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The Environmental Impacts of Technology: E-waste

Lesson Topic: Electronic Waste (e-waste)

Duration: 75 minutes
Course: Geographic Issues of the 21st Century
Grade: 10
Section: Cluster 2 (Natural Resources), Learning Experience 2.3 (Sustainable Development)
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Lesson Plan Outcomes

- Students will learn about the various issues associated with electronic waste (knowledge).
- Students will learn about and reflect on the connection between e-waste and consumer tech trends (knowledge;
attitude).
- Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their roles as global citizens in a digital world (attitude).
- Students will be required to re-assess their beliefs about digital devices and their impact on the environment (attitude).
Sequence Activity/Plan Materials Time

Prepare to Learn/ Whole-class survey; Opinion Question 10-12

mins.
Activate
explanation / - The teacher will begin the class by conducting an oral
survey to determine his/her students feelings about
rationalization
technology consumption. The teacher will record the
results on the whiteboard so that they are visible to all
students. Even if a student does not own a digital device,
they may still partake in the activity.
Survey Questions
1. How many of you would upgrade your cellphone after 1
year?
2. How many of you would upgrade your cellphone after 2
years?
3. How many of you would keep your cellphone for as
long as it functioned properly?
4. How many of you would purchase a new cellphone or
digital device (e.g. laptop, tablet) just because a new
and improved version is released?
- The survey results will be re-visited near the end of the
lesson.
- After partaking in the whole-class survey, each student
will record their opinions on the following question:
In your opinion, do current consumer tech trends have
any negative impacts on the environment?
- *This question will be re-visited in the
assignment*
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New Learning 1. Watch a Ted Talk video of Arman Sedeghi discussing Video: Arman 35
the issues associated with e-waste. Sedeghi Ted Talk mins.
Acquired
(18 mins.) Find
2. View images of e-waste around the world.
link on Lesson
4. Watch a video created by Exner E-waste Processing Resources Page
Inc.
Various images
(see Lesson
Resources Page)
Video: Exner E-
waste (8 mins.)-
Find link on
Lesson Resources
Page
explanation / Ted Talk by Arman Sedeghi: The purpose of showing this
video is to provide students with an overview of the issues
rationalization
associated with e-waste. Topics include hazardous
content in e-waste (e.g. Coltan), risks to human health,
and current consumer trends.
E-waste images: The purpose of showing these images is
to help students put the issue of electronic waste into
perspective. Images like these can encourage students to
reflect on their beliefs about technology and its broader
implications.
Exner E-waste video: The purpose of showing this video
is to demonstrate to students that positive efforts are
being made to reduce the environmental impact of
technology.

Using Learning Individual Assignment To view the 25

Assignment mins.
Sample, see
attachment 1.
explanation / rationalization -Students will complete an assignment that requires them
to consult their new knowledge of e-waste and consumer
tech trends.
- This assignment will enable students to work
independently, reflect on their beliefs, and think critically
about what they have learned during the entirety of the
lesson.
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Closure Re-visiting the whole-class survey 5 mins.

explanation / rationalization
- Now that students have been exposed to some of the
issues associated with e-waste, the teacher will conduct
another survey using the same questions as before (The
teacher will record the survey results on the whiteboard
so that they can be compared to the results of the initial
survey).
- The purpose of this activity is to determine if and how
much students attitudes toward tech consumption have
changed since being introduced to new perspectives.
- This activity will require students to re-assess their
beliefs about the environmental impact of their consumer
tech habits.

Assessment - Assess students assignments to determine if they could

reflect on their roles as global citizens in a digital world.
Asses their ability to think critically about the issues of e-
waste and consumer tech trends. Determine if they could
re-assess their beliefs about the environmental impact of
digital devices.
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Attachment 1: E-waste Reflection Assignment

Instructions
- Please complete the following questions using full sentences.
- Be conscious of spelling and grammar.
- Submit your completed assignment by the beginning of tomorrows class.
1. Now that you have watched Arman Sedeghis Ted Talk and viewed multiple images of e-waste, re-
visit the opinion question from the beginning of class (In your opinion, do current consumer tech
trends have any negative impacts on the environment?) Have your opinions and beliefs changed
since learning about e-waste? Whether or not your feelings have changed, explain why. Please
support your answer with references to the information covered today. (4 marks)
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2. Now that you are more aware of the environmental impacts of your digital devices, would you be
more reluctant to upgrade your phone or purchase a new computer? Or, would you still purchase
new technology because it is improved and trendy? Explain. (2 marks)
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3. After watching the video produced by Exner E-Waste, do you believe that these types of tech
recycling facilities are capable of significantly reducing e-waste? Or, do you think that consumer
tech trends make it impossible for facilities like this to really make a difference? (2 marks)
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4. Aside from recycling e-waste, what other efforts could be made to prevent these toxic chemicals,
plastics, etc. from going to landfills? Try to think of at least one solution. It doesnt have to be
perfect, just do some brainstorming. (2 marks)

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