Explore the digital future programme

Discover the future of techEducator guidance

Module overviewExplore the rate at which technology is transforming careers across industries through discussion tasks, reflecting on students’ own experiences, video case studies and Microsoft initiatives. Students will also start to understand that the future workplace needs both digital and soft skills, and people who demonstrate inclusive behaviours and value diversity.

Identify how technology is used in everyday life

Consider the impact of technology on a range of careers

Explore how technology is used as a positive force for change

Discover the individuals behind the technologies that impact the way we live

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

Section Activity Duration

Starter The big question: When do you not use technology?Get students thinking differently with a quick discussion and class debate 15 minutes

Part twoExplore technologyFind out how the medical industry is using new technologies to transform patient treatment and employee training and watch a film to explore accessibility and inclusivity in gaming technology

30 minutes

Extension People behind the techChallenge students assumptions about the types of people that work in tech through a series of case study films and reflection questions 30 minutes

Key learning outcomes

The big question15 mins

Reflect When do you not use technology?

1Lesson slide Ask pairs to write down an activity where technology is not involved. You could share some examples:

• Going for a walk • Eating at a restaurant • Drawing a picture

Discuss Challenging assumptions

It’s important to look at things from multiple perspectives when addressing an issue. By taking everyone’s ideas into consideration, you can ensure the resolution is inclusive of the needs of all involved, instead of just being from one person’s point of view.

Ask for volunteers to share their ideas. Invite other students to challenge them and suggest how this activity does use technology. For example:

• Going for a walk – new fibres used to make shoes more comfortable, navigation apps on phones so you know where you’re going, step counting software on watches

• Eating at a restaurant – engines and motors in cars to get to the restaurant, ovens and fridges used to create dishes and store ingredients, online booking software to book a table

• Drawing a picture – pens and pencils have been made using technology, drawing and designing apps available Explore misconceptions about what technology is. Can they think of anything that does not involve technology?

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

Explore technology30 mins

Reflect What is technology?

2Lesson slide Create a mind map of ideas from students on how they define technology. This could include what technology means to them, how it impacts their lives and the advantages and disadvantages.

Explore How has technology transformed the way we work?

It’s hard to imagine not having technology in our lives. It might seem obvious how technology is integral to some jobs, but there are industries that use technology in ways that students might not be aware of.

Ask students if they can think of any ways that the medical industry might use technology. Get them to think about diagnostics, virtual appointments and developing medicine before moving on to the examples below.

Imperial College London uses Microsoft HoloLens to help medical students get vital experience of real patients in hospitals.

The HoloLens is a pair of mixed reality smart glasses that use artificial intelligence. Clinicians and educators have been able to use them in outpatient clinics and ward rounds, to share a live feed of what they are seeing with students watching on their devices at home. Read the full article here. vCreate Neuro is a platform that allows patients and carers to share videos of potential seizures directly with NHS healthcare professionals.

This then offers a faster diagnosis and they recommend appropriate treatment, reducing the need for the patient having to travel to a hospital. Read the full article here.

3Lesson slide

4Lesson slide

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

Explore technology30 mins

Discuss How does technology make life simpler?

5Lesson slide

Ask students to think of some everyday tasks, like navigating, shopping or communicating with friends, that use technology.

It’s easy to take technology for granted. What if a disability impacts the way someone uses these everyday technologies?

Watch this video featuring young gamers to introduce the concept of accessibility and inclusivity in technology. The video shows how technology has been used to make the gaming environment accessible to all.

Ask students if they can think of any other activities that are not accessible to everyone, and how technology could help. For example, a person with a physical disability may be able to take part in sport through wheelchair and artificial limb technology.

Reflect What comes next?

6Lesson slide Watch this video from 2011, which highlights some of the ways we thought technology could be used in the future. Get students to note down some of the examples they see (such as fingerprint technology, GPS tracking, or translation tools), and afterwards think about which ones have become a reality. How many still feel new, and which are already commonplace?

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

Explore technology30 mins

Encourage your class to look to the future and think about how technology might continue to be a force for positive change and development. Remind them that technology isn’t just about inventing new things, but also finding new uses for existing technology.

Ask students to reflect on ways that technology could create positive change, and write down their thoughts. These could include advancements in medicine, education or the environment.

Return to the mind map from the start of the session to see if they can add any new definitions of what technology is, and if their understanding has changed at all.

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

People behind the tech 30 mins

Explore Who is behind technology?

7Lesson slide Ask students to name as many famous inventors as they can.

Show this film that demonstrates the gender bias we have when thinking of the people behind technology. It features many women who have made discoveries and inventions that have changed the world.

Reflect on how diverse their suggestions were before they saw the film. Did they name any female inventors, or anyone of different ethnicities?

Below are some female inventors who have had a huge impact on the technology of today. Ask how many of these female inventors they have heard of before, and research some of them if you have time. Discuss why they may be less likely to have heard of female inventors than male.

Martha CostonInventor of signal flares

Sarah MatherInventor of the underwater telescope

Alice H. ParkerInventor of the heating furnace

Maria PereiraCreated heart surgery adhesive

Mary KennerCreator of multiple bathroom gadgets

Ada LovelaceMade the first computer algorithm

Patricia BathInvented laser cataract surgery

Stephanie KwolekMade bullet proof material

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

Lesson slide 8

Lesson slide 9

People behind the tech 30 mins

Explore Careers in technology

10Lesson slide If you are working with an older or more advanced group, take the session further by completing this extension task.

Show the below films to meet individuals with jobs across the tech industry

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

While watching each film, ask students to reflect on the following questions:

• What technology might the individuals use in their everyday roles? Think about communication and transportation for example • How are they using technology to make a positive change?• Is there anything about the way they use technology that surprises you?• What skills are essential to succeeding in their role?

Supplementary learning Microsoft have developed a Computer Science Curriculum Toolkit which features a wealth of relevant resources from across Microsoft and other subject specialist online hubs. Click on the images below to access activities that supplement the learning in this module.

Foundation

Build a lemon battery and switch

BBC Bitesize: Introduction to computational thinking

Khan Academy: What makes a computer?

Intermediate

Code.org: Problem Solving and Computing

Advanced

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The big question Explore technology People behind the tech Supplementary learning

Crash Course Computer Science: How Computers Calculate the ALU film