"Computerspiele sind Kulturgut. Sie sind etablierte und treibende Kraft gesellschaftlicher Transformationsprozesse in der Freizeitgestaltung und des Medienkonsums zu Unterhaltungszwecken. Aber lassen sich gerade in kommerziellen Spielen – sogenannten off-the-shelf games – auch Bildungspotenziale
...
entdecken? Können sie also für die Vermittlung von Wissen insbesondere im schulischen Kontext nutzbar gemacht werden? Dieser Frage widmete sich das Praxisforschungsprojekt „Spielend lernen!“ des Grimme-Forschungskollegs an der Universität zu Köln. Hier wurden mithilfe zentraler Zielgruppen in einer Reihe von Expert*innen-Workshops kritische Stellschrauben (technisch, konzeptionell und pädagogisch) identifiziert und davon ausgehend Gelingensbedingungen spezifiziert, unter denen das Medium Computerspiel ein sinnvolles Werkzeug in Schule und Unterricht sein kann. Um der Vielschichtigkeit der Thematik und der unterschiedlichen fachdidaktischen Bedarfe gerecht zu werden, wurde der Fokus bewusst breit gehalten und nicht auf spezielle Fächer eingegrenzt. Band 5 der Schriftenreihe zur digitalen Gesellschaft des Landes NRW fasst wesentliche Perspektiven des Praxisforschungsprojektes noch einmal zusammen. Dadurch, dass hier in stärkerem Maße als bislang die Nutzbarmachung kommerzieller digitaler Spiele als Vehikel für die Wissensvermittlung gerade auch im Rahmen formeller Kontexte akzentuiert wird, nimmt dieses Buch eine zur Mainstream-Debatte komplementäre Perspektive ein, aus der sich wertvolle Erkenntnisse für weitere Forschung und medienpädagogische Praxis generieren lassen." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
more
"There is a strong evidence base showing that SBCC programs can help improve malaria prevention and treatment behaviors. However, more work needs to be done to ensure that best practices are documented and used consistently. The review provides recommendations for strengthening peer-reviewed researc
...
h papers by including strategic communication processes in journal articles. Reporting program exposure is essential for establishing the role of SBCC interventions in malaria prevention and treatment behaviors." (Conclusions)
more
"We present an international comparison of broadsheet newspaper coverage of climate change. We employ two complementary theoretical lenses, multiple streams theory and institutional theory, to explore why climate change has become headline news in some countries but has received comparatively little
...
coverage in others. The study utilises a worldwide sample across 41 different countries for the year 2008, covering 113 leading national broadsheet newspapers. A cross-sectional regression model is used to identify whether and how a range of contextual factors impact coverage of climate change. To a certain extent, a country’s direct exposure to climate change and the measures that have been taken to combat global warming influence the position of climate change on the media agenda. Crucially, however, we identify a number of contextual factors that impact climate change-related media coverage in different national contexts. In particular, we find a significantly positive relationship between regulatory quality and levels of media coverage. At the same time, unemployment trends are significantly negatively related to media attention to climate change. Gross domestic product per capita does not help to explain levels of climate change-related media coverage. In other words, climate change appears to have moved beyond simply being a ‘rich country issue’." (Abstract)
more
"To meet the growing needs of disaster-affected communities around the world, we must do more to truly listen to them and tailor our responses accordingly." (Abstract)
"CTA’s ICT4Ag project (2014–15) enabled seven organisations in Africa and the Caribbean to develop, test and promote information services for smallscale farmers and fishers, traders and lobbying groups. Key recommendations: Understanding users’ needs requires intensive interaction with potenti
...
al clients before designing the app. Pilot testing can fine-tune the app and introduce it to the users. Simple or fancy? Many users still lack a smartphone needed to display graphics, but have a “feature phone” that can send and receive text messages. Offering a text-based service is cheaper and easier than developing and maintaining a graphical interface. Face-to-face promotion and training familiarise users with the app and help build a large client base. In the medium term, however, user fees are unlikely to sustain such services; they will still depend on other sources of income, espcially donor funds. Partnerships are vital – both as a source of data to analyse and disseminate, and for support in promoting the app among clients." (Page 1)
more
"Reading the past, writing the future: Fifty years of promoting literacy" takes stock of youth and adult literacy interventions which have been implemented since 1966, when UNESCO held its first International Literacy Day. The publication sheds light on the literacy-related challenges the world is n
...
