Grade 9 Self and Society

This sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

contribute to group success by encouraging others to fulfil their responsibilities
identify role models in technological occupations, including those that are sensitive to culture, gender, and physical ability
explain relationships between technological advancements and changes in the workplace, including the changing roles of workers
evaluate design ideas based on assessments by others
demonstrate a willingness to look for and develop improved solutions to problems that arise during the design process
express personal thoughts and feelings about how societal pressures may influence technological advancements and, conversely, how technological changes influence society and the environment
demonstrate confidence and positive attitudes when solving problems that arise during the design process

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Self and Society in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

Students examine the issues and impacts of technology on themselves and society. They continue to learn about the technical requirements of various careers. They learn that ethics, regard for others and the environment, respect for diversity, and technical skills are valued in school, in the workplace, and by society in general.

Lead a class discussion on ways people use technology to overcome physical disabilities. Have students research existing devices and design models of new products that help people with special needs. Help them develop questions to interview someone with a disability.
Lead a class discussion about career opportunities in various technological occupations. Help students develop interview questions that address such issues as the ethical and environmental implications of technology, workers' roles, and how workers use technology to perform their jobs. Have students interview people in various occupations, then in small groups discuss their findings and compile a report using charts or visual materials.
Ask students to investigate an aspect of technology that has evolved significantly. Give them worksheets such as the following to compare and contrast the past, present, and future applications of this technology.

Technological Change
Write a brief description of technology that has evolved significantly:

	THEN	NOW	FUTURE
Efficiency
Working Conditions
Worker Skills
Effect on Society

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

As students investigate technologies and the related careers related to those technologies, they demonstrate their understandings of the effect of technology on their lives, on society, and on the environment.

Question

After completing a design project, hold a conference with students to assess their abilities to critically analyse their designs. Ask questions such as:
- What are the strengths and limitations of your design solution?
- What potential societal and environmental effects-both positive and negative-does your solution contain?
- What new problems have you identified?
- How could you address these issues in a subsequent design?
To assess their understandings of the effect of a recently evolved technology, ask questions such as:
- In what ways has this technology made human activities more or less effective?
- How have the skills needed to use this technology changed?
- How has this technology affected the number or kinds of jobs available?
- How might this technology evolve over the next ten years?
- How might the changes you predict affect society, the environment, and the work force?

Collect

Examine design portfolio for evidence that students are able to:
- generate a variety of ideas in response to a problem during the design process
- work through different ideas to improve solutions
- evaluate solutions to refine the design
- evaluate solutions from ethical and environmental perspectives