Innovation

The purpose of the online learning is for you to develop your own learning. There are a number of tasks that you should complete before you undertake the next section. You can work through this section at your own pace. It is expected that you would take up to 3 hours to complete this section. You must complete this section before you move to the next section.

Task 1

Read the article “Evolution Tree” and complete the activity. Write your answers in your workbook.

This consolidates one of the key concepts we have covered in this unit; the link between various innovations.

Evolution Tree

In OLL 2 we looked at pattern recognition and identified that by recognising patterns is a critical component of acting innovatively.  What was also pointed out was how the properties of one item can lead to a new item.  Historically everything we use today had its origins in some item that was used differently years ago.  This is part of the view that innovation does not happen in isolation from what is going on around us.  If fact many of the products and items we use today would not be available if it was not for hundreds of other indirectly related items.  You should read the article I Pencil.   

After reading the article chose an everyday item and see if you can trace back a number of innovations that contributes to that item.  For example, you may chose a clothes iron.  You can trace its origins back to innovations in electronics, electricity, and development of metal alloys, discoveries about water vapour and many more connections.  You should use the internet to explore the item’s history.

Draw a chart that shows the evolution of your chosen item.  Copy the chart into your work book.

Task 2

Read the article “Timeline” and complete the activity.  Write your answers in your workbook.

This demonstrates how affects different problems and their solutions

Timelines

The time of day often determines how and when an item is used.  Understanding when an item is used often influences its structure.  For example, media communication like mobile phones, SMS and email gets used by different people at different times for different purposes.  Draw a timeline over 24hours for how you might interact with various types of media communication.  Identify when you are more engaged with the different forms of communication. 

Then think how the following businesses might interact with that person through the various types of media communication. You need to include the following aspects time of day, geographical location and assumptions about what the person might be doing at that time.

Baker

Mini-cab driver

University student

Hairdresser

Copy the timeline into your workbook.

You should undertake further reading on the topics in this section.  We recommend that you watch the following:

 Connections, BBC

The next section is Unit 3 OLL1