ow facing, as it embarks on the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The publication begins with an analysis of trends in literacy rates at the regional and global levels, and identifies fifty countries that have made notable progress. It then reflects on emerging conceptions of literacy, from ‘literacy as a stand-alone skill' to 'functional literacy’ for work and livelihood, to 'literacy for empowerment’ of poor and marginalized populations and finally to 'literacy as social practice’, shaped by the cultural context in which it is applied. These four conceptions are illustrated by a wide range of literacy campaigns, programmes and policies, implemented within the fifty selected countries. Finally, the publication envisages the possible future of literacy from the perspective of sustainable development, lifelong learning and digital societies, with a focus on the need for urgency of action." (Back cover)
more
"Die Existenz des Menschen hängt von zureichenden klimatischen Bedingungen ab. Zumal haben Kulturen des globalen Südens sich in dieser Hinsicht im Lauf der Zeit an schwierige Umstände angepasst. Doch seit infolge des Klimawandels viele Regionen der Erde immer öfter katastrophalen Dürren oder Ü
...
berflutungen ausgesetzt sind, Böden degradieren oder versalzen, sehen sich angesichts schwindender Lebenschancen Millionen Menschen gezwungen, ihre Heimat zu verlassen. Welche Regionen sind besonders betroffen? Wo finden die Migrierenden Zuflucht? Welche naturräumlichen, aber auch human bedingten Faktoren – Raubbau, Konflikte, Havarien - lösen Umweltmigration aus? Welchen Einfluss haben demografische Parameter? Welche politischen, ökonomischen und sozialen Gegenmaßnahmen gibt es? Wie steht es um die Wahrung der Menschenrechte für die von Umweltmigration Betroffenen? Auf diese und viele weitere Fragen gibt der Atlas in Texten und Schaubildern Antwort." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
more
"This chapter aims to introduce the concept of an information intervention as an example of humanitarian action. Typically associated negatively with government efforts to incite conflict and tension, two case studies are explored-Haiti and Syria-to better understand how state-led information interv
...
entions can contribute to the restoration of normalcy (Haiti) and the development of community-led civil society (Syria). Of course, both Haiti and Syria remain in flux, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions on the efficacy of these efforts. That said, in both cases, there is evidence of effectiveness. Reports from Haiti indicate that the information intervention provided a crucial backbone for additional humanitarian relief, without which Haitians would have faced far worse devastation. In Syria, the emergence of a robust civil society sector, despite the fact that nearly half of Syrians are now internally or externally displaced, speaks to the capacity for open communications mediums and technologies to facilitate productive storytelling and information sharing." (Conclusion)
more
"Following decades of civil war, South Sudan still lacks a functioning healthcare system and has some of the worst maternal and child health indicators in the world. To help address this, between 2012 and 2017 BBC Media Action produced and broadcast a range of national radio programmes seeking to in
...
fluence knowledge, attitudes, discussion and the social norms most likely to drive improvements in the RMNCH-related behaviours of women and their families. It also worked to strengthen the capacity of local radio stations to produce similar high-quality, audience-driven health programming. This report presents a synthesis of all research and analysis completed under this project. In brief, it finds that the challenging country context (e.g. the limited availability of quality healthcare nationally and the ongoing humanitarian crisis) limited the extent to which the project was able to contribute to improved health outcomes. Despite this, audiences were generally optimistic about the shows’ influence and value, and reported gaining knowledge and making some behavioural changes as a result of tuning in. Likewise, local radio station partners reported that the capacity-strengthening support had improved their technical skills, editorial confidence and engagement with audiences." (BBC Media Action website)
more
"This booklet first presents as a case study an overview and analysis of the actual reporting during the May 2014 flood in Serbia from the gender perspective. This part contains examples of gender stereotypical portrayal of men and women, but also the lack of visibility of female contribution to the
...
humanitarian response. The modern system of emergency management is essentially determined by a new security paradigm. This is important to the understanding of the gender perspective in emergency management and the main characteristics are described in part 2 of this guide. This is followed by a study of the media and its role and ethics concerning the reporting of emergency situations – covering the gender aspects of emergencies. This part includes recommendations for media action in accordance with the global as well as national approaches to strengthening the resilience of people and communities for a timely and effective accommodation and recovery from the effects of disasters." (Page 8)
more
"In April 2017, an Internews team conducted a rapid assessment on information needs among refugees and migrants in Italy, visiting formal reception facilities (hotspot, CAS, CARA) in Lampedusa, Agrigento, Catania, and informal centers in Ventimiglia and Rome [...] Lost in Translation examines the cr
...
