I failure good. Real good.

and I'm ok with that.

Bill TuckerComputer Science

University of the Western CapeBANG: Bridging Africa's Networking Gaps

What we do well

• make promises• get funding• graduate postgrads• get publications

What we are getting better at

• engage community – being there and not– learn how the community works its own solutions– let community drive the agenda with us

• provide community something in their hands• empowering everyone involved to do their

own thing. This is Action Research.• becoming more mutual

As Computer Science academics . . .

• we had to try things out and fail• we had to geek out• we had to consider quitting on a regular basis• we had to get help, esp. outside help

So, ja-nee, we fail a lot. . . although

• we stay in the game• we build trusting relationships and friends• we become more aware of social realities• we balance between low and high tech• we continue to get better at getting better

Slaggate theory (aka potholes)

Portia Nelson, Autobiography in Five Short Chapters

I walk down the street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I fall in.I am lost…I am helpless.It isn’t my fault.It takes forever to find a way out.

II

I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I pretend I don’t see it.I fall in again.I can’t believe I’m in the same place.But, it isn’t my fault.I still takes a long time to get out.

III

I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I see it is there.I still fall in – it’s a habit.My eyes are open.I know where I am.It is my fault.I get out immediately.

IV

I walk down the same street.There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.I walk around it.

V

I walk down another street.

Suggested readingbridges.org (2004) Real Access / Real Impact criteria & 12 Habits of Highly Effective ICT-Enabled Development Initiatives. (email me for pdfs – the website is defunct).

Dearden, A., & Rizvi, H. (2008). Participatory IT design and participatory development: a comparative review. In Tenth Conference on Participatory Design 2008 (PDC ’08) (pp. 81–91). Bloomington, Indiana: New York: ACM Press.

Hayes, G. R. (2012). Taking action in your research. Interactions, 19(4), 50–53.

Kaplan, A. (1996). The Development Practitioners’ Handbook. London: Pluto Press.

Law, J. (2004). After method: Mess in social science research. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.

Steinberg, J. (2008). Three Letter Plague. Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers.