Minds On
Technologies
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
- What are some examples of technology that you know of or use on a regular basis?
- Do you consider any of your listed technologies to be emerging? Innovative? Why or why not?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Press ‘Hint’ to access additional details.
Emerging technologies are new technologies or advancements to existing technology.
Innovative technologies are existing technologies that are used in new and creative ways.
Action
Innovation in Canada
This learning activity features emerging technologies, STEM contributions, and Canadian innovations that are making a difference.
In this section, we are going to explore how numerous Indigenous communities are combining innovation and reconciliation.
Student Tips
Student tips
Press the following tabs to access key terms used in this learning activity.
Innovation means a new idea, a new product, or a new way to do something. It can also be an improvement of an already existing idea, product, or process.
Reconciliation means to restore friendly relations.
Resiliency means the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
Sustainable means causing little or no damage to the environment, therefore being able to continue for a long time.
The First Nations Technology Council
The First Nations Technology Council is based out of British Columbia and is an Indigenous-led organization serving Indigenous communities.
The council believes that reconciliation and innovation should work together to create a more sustainable future for all Canadians.
The First Nations Technology Council…
- runs education programs that advance training and work experience for careers in technology with the goal of creating a network of Indigenous innovators that can tackle the digital economy
- research projects that are committed to advancing digital and related technologies for Indigenous peoples
- works towards increasing the number of Indigenous representatives in all levels of government, technology companies, and academic institutions
- provides reliable internet access to remote and reserve Indigenous communities
Reading Time
Sustainable innovation
Climate change, sustainability, and innovation are widely used terms when discussing the current state of our Earth and how we need to be preserving the state of our natural world.
Long before now, Indigenous communities valued and practiced these beliefs – with a specific focus on practical inventions, such as snow goggles or natural medicines.
Inuit snow goggles made of caribou antler and sinew, with narrow horizontal slits to see through.
Indigenous communities hold critical knowledge on how to live sustainably and honour and respect all life forms and their interconnection.
This knowledge is passed down through generations. Indigenous people believe we have a responsibility to our land and to future generations, and, therefore, we must diversify our thought process to find a healthy balance and respect for all life forms.
As innovators write code that will define our future systems, it is important that the most experienced innovators be part of this process.
What do you think?
What is the First Nations Technology Council promoting?
Reflect on the following quote: “Our innovation, skills, and resiliency have been proven by our ability to survive and thrive for thousands of years …” (Williams, 2019).
What do you think this means? Why?
Record your thoughts and ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Let’s explore a few examples of innovative technologies that can be used in everyday lives.
Innovative technology
Researchers, scientists, and engineers are always working to solve problems with innovative solutions.
Press the following tabs to explore various innovative technologies.
For each technology explored, consider how it makes a positive impact on lives and on the environment.
The Wonderbag is an innovation for anyone who cooks food over an open fire. When food is prepared over an open fire, there is a threat of air pollution from the charcoal or fuels being burned, along with carbon emissions being released. With this innovation, food is brought to a boil, then placed inside the bag to cook slowly for up to 12 hours.
The goal of Litre of Light is to bring sustainable lighting to communities all over the world.
This project creates affordable, solar powered lighting using recycled water bottles and locally sourced materials to create the bulbs. No electricity is needed to light up homes using this lighting source.
The people who worked at Solaroad believed that roads could work as solar panels. These panels could produce electricity for homes in the area and even streetlights. The creation of panels that could let sunlight in but still be tough enough for vehicles to drive on them was a big challenge. 10m2 of path can power a home.
This non-profit tech company created an app and computer software that can be used on and offline to find water and sanitation sites closeby, then map and monitor the quality of the water at that site. The company’s database consists of over 350,000 public and private water sites all over the world.
This is a reusable container system in which members borrow containers from cafeterias and other food establishments using a mobile application. When they are finished with the container, they can bring it back to the collection bin. The purpose is to eliminate disposable packaging.
Student Success
Think!
Choose two of the following questions to respond to:
- Which innovative technology surprised you or stood out to you the most? Why?
- Which of these innovations are making a positive impact on people’s lives? How?
- Which of these innovations are making a positive impact on the environment? How?
- Are any of these innovations making a positive impact on people’s lives and the environment? How?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
When you’re ready, press ‘Let’s Check!’ to access possible answers.
- The innovations that are making a positive impact on people’s lives are all of the innovations we previously explored.
- The innovations that are making a positive impact on the environment are Cano Inc., Solaroad, the Wonderbag.
- The Wonderbag and Cano Inc. are making a positive impact on both the environment and people’s lives
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Try It
Your turn!
Think like an innovator!
Can you think of an everyday problem that could be addressed with a new innovative technology? Innovative thinking is the ability to come up with new ideas and novel approaches to existing problems.
Problem solving starts with critical thinking (analyzing a problem), and then shifts to creative thinking (imagining solutions).
Planning a solution requires more critical thinking, while applying the solution is a creative process.
First, use critical thinking to analyze the problem. Second, use creative thinking to imagine solutions. Third, use critical thinking to plan a solution. Fourth, use creative thinking to apply the solution. Fifth, use critical thinking to evaluate the solution. Sixth, use creating thinking to improve the solution. Finally, use critical thinking to implement the solution.
Let’s propose an innovative solution to an existing problem.
This could be a problem that exists locally or globally, and the solution might be something new that does not exist, or something that already exists but could be made even more impactful.
Press ‘Hints’ to access possible ideas and examples of problems that need a solution.
You may choose to focus on one of the following or consider another problem of your choice:
- flooding, and the inability to grow food after a flood
- transportation in a city
- overcrowding in a specific area (housing needs)
- access to clean water
- cleaning up an oil spill
- cooking food in the middle of a forest
- building earthquake-resistant structures
- making something that already exists more comfortable or easy to use
Complete the My Innovative Solution Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.
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My Innovative Solution Activity: |
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Record responses to each of the following steps. |
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Step 1: Ask! |
What is the problem you are trying to solve? |
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Step 2: Think! |
Brainstorm some possible solutions to your problem. |
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Step 3: Plan! |
Plan a design for your solution and list all of the materials that it requires. |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access My Innovative Solution Activity.
Consolidation
Your innovation
Choose one innovative technology that you explored throughout this learning activity, then create an advertisement, detailed audio recording, or a method/medium of your choice to describe and explain the innovation to an audience of your choice.
You may use the following questions to guide your description:
- What is the innovative technology?
- Who is this technology helping? Why is it important?
- Who developed this technology?
- What real world problem is it solving? Why care?
If possible, share your innovative technology’s description with a partner.
I can communicate my learning by…
Pause and Reflect
Pause and reflect
- Why is it important that engineers, scientists, and designers come up with innovative technologies?
- What is the difference between critical thinking and creative thinking? How do these apply to innovative thinking?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel…
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.