Proposal

CCT333H5S: Technology Design Project Proposal

Monday, February13th, 2012.

Problem: The social and economic structure within First Nations communities is unconducive to providing a comprehensive education experience that will help break the cycle of poverty within these communities. Many of the educational institutions lack the resources, both in technology and educators, to provide First Nations children with a quality education that most of their peers in Canada have the privilege of experiencing. In addition, the economic constraints on families within these communities leave parents with more immediate priorities, consisting of providing food, shelter, and paying basic bills for hydro and electricity. This leaves many children without the attention they need in the field of education. Without a proper education, these constraints are self-perpetuating, and the problem continues to exist from one generation to the next.

Solution: To provide a more valuable education, computers can facilitate the sharing of information and knowledge. However, access to electricity may be problematic due to geographic restraints or is unaffordable to the community. We propose a solar powered power bar which can be used to power, among other things, basic educational technologies within the schools. The power bar would charge from a solar panel during daylight, store the charge, and be usable while collecting the charge. It would be constructed using economical components to keep price as low as possible. Essentially, the bar will be able to power any energy efficient digital device. It would not be intended for power tools or anything which requires lots of juice to get going.

With a good education, members of the First Nations community can attain better careers and invest back into their community by opening a business, or providing an essential service, for instance. This type of investment, as a collective, helps to improve the quality of life for all of the members in the community.

Sources:

Ed. Nee-Benham, Maenette and Joanne Cooper. Indigenous Educational Models for Contemporary Practice: In Our Mother’s Voice. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 2000.

Reforming First Nations Education: From Crisis to Hope: [|__http://parl.gc.ca/Content/SEN/Committee/411/appa/rep/rep03dec11-e.pdf__]