copyright, community-based approaches such as Rhizomatica in Mexico, internet governance, and e-government, the course will offer students an opportunity to understand the uses of community informatics by organisations, governments and activists, the larger politics of access and some of the key factors that either impede or facilitate the practice of community informatics.

The primary objective of this course is to enable students to get a better understanding of community informatics as theory and in context, especially as it relates to social change and development. Community informatics will be compared with ICT4D. It will specifically deal with the political and economic drivers that accompany and condition the deployment of community informatics in development and social change. Using case studies the course will give students an opportunity to understand the deployments of community informatics by various sectors including the government and civil society. The course will explore the role played by enabling institutions in supporting community informatics and the various factors that remain obstacles to its deployment in various parts of the world. The course will explore some of the key tensions that exist in the enabling of digital access and the politics of issues around copyright and open access. At the end of the course students will have a broad understanding of the key drivers that give shape to the practice of community informatics.

Course requirements

Assumed background

While students need not have any specific personal experience in the overseas aid delivery and/or community development fields, an interest in issues relating to these subject areas would greatly facilitate learning. Previous study of communication and social change subjects would also be an advantage, but, again, thisﾠis not obligatory. It is assumed that students have an understanding of basic personal computer packages (e.g. Word, PowerPoint, web browsers) and, during the course,ﾠwill regularly check their UQ assigned student e-mail boxes and the course'sﾠBlackboard site.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:  

• Your name  
• Your student ID  
• The course code  
• A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)  
• Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP  

Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team. 

Aims and outcomes

Globally, community media and ICTs (information and communication technologies) play an increasingly valuableﾠrole in facilitating effective social change. This courseﾠaims to provide students with an understanding of the underlying philosophies, theories, techniques and approaches related to the use of electronic tools, such as community radio/TV and ICTs, in the development process. Apart from a solid theoretical grounding, successful completion of the course will provide you with the skills to draft simple, practical, project proposals, while also assisting you in gainingﾠan awareness of the design needs to ensure the effectiveﾠdelivery of community-basedﾠcommunication projects and programmes. Another course outcome will be to enable you to demonstrate basic expertise in project monitoring andﾠevaluation. A wide range of exciting employment opportunities now exist in the overseas aid and international development sectors with NGOs, commercial firms, development banks, inter-governmental organisations and governmental agencies. With major aid projects increasingly dependent for their successful implementation on networking and a good understanding ofﾠthe ability to leverage media and ICTs in social change,ﾠthis course will provide you with a comprehensive background in both theory and practise.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

In Class Test

Mode

Written

Category

Examination, Reflection

Weight

50% Max 700 Words

Due date

8/10/2025 10:00 am

Learning outcomes

L04, L05, L06

Task description

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

The Deferred test will take place on November 12 during the Exam Period in Room 208 at the Joyce Ackroyd Building from 10am - 12 noon.

Open Data and Social Change

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

50% Max 2500 Words

Due date

22/10/2025 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit through the designated TurnItIn assignment on Blackboard.

TurnItIn Receipts: 

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial. 

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can: 

• View the name of the submitted file 
• View date and time of the upload 
• Resubmit your paper (if necessary) 
• Download your submitted paper 
• Download digital receipt. 

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work). 

If the submission was not successful: 

• Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).  
• Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again. 
• If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached. 

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment. 

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

• Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%. 
• Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. 
• Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator. 
• Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request. 
• Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university. 
• Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released. 

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

A full, lecture-specific reading list will be made available on Blackboard and during the weekly seminars.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Course guidelines

Communication Expectations  

While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.   

• Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.   
• You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.    
• You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.   
• You can send email at any time, however, please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).   
• Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.