ANIE IE Research Workshop Objectives towards a Curriculum Development University of Pretoria July 4-5, 2011 Rafael Capurro International Center for Information Ethics

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 2 Overview  Introduction  Interdisciplinary thinking  African context and framework  Multicultural framework  Content positioning  Focus of content  Curriculum development

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 3 Introduction  Information ethics (IE) can be understood as a descriptive and emancipatory discipline dealing with the study of the changes in the relationship between human beings and the world due particularly to digital information and communication technology (ICT).

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 4 Introduction  As a descriptive theory IE explores the power structures influencing informational and communicational attitudes and traditions in different cultures and epochs.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 5 Introduction  As an emancipatory theory IE develops criticisms of moral, i.e., life-world attitudes and traditions in the information and communication field at an individual and collective level. It includes normative aspects.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 6 Introduction  IE explores and evaluates: –the development of moral, i.e., life- world values in the information and communication field, –the creation of new power structures in the information and communication field,

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 7 Introduction –information and communication myths, –hidden contradictions and intentionalities in information and communication theories and practices, –the development of ethical conflicts in the information and communication field.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 8 Interdisciplinary Thinking  As a philosophic discipline, IE takes a holistic view on the phenomenon of human communication as based on the relationship between man and world.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 9 Interdisciplinary Thinking  This holistic view provides a ground for the integration of other disciplines dealing with information and communicaton such as anthropology, sociology, political science, information studies, media studies, computer science, social informatics, law and the liberal arts.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 10 African Context and Framework  IE in Africa as a young academic field: conferences since 2007, ANIE, Africa Reader, Tshwane Declaration.  IE in Africa within its long and rich past of oral and written traditions with complex processes of cultural hybridization.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 11 African Context and Framework  General goals for IE teaching and research in Africa: –to enrich African identities by retrieving and re-creating African information and communication traditions, their principles and values, within the framework of ICT,

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 12 African Context and Framework –to develop alternatives for creating different forms of information societies in Africa, giving orientation to policy makers, community leaders, African institutions and, last but not least, to Africans in their everyday lives.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 13 Multicultural Framework  Africa is a multicultural continent that reflects uniquely the global challenges arising from ICT.  IE can become an academic space for intercultural dialogue on informational and communicational norms and values within Africa as well in a global context.

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 14 Content positioning  Foundational issues: the ongoing IE debate in Africa: theories, key concepts, issues  Assembling an Africa IE  Intercultural IE (IEE) in Africa  National, regional and global Africa IE agendas and institutions  IE and information policies  IE and ICT for development

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 15 Focus of content  Information and Communication Rights  Digital divide (marginalisation & exclusion)  Privacy & secrecy  Safety & security  ICT for development  Knowledge sharing & copyright  Indigenous Knowledge

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 16 Focus of content  Social networks  Gender issues  Health issues  E-democracy and e-participation  Electronic waste  Empowering education institutions

R. Capurro: IE Curriculum 17 Curriculum development A thematic structure including theories, key issues, methodology, readings and pedagogical as well as professional goals depend on whether IE is placed within a department (discipline) or as an interdeparmental (interdisciplinary) field.