The article discusses the implications for Canada of Google’s expansion.

Appropriate Subject Area(s):

Marketing, entrepreneurship, human resources

Key Questions to Explore:

• Should Government have a role in resolving the talent gap between Canadians looking for work and employers looking to hire?

New Terminology:

Domestic start-up ecosystem; tech ecosystem

Introduction to lesson and task:

Using Edward De Bono’s PMI, students will explore the article and develop their own conclusions. The PMI stands for Plus, Minus, Interesting. A debate will culminate the lesson.

Action (lesson plan and task):

1. Brainstorm with the class who Canada’s largest employers are. Narrow it down to employers considered to be tech.
2. Distribute the article for reading.
3. Using 1-2-4-all, have students apply De Bono’s PMI to the article. First independently, then compare in pairs, and finalize in fours before sharing with the class. Students can create a three-column chart to write down what they find positive in the article, what they find negative in the article and what they find simply interesting.
4. When sharing with the class you can use a walkabout for students to see how others categorized.

Consolidation of Learning:

• Going back to the key question, ask students to take a position on whether governments should have a role in resolving the talent wars. Organize a debate using the Fishbowl technique. Three debaters from each side sit in a circle in the middle of the class, leaving two empty chairs. The rest of the class surrounds the fishbowl. The debate begins and the empty seats can be used by other classmates to support their debaters.

Success Criteria:

• Students understand the concept of talent wars and the role the ecosystem plays.

Confirming Activity:

• Have students prepare a resume for a position they think Google might be hiring for and for which they will be prepared to apply.