CBC Archives

Have students list everything they do in one day that requires the use of a computer. They can include things their parents, siblings, or other family members do. They should include jobs, such as office assistant; processes, such as using calculators and computers; and technology, such as automated manufacturing. Have students read their lists aloud and finish with an open discussion, allowing students to add to their notes.

Students will work in groups of two or three and divide amongst themselves Clips #3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 from the topic Computer Invasion: A History of Automation in Canada on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Have them view the clips and the Did You Know? sections. Students will prepare a chart with the headings “before computers” and “after computers” to list jobs and what the jobs were like both before and after computers came into wide use.

In their groups, students will share their lists and create a visual representation of their before and after charts. Suggestions for displaying this information are a poster presentation, a computer graphic presentation, or a series of short skits.

Have each group present its visuals to the class. Groups should be prepared to explain why they chose their specific medium and the rest of the class should grade each presentation on its clarity and effectiveness.

Students can create a series of brief quotations based on their view of the computer’s effect on society. Students can illustrate and post their quotations around the class.