๐ป Tech for Good Project Planner
Unit 7: Digital Tech & AI Ethics
"Mฤ te huruhuru, ka rere te manu."
With feathers, the bird flies - Use technology as a tool to lift communities and create positive change
๐ What is Tech for Good?
Tech for Good means using technology intentionally to solve social, environmental, or cultural problems - not just for profit, but for people and planet.
๐ฑ Reo App
Problem: Te reo learners lack accessible tools
Tech Solution: Mobile app with gamified lessons, voice recognition, and daily challenges
๐ Water Quality Monitor
Problem: Polluted waterways
Tech Solution: IoT sensors + community app for real-time water quality data
๐ Housing Connector
Problem: Youth homelessness
Tech Solution: Platform connecting young people with safe housing and support services
โป๏ธ Food Rescue Network
Problem: Food waste + food insecurity
Tech Solution: App connecting surplus food from businesses to community organizations
๐ ๏ธ Types of Tech Projects
๐ฑ Mobile App
iOS/Android application for phones and tablets
๐ Website/Platform
Web-based service accessible via browser
๐ค AI/ML Tool
Artificial intelligence or machine learning solution
๐ Data Visualization
Interactive maps, dashboards, or charts
๐ฎ Educational Game
Serious game for learning or awareness
๐ก๏ธ IoT Device
Smart sensor or hardware solution
1๏ธโฃ Identify the Problem
What social, environmental, or cultural issue will your tech address?
The Problem:
Be specific! Good problems affect real people in measurable ways.
Who is affected by this problem?
What are the current solutions? Why aren't they enough?
2๏ธโฃ Your Tech Solution
Project Name: _______________________________________________________________
What will it do? (Core features and functionality)
What type of tech is it? (App, website, AI tool, etc.)
How will it solve the problem?
3๏ธโฃ Understanding Your Users
Primary Users: (Who will use this most?)
User Needs: (What do they need from this tech?)
Accessibility Considerations: (How will you ensure everyone can use it?)
Consider: disabilities, language barriers, digital literacy, internet access
4๏ธโฃ Key Features & Design
List 5-7 core features your tech will have:
Feature 1: _______________________________________________________________
Feature 2: _______________________________________________________________
Feature 3: _______________________________________________________________
Feature 4: _______________________________________________________________
Feature 5: _______________________________________________________________
Sketch or describe the visual design:
5๏ธโฃ Technical Requirements
Technologies/Tools Needed:
E.g., Python, React, Figma, Firebase, TensorFlow, Arduino
Skills You Have:
Skills You Need to Learn:
Team Members or Partners: (Who can help?)
6๏ธโฃ Ethical Considerations
Think critically about potential harms:
Ethical Checklist:
- โ How will you protect user privacy and data?
- โ Could your tech be misused? How will you prevent that?
- โ Does it create any unintended negative consequences?
- โ Is it accessible to people with different abilities and resources?
- โ Does it reinforce any biases or inequalities?
- โ Have you consulted with affected communities?
- โ Is it culturally appropriate and respectful?
- โ What happens to the data if the project ends?
Main Ethical Concerns & How You'll Address Them:
7๏ธโฃ Sustainability & Impact
How will you measure success/impact?
E.g., number of users, lives improved, data collected, behavior changed
How will you fund/maintain it?
E.g., grants, donations, partnerships, volunteer support
Long-term Vision: (Where do you see this in 5 years?)
8๏ธโฃ Development Timeline
Phase 1: Research & Design (Weeks 1-4)
Actions: _______________________________________________________________
Phase 2: Build Prototype (Weeks 5-10)
Actions: _______________________________________________________________
Phase 3: Test & Refine (Weeks 11-14)
Actions: _______________________________________________________________
Phase 4: Launch & Evaluate (Week 15+)
Actions: _______________________________________________________________
๐ค Reflection
Why are you passionate about this project?
How does it align with your values?
What will you learn from building this?
๐ฉโ๐ซ Teacher Notes
Learning Outcomes:
- Project planning and management skills
- Understanding of human-centered design
- Ethical reasoning in technology development
- Technical skill development (coding, design, etc.)
- Entrepreneurship and social innovation mindset
Implementation Suggestions:
- This is ideal as a term-long or year-long project
- Can be done individually or in teams of 2-4
- Partner with local tech companies or makerspaces for mentorship
- Encourage students to build working prototypes, not just concepts
- Host a "Tech for Good Showcase" at the end for community presentations
Resources & Support:
- Code Club Aotearoa - Free coding resources
- Mahuki - Mฤori innovation incubator (for advanced projects)
- Codecademy, freeCodeCamp - Free learning platforms
- Figma - Free design tool for students
- GitHub - Version control and collaboration
Assessment Criteria:
- Depth of problem understanding and user research
- Innovation and feasibility of proposed solution
- Thoroughness of ethical considerations
- Quality of technical implementation/prototype
- Sustainability and impact planning
- Presentation and communication of project