Day 13: Computing Innovations and Problem-Solving

Learning Objectives

• IOC-1.K: Explain how computing innovations can both solve and create problems.

Essential Questions

• How do computing innovations address societal problems?
• How might computing innovations create new problems?
• How can we evaluate the overall impact of computing solutions?

Materials Needed

• Presentation slides on computing innovations and problem-solving
• Case study handouts of problem-solving innovations
• Problem-solution analysis worksheet
• Societal problem cards
• Exit ticket templates

Vocabulary

• Problem-solving
• Innovation
• Unintended consequences
• Iterative development
• Solution design
• Impact assessment
• Technological solutionism
• Systems thinking
• Stakeholder analysis
• Responsible innovation

Procedure (50 minutes)

Opening (8 minutes)

1. Review and Connection (3 minutes)

   • Review privacy concerns and protections from previous lesson
   • Connect to today's focus on how computing addresses and creates problems

2. Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)

   • Present a societal problem (e.g., traffic congestion, healthcare access)
   • Ask students to brainstorm how computing might help address this problem
   • Create a class list of potential computing solutions
   • Introduce the concept of computing as a problem-solving tool

Main Activities (32 minutes)

3. Analysis: How Computing Addresses Societal Problems (12 minutes)

   • Discuss domains where computing has addressed significant problems:
     • Healthcare (telemedicine, medical imaging, disease tracking)
     • Environment (climate modeling, resource management, smart grids)
     • Education (personalized learning, access to information, collaboration tools)
     • Transportation (navigation, traffic management, autonomous vehicles)
     • Public safety (emergency response, disaster management, crime prevention)
     • Accessibility (assistive technologies, universal design, language translation)
   • For each domain, analyze:
     • What specific problems are being addressed
     • How computing provides unique solutions
     • What data and algorithms enable these solutions
     • What impact these solutions have had
   • Discuss characteristics of effective computing solutions:
     • Addressing root causes, not just symptoms
     • Appropriate scale and scope
     • Consideration of diverse users and contexts
     • Sustainable and maintainable
     • Balancing competing concerns

4. Case Studies: Successful Problem-Solving Innovations (10 minutes)

   • Present 2-3 case studies of computing innovations that effectively addressed problems
   • For each case study, analyze:
     • The original problem and its significance
     • How the computing innovation works
     • What impact it has had
     • What factors contributed to its success
     • How it evolved over time
   • Discuss the role of iterative development in refining solutions
   • Consider how these innovations built on previous technologies
   • Explore how user feedback shaped the solutions

5. Discussion: How Innovations Can Create New Problems (10 minutes)

   • Examine how computing solutions can create new problems:
     • Replacing one problem with another
     • Creating dependencies on technology
     • Excluding certain populations
     • Environmental impacts
     • Privacy and security concerns
     • Social and economic disruption
     • Unintended behavioral changes
   • Analyze specific examples of innovations with mixed impacts:
     • Social media connecting people but creating filter bubbles
     • Automation increasing efficiency but displacing workers
     • Ride-sharing improving transportation but affecting public transit
     • Online shopping providing convenience but impacting local businesses
   • Discuss the concept of technological solutionism (the belief that technology can solve all problems)
   • Consider the importance of holistic approaches to problem-solving

Closing (10 minutes)

6. Activity: Iterative Solution Development (7 minutes)

   • Divide students into small groups
   • Provide each group with a societal problem scenario
   • Groups sketch an initial computing solution
   • Groups identify potential new problems their solution might create
   • Groups revise their solution to address these potential problems
   • Groups share how their solutions evolved through iteration
   • Discuss how anticipating problems can improve initial designs

7. Exit Ticket and Preview (3 minutes)

   • Students identify a societal problem and analyze how computing could address it
   • Analysis should include potential benefits and risks of the proposed solution
   • Preview that next class will begin the final project on computing innovations

Assessment

• Formative: Quality of participation in case study analysis and solution development
• Exit Ticket: Thoughtfulness of computing solution analysis

Differentiation

For Advanced Students

• Ask them to analyze more complex or systemic problems
• Have them consider second and third-order effects of solutions
• Challenge them to develop more sophisticated solution proposals

For Struggling Students

• Focus on more concrete problems and solutions
• Provide a structured template for solution analysis
• Offer more guidance on identifying potential impacts

Homework/Extension

• Research a computing innovation designed to address a societal problem
• Analyze both intended and unintended consequences of a familiar technology
• Interview users of a problem-solving technology about their experiences

Teacher Notes

• Encourage balanced analysis rather than purely optimistic or pessimistic views
• Use current examples that students will recognize
• Make connections to students' experiences with problem-solving technologies
• Consider discussing how non-technological approaches complement computing solutions
• Emphasize that responsible innovation requires ongoing assessment and adaptation