WEEK 4
TOPIC:INVESTIGATION SKILLS
CORE CONCEPTS, SKILLS & VALUES: Case study 3: Technological products can have a
negative impact
• Investigate a technological product that can
have a negative impact on society
Class discussion: Teacher facilitate a class
discussion on possible solutions that can
counteract or compensate for the negative
impact of the technology identified.
REQUISITE PRE- KNOWLEDGE: Investigation skills
LESSON 1
LESSON TITLE: NEGATIVE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS
DATE: 07-05-25
DURATION: 1 HOUR
KEY CONCEPTS: • negative impact of technology
• Products with a negative impact on society
THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
Consequences of modern technology:
• Decline in social interaction
• Increased production of harmful pollutants
• Health issues
• Increased waste production
• Unemployment
CASE STUDY: Technological product with a negative impact: Cell phones
The cell phone industry continues to grow. The invention of the cell phone improved
communication. At the press of a button people can communicate with people all over the
world. This increased ability to communicate can be seen as progress but has some
negative impacts. It has been suggested that prolonged and constant use of a cell phone
can cause health problems.
Another problem is anti-social* behaviour of cell phone users. People often spend a lot of
time texting and talking on the phone during important family times. This anti-social
behaviour also happens in public places. People send messages or play with their phones
during social occasions and meetings instead of interacting with others.
Talking on cell phones while driving is very dangerous and can cause accidents, leading to
injury and death.
There is also a problem of waste disposal. When people get rid of their old outdated cell
phones, the environment is badly affected because cell phones are not biodegradable. In
South Africa more than 10 million cell phones are thrown away every year. When they are
thrown into landfill sites, poisonous chemicals in the cell phone battery dissolve and
contaminate* the soil. These poisonous substances then leak into and pollute
groundwater
QUESTIONS
1. How have cell phones improved our lives? List three ways. (3)
2. List three negative impacts of cell phones. (3)
3. Why do many people get rid of their cell phones while they are still in working order?
(2)
4. How can used and unwanted cell phones be recycled? Suggest two environmentally
friendly ways.(2)
LESSON 2
LESSON TITLE: SOLUTIONS TO COUNTERACT NEGATIVE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
DATE: 09-05-25
DURATION: 1 HOUR
Possible solutions to counteract or compensate for the negative impact of technology
1. Carbon emissions from cars
• Use of electric powered vehicles.
• Use of underground or sky trains for public transportation.
• Encourage use of bicycles for short trips.
• Increase carbon emission taxes to discourage consumers from purchasing more
vehicles than they actually need.
2. Pollution due to excess newspapers, books, periodicals and packaging
• Recycling and remanufacturing of new paper products.
• Use other technological alternatives such as Kindles and Tablets.
3. Increase in demand for building materials
• Use of timber and wooden panels for walls and synthetic roof tiles
• Recycle building waste such as bricks and concrete.
4. Transportation
• Reduction of road transport by encouraging transportation of containers by rail.
• Encourage the concept of car pooling to reduce the number of cars on the road.
5. Waste of technological expertise on stadiums
• Convert stadiums which do not serve the broader community into shopping malls
which will increase employment and reduce the wastage of land space and
maintenance.
6. Disposal of technological products such as cell phones
• Dispose of technological products safely by recycling, reselling, and donating.
• Keep the environment in mind when disposing of mobile devices.
CLASSWORK
1. For each of the following products, discuss two possible ways of reducing their negative
impact
a. Cell phones (2)
b. Cold drink cans (2)
c. Plastic bags (2)
d. Cars (2)
e. Geysers (2)
