The need for innovation is everywhere. Every day we experience old systems, aging technology and traditional ways of thinking that hold us back from improving. There has to be a better way.
North Forge Technology Exchange is stepping in to address the big challenges that Manitoba faces, doing what they do best: innovating.
Through their Manitoba Open Innovation Challenge, North Forge wants to put the brilliant and diverse minds of our entire province to work on some of our biggest issues.The process is simple. North Forge will outline the problem and provide background information for the challenge. You send in your ideas. North Forge will help develop and test the best ideas, and will help scale the best solution. Our province becomes a better place.
The Current Challenge:
How do we improve early childhood literacy and numeracy in Manitoba?
North Forge is seeking innovative ideas for improving school readiness before age 5.
Manitoba is behind in literacy and numeracy. Our youngest students are arriving unprepared for the learning ahead. Early intervention – before a student first steps into a classroom – provides the best chance for success.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), at age 15 Manitoba students lag behind their Canadian peers in literacy and numeracy – ranking 8th and 9th out of 10 provinces respectively.
Research shows this starts very early, before age 5. Manitoba data also show that in some communities, up to 77% of kindergarteners are not ready for Grade 1 literacy and numeracy curricula.
Submission deadline: January 11, 2018, 4:00 p.m.
North Forge is hosting a Manitoba Open Innovation Challenge Information and Q&A session on November 23, 2017, and a guided ideation session on December 1, 2017, where you can work with a subject matter expert and a technology entrepreneur to generate new solutions or refine a current solution.
Submission Form and more details here.