itical role of local media and provides recommendations for addressing the information void contributing to the refugee crisis." (www.internews.org)
more
"This resource is designed to support practitioners, decision makers, and development partners who work at the intersection of ICT and agriculture. In this revised e-Sourcebook you will find updated modules on ICT in the work of producer organizations; in research, extension and innovation; and in v
...
alue chains and markets. The module on gender as a crosscutting theme has also been updated, and a new module on Big Data has been added. Our hope is that the updated ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook will continue to be a practical guide in understanding current trends, implementing appropriate interventions, and evaluating the impact of ICT interventions in agricultural programs. The publication marries cutting-edge expert knowledge in ICT with empirical knowledge on a wide range of agriculture topics, from governance to supply chain management. The original e-Sourcebook was an endeavor carried out by InfoDev and the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the World Bank. The update of the ICT in Agriculture e-Sourcebook was led by the World Bank Group’s Food and Agriculture Global Practice, with significant contributions from external partners and experts." (Foreword)
more
"Going to the cinema means going on a journey” reads one of the banners in Ouagadougou that have been put up to promote the legendary pan-African FESPACO film festival. Afrika Film Festival Köln has also been taking its guests on audiovisual journeys through African cinescapes for 25 years. More
...
than 750 films from 45 African countries have been shown in Cologne since the first festival in 1992. They have showcased some hugely diverse and multi-faceted filmmaking talents from Africa and the global African diaspora [...] In addition to showing films relating to this year’s theme of “Land Grabbing and Migration”, one of the first ideas we came up with regarding the make-up of the festival programme was to present a retrospective with the highlights from the last 25 years. But this was soon scrapped due to the huge number of exciting new films that were submitted to FilmInitiativ in 2017 and the many discoveries at major festivals, such as those in Tunis, Ouagadougou and Durban. FilmInitiativ was ultimately again spoilt for choice, with more than 400 new features, documentaries and short films. We therefore decided to keep the focus on contemporary African cinema for the anniversary festival, and to complement the films with a small selection of classics." (Introduction)
more
"This Radio Distribution Module contains the collective knowledge of the Internews South Sudan team gained over three years’ experience conducting radio distributions within the United Nations Protection of Civilians sites (PoCs) and surrounding communities [...] “Part I. Context” describes th
...
e information and media landscape in South Sudan and the continued prominence of radio in people’s lives. It summarizes research on the importance of information access for health, education, and peacebuilding outcomes, and highlights Internews’ radio distribution activities in service of these aims. “Part II. Case Study” details radio distributions conducted in the Bentiu PoC and Malakal to expand information access and listenership for Boda Boda Talk Talk and Nile FM programs. The case studies also include lessons learned, particularly the adaptive programming over time, in order to offer recommendations for future radio distributions." (Page 3)
more
"Campaigns are likely to be more successful when they include messages about legal penalties for non-compliant behaviour and fresh information, and when they reach a large proportion of the intended audience. Digital campaigns must therefore work alongside laws and policies. Legislation can be a key
...
tool in changing behaviour and perceptions of cultural and social norms. Laws and policies that make violent behaviour an offence send a message to society that it is not acceptable.
Success is more likely if messages are tailored to audiences using social marketing principles and create a supportive environment that enables the intended audience to make changes – e.g. by mobilising communities in support of the campaign.
To develop effective campaigns, it is also important to use research, such as interviews with key stakeholders and focus groups with members of the target audience, to determine existing attitudes and beliefs and ways of motivating people to change their behaviour.
Campaign messages should also be pre-tested to ensure they are understood correctly and to minimize any unintended negative effects.
The most successful interventions work with experienced organisations to develop and deliver sophisticated television/radio programming and communications combined with community mobilisation strategies aimed at changing gender-related norms and behaviours." (Overview, page 3)
more
"The application of Communication for Development (C4D) in conflict prevention, conflict reduction and post-conflict reconstruction interventions is a relatively new field. International organisations that have begun to adopt new communication & media designs in their peace work are progressively of
...
fering a credible baseline to engage in the assessment of this practice. In this paper, I offer a short compendium of the evaluation frameworks I have developed through my empirical research on the impact of Communication for Development in Peacebuilding; this is presented alongside a number of reflections and followed by concluding considerations on the state of the field." (Abstract)
more