There's a new code.org celebrity video making the rounds that features tech luminaries such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Will.i.am (wait, you didn't know he was a technologist?) advocating the idea that all kids should learn to code. It's a well-produced video featuring famous luminaries and comes on the heels of an ongoing debate…
A few months back, we launched TESTING 1 2 3, an innovation fund that received 311 submissions from applicants who proposed to test ideas all over the world, using varied approaches to innovatively address a mix of government transparency and accountability challenges. Today, we are happy to announce the 10 ideas selected for the Lightning Round, the fund’s final step of…
Earlier this week, the Knight Foundation opened a new Knight News Challenge, this time focused on promoting innovative approaches to "open government." The announcement has received quite a bit of attention; any time you commit up to US$5 million in funding for something, people's ears tend to prick up. We've spent plenty of time here…
The open government community is growing increasingly excited about what “Design Thinking” may bring to their work. The basic design thinking approach is as follows: initial assumptions inform a prototype. The prototype is tested in the context envisioned for its use. Observations of user needs and behaviors are made, and the model is iterated upon…
We have been reviewing idea submissions for many weeks now and are nearly ready to take a shortlist to our final Lightning Round. Throughout the evaluation process, we made some unexpected observations. In one case, the shockingly different ideas we had called for missed a seemingly crucial step. Whether it’s journalists tracking money flows in…
Our friends at The Transparency & Accountability Initiative (T/AI) are launching a pilot mentorship program in response to needs identified by organizations at the TABridge Sessions for increased strategic technology hands‐on skill building. This year, six to nine organizations will be selected to participate in a five‐month customized program. Selected organizations will be partnered with…