Minds On

Technology

The technology used today is improving and changing at a rapid pace. It can make everyday life easier and allow humans to complete tasks quicker and in ways they could not have done so before.

Let’s consider two pieces of technology: the laptop and the GPS (Global Positioning System). Brainstorm some of the benefits that each of these technologies have in a method of your choice.

Though these technologies have clear benefits for people, they are also impactful in ways that may or may not be negative.

Think about the possible impacts that one of these chosen technologies has on the environment. You can use the following chart or a method of your choice to record your answer.

Press the Hint button to access guiding questions to help you.

Hint

Environment:  How is this technology disposed of?  What are the benefits of recycling technology?  How is this technology created?

Impacts That Technology Has On The Environment
Technology:	Positive Impacts	Negative Impacts
Environment

Complete Impacts That Technology Has On The Environment in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Impacts That Technology Has On The Environment.

Activity

Action

Ontario connection

This learning activity highlights people, places, or innovations that relate directly to the province of Ontario. Enjoy the exploration!

Technology impacts

Although technology is essential to our everyday lives, advancements in technology have impacted the environment over time. Understanding both the positive and the negative impacts of technology on the environment is very important.

Negative impacts

Press the following tabs to explore ways technologies have damaged the environment.

By Lake Ontario there is an oil refinery with many smokestacks with smoke rising into the air. — By Lake Ontario, there is an oil refinery with many smokestacks with some rising into the air

Excess amounts of gasses such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitric acid have been introduced into the Earth’s atmosphere.  This has happened in part because of the need to burn fossil fuels to power the factories, stations, and plants that manufacture new technologies.  Fossil fuels are also used as an energy source to run some technologies.  One technology that needs fossil fuels is gas powered vehicles. 

This is Lake Superior with discoloured water. — Lake Superior

Water pollution is the contamination of water due to waste and pesticides. This can destroy aquatic ecosystems and hinder human health.

A machine is taking logs that have been cut down to place onto a truck for removal. — Deforestation

Society has been consuming natural resources such as wood, minerals, water, and fossil fuels faster than they can replenish. The production of technologies uses these resources as energy sources. As demand around the world for new technologies continue to increase, this natural resource use will continue to grow.

Positive impacts

Despite these negative impacts of technology, it turns out that advancements in environmental technology aim to help solve some of the biggest environmental concerns that we face.

Environmental Technology refers to ‘green’ or ‘clean’ technology that aim to conserve and reduce the negative impact of technology and the consumption of resources.

Press the following tabs to access examples of green technology.

There are almost one dozen wind turbines at sunset in with forests of trees surrounding them. — Wind turbines

Renewable energy is energy that is naturally replenished by the sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat.  When technology manufacturing and power generation uses this form of energy as its prime energy source, it is better for the environment.

Someone controlling their home’s heating, lighting, music, and other power sources. — Smart technology

Smart technology uses sensors and technology that can be remotely monitored to be as energy efficient as possible. Two examples of smart technology include intelligent lighting systems that only light up when needed and thermostats that keep homes at certain temperatures during certain times of the day.

A child and an adult are removing the plug from their electric car. — Electric vehicle

Learning check!

For this activity, sort the various items as positive or negative impacts towards the environment.

What do you think?

Of these impacts of technology on the environment, do you feel that any are more significant than others, either in a positive sense or a negative sense?  Why or why not?

Be sure to explain why you feel this way.

Record your thoughts and ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.

Tackling the impacts of technology at work

There are several occupations in the field of science and technology including those in the skilled trades that are tasked with developing or helping to power technologies for personal and professional use. Many of these careers are turning to environmentally friendly solutions to manufacture and power these technologies in a green or environmentally friendly way.

Let’s explore the following career profiles to learn more.

A person wearing a hardhat inspecting a solar panel.

Renewable energy engineer: This career focuses on finding alternative options (other than fossil fuels) to produce energy and combat climate change. They focus on photovoltaics (solar cells or turning sunlight into electricity) and solar energy.

A mechanical contractor using tool to maintain a radiator to conserve energy

Mechanical contractor: This skilled trade focuses on installing and maintaining heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems in homes and businesses. Their knowledge and understanding of these systems can support architects and engineers when choosing energy efficient products.

A scientist sitting by a stream. They are holding a water sample and reading.

Conservation scientist: This is a scientist who conserves the earth’s biodiversity which keeps ecosystems thriving. Using green technology, experts like conservation scientists can help to preserve our resources to protect the environment and the life that thrives within it.

A plumber opening the lid to a toilet and surrounded in parts to fix it.

Plumber: Plumbing is a skilled trade that is embracing green practices. Plumbers are finding and working with eco-friendly plumbing solutions that minimize waste and conserve resources.

Two people collecting plant samples. One person is entering information into a tablet.

Agricultural scientist: This career focuses on using green technology to create sustainable and efficient farming practices. One way they do this is to reduce CO2 emissions that are caused by agriculture.

An electrician standing on a ladder in a room and installing the wires for overhead lighting.

Electrician: An electrician is a skilled trade that focuses on the use of green technologies in homes and businesses. They install and maintain energy efficient energy systems using smart technologies to run the systems.

Connections

Choose one of these occupations to explore further. Investigate and research more details about this occupation in Ontario.

Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.

Explore this video to learn about the steps of the Scientific Research Process.

For this activity, you will focus on the following steps:

ask
record
learn
think

While researching your occupation, consider the following:

the roles and responsibilities involved
the opportunities for this role to work with green technologies and reduce the negative impacts of people and technology on the environment
the need for this occupation in Ontario
the qualifications needed for this occupation

You can use the following checklist to guide your thinking.

I can choose resources by…

brainstorming a list of key terms making a list of where to find information thinking about who the writer was and what their perspective or bias might be reflecting on how the resources is relevant and appropriate

Consolidation

Review your learning

Let’s check our understanding of the previously explore science and technology career profiles.

For each career, select the corresponding description.

Career profile

Create a “Profile” digitally, in print, or in another method of your choice about the career that you further explored.

Your career profile should include:

the name of the career 3 responsibilities that involve working with technology the qualifications needed to work in this field the ways in which this career can help to reduce the negative impact of people and technology on the environment a video/audio clip, art piece or creative outlet of your choice that introduces this career to others

Pause and Reflect

Pause and reflect

Choose one of the following questions to reflect on:

Overall, do you feel that technology has a greater positive or negative impact on the environment? Could this change in the future? How?
Do you feel that the careers you explored, including the profile you created, can use technology in a positive way to help confront climate change? If so, how? If not, why not?

Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.

If possible, share your ideas and thoughts with a partner.

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…

I have an excellent understanding of the concepts I have a very good understanding of the concepts I have some understanding but need to review some more my understanding of the concepts needs a lot more work

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.

Learning goals

Success criteria

Minds On

Technology

Action

Ontario connection