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Unlocking Big Potential: Lessons from Small Technologies in Challenging Contexts

Explore the transformative power of small technologies in overcoming challenges faced by individuals and communities. Drawing insights from colleagues and friends, Susan Crichton shares valuable lessons learned from practical applications and innovative uses of small technologies in various contexts. This exploration highlights how these tools can foster resilience, enhance learning experiences, and create impactful solutions even when resources are limited. Discover how small technologies can make a big difference in addressing complex societal issues.

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Unlocking Big Potential: Lessons from Small Technologies in Challenging Contexts

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Presentation Transcript

  1. SmallTechnologies with BigPotential:

    Lessons Learned from Colleagues and Friends in Challenging Contexts Susan Crichton University of Calgary / University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus
  2. The average North American home has 25 or more products … consuming electricity 24 hours a day … and there’s 1,441,000,000 people in the world without electricity … at all …for anything …
  3. Did you know? The average lifespan of computers in developed countries has dropped from 6 years in 1997 to just 2 years in 2005. Mobile phones have a lifecycle of less than 2 years in developed countries. … and then there is eWaste which we won’t even get into this morning …
  4. … but this talk isn’t about us … … it’s about how we all might do morewith less… and considering how lessmight be more?
  5. … it’s about appropriate technologies* *tools or practices that are the simplest and most benign solutions to a problem
  6. These technologies provide options for minimally invasive education
  7. … and serve as prompts for self organizing systems
  8. While there’s always a range within any solution … $15 $310,000
  9. Picking the best option remainsour work … For example, mLearning in East Africa
  10. Safe Motherhood Project - Pakistan Text messages sent to pregnant women to create awareness about timely vaccination, etc. CHALLENGE Husbands became upset when wives got text messages. SOLUTION Lady health worker saved the number with her name so in the future when the women received text messages everyone in the family knew that the messages were sent by the lady health worker CHALLENGE Families of the lady health workers created problems when the project cell phones arrived. SOLUTION The families had to be informed why the cell phones were necessary
  11. … BUT we have to wade through the hype and find the advantage
  12. Working through the hype Functionality Social value – image / symbol Epistemic – curiosity / urge to experiment Emotional – aesthetics, beauty, artistry Conditional value – context (e.g. a lovely winter coat in February; sandals in July)
  13. Deciding factors … Functional Emotional Epistemic Social
  14. … which takes us back to the issue of appropriate technologies
  15. Yes, Smartphones are fine but what about the actual screen readability … the content real estate?
  16. A Story: The jiFUNzeniapproach in actual practice in rural Kenya
  17. Handheld devices, solar power, affordable clean water … an appropriate “package” for change
  18. Is it magic or science? Changed practice through “seeing” active teaching and learning Changed relationships Authentic inquiry / activities – solar & biosand filter (www.cawst.org) … or is it just a combination of small technologies – each with BIG potential?
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