IBM Partnership Agreement
This unique agreement promotes future economic development opportunities, primarily within the Information Technology sector, for Aboriginal people, and supports the Government of Alberta’s commitment to collaborative initiatives between Aboriginal communities and industry that enhance the social and economic of Aboriginal people.
IGNITE (Igniting Interest in Technology and Engineering)
One of the programs to arise from the Partnership Agreement is the IGNITE camps.
The goal of IGNITE is to promote an interest in technology and show Aboriginal youth that math and science can be fun. Students are encouraged to take a hands-on approach to the camp curriculum, which includes the construction of electrical circuits, food science experiments, finger print analysis, data harvesting, and the programming of LEGO robots.
The camps also feature guest speakers from within the communities, who offer perspectives on the practical use of technology in their respective fields.
The Future of IGNITE
The response to the camps has been positive, and the inclusion of the IGNITE curriculum in Aboriginal classrooms is one of the long-term goals of the program. Aboriginal Relations is currently working with Métis and First Nation organizations to develop a sustainable, community-driven model for the IGNITE camps that will be based on a train-the-trainer, capacity-building approach. Over time, this model is expected to help Aboriginal communities deliver the IGNITE curriculum in their schools.
Developing this community-based model will also involve cross-ministry discussions with the Ministries of Education and Advanced Education and Technology.
IGNITE Pilot Project Quick Facts
• Four camps delivered over twelve days in November 2010
• Involved 53 students, six teachers and/or teaching assistants and four Aboriginal Relations staff members.
