Module 2: Online Forum (Global Poverty - Standard of Living)
*Note: This discussion has been converted to a Canvas page to facilitate viewing in this public course
Today we are going to explore how others live around the world by exploring "Dollar Street" Links to an external site. and completing the 2018 Worldview test.
First you should complete the 2018 Worldview test (link). Links to an external site. How did you do? Record your score and save it for later.
Now please watch this video regarding how your results compared to others around the world who answered similar questions. Most likely you did not not do as well as you would have liked. This is normal and this test is often called the misconception test because individuals from 1st World Countries often have a bad view of the conditions around the world.
Now we are going to explore specific families in the "Dollar Street" (link) Links to an external site. database and explore their lives (i.e. where they live, their family situation, their transportation options, education, etc...). We will break this up into 4 groups.
To get full credit you need to post your initial discussion prior to Wed evening.
For your post, you will go to Dollar Street and investigate one family within your assigned income level.
Students with your last name starting with...
- A-E look at individuals with incomes $0-2/day [$0-60/month]; Level 1:Approximately 1 billion people in the world belong to this level.
- F-L look at individuals with incomes $2-8/day [$60-244/month]; Level 2: Approximately 3 billion people in the world belong to this level.
- M-S look at individuals with incomes $8-32/day [$244-976/month]; Level 3: Approximately 2 billion people in the world belong to this level.
- T-Z look at individuals with incomes $32/day and above [$976/month and above]; Level 4: Approximately 1 billion people belong to this level.
Please explore the site instead of just picking the first family on your assigned Level.
200 years ago, around 80 percent of the world’s population belonged to level 1, living in extreme poverty. Today, this figure is 9 percent. Instead, most people now belong to the two middle-income levels. Their most urgent needs are met (i.e. they have somewhere to live and access to food, water, electricity, toilets, education, and basic health care).
A quick note regarding how the income is calculated.
- The income is based on an average annual income. Some individuals only get paid once or twice a year (harvests).
- The income is also based on consumption, not their take-home pay. This includes taxes, benefits, etc... For example, if your salary is $50,000 per year but your company also contributes to your retirement, health insurance, and other benefits your income will be more than $50 K per year.
- If families grow their own food, do not pay for housing or other resources, etc... their income may not be comparable; therefore, some incomes are adjusted for these components.
In your post, you should write a 200 word essay regarding the following two things.
First, tell us how you did on the Misconception Test.
Did you do better than the monkeys?
Describe why you think you have these misconceptions regarding the worlds populations and standard of living.
Second, briefly describe the family that you are investigating by answering the following questions.
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- Where does your family live?
- What is their monthly income and how do they make a living?
- What are their challenges and dreams?
- Where does the family get its water and food supply?
- What is the family's most beloved belonging?
- Write about how the standard of living for the family that you investigated is different and/or similar to how you live.
Additional things to think about...
- How has learning about how others live and your own misconceptions helped you understand your impact on our surroundings?
- Where are you on the "Dollar Street"? Were you surprised where you lie?
- What misconceptions do you have about how population, poverty, and how this interacts with the environment?
To get full credit your original post needs to be submitted by Wed and your comments need to be posted by the end of the week (Sat). Your comment grade will be posted in the reminder portion of the forum.
You then should come back during the week and interact with the discussion by reading and making at least 2 comments on other posts and respond to the comments made to your post. Each of your comments should be at least 25-50 words - this means that you have read and engaged in the posts and are not just saying good job or I agree. Dig in, ask questions, see how your peers responded.