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Video 4.8
Source: eCampus Ontario
Length: 1:02

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Digital problem solving skills are essential in most fields. Digital problem solving involves troubleshooting technology issues that arise by engaging in the inquiry process to analyze, interpret, and graphically represent data in various digital formats in order to address complex issues, critically solve problems, and inform decisions. As a post-secondary learner, you will likely complete individual or group projects that require you to use digital problem solving skills. Developing these skills will support your post-secondary coursework and prepare you for the workplace, where digital problem solving is common practice.

The following sections will help you and Lise develop the Digital Problem Solving skills you will need to be successful as a post-secondary learner and professional. You will learn about:

• troubleshooting digital technology,
• mind mapping with digital tools, and
• solving problems with digital tools.

Troubleshooting Digital Technology

Digital technology has enabled incredible advancements in how we learn, work, and live. In this micro-credential, you have been learning about the many ways that technology will support you as a post-secondary learner. But what happens if the technology you need to use isn’t working properly or you aren’t sure how to access or use the required technology?

While this can be extremely frustrating, it will be important for you to troubleshoot digital technology to solve problems as they arise. There are people and resources available to support you in the troubleshooting process.

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The important thing to remember when troubleshooting technology is that you’re never alone. Thanks to the internet, there are people and resources just a click away!

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Mind Mapping with Digital Tools

Mind mapping is a powerful strategy used in education and the workplace to support thinking, learning, and problem solving for individuals and groups. Mind mapping involves creating a visual representation of ideas and concepts, using images, symbols, and words to capture and organize information. By mapping out complex ideas in a clear, concise, and organized manner, individuals and groups can better understand and retain information. Mind mapping can also be used to brainstorm ideas, plan projects, and solve problems. It provides a structured approach to thinking and learning, allowing individuals and groups to connect ideas, identify patterns, and develop new insights. Overall, mind mapping is an effective way to support learning, enhance creativity, and improve communication.

To create a digital mind map, follow these steps:

• Choose the mind mapping tool/app that best suits your needs.
• Identify the main topic for the mind map and put it in the centre of the map.
• Create branches that represent sub-topics and related ideas.
• Add notes, images, and links to each branch to expand on your ideas.
• Use different colours, shapes, fonts, and lines to enhance visual appeal, organization, and readability.
• Update and edit your map as your ideas evolve.

See an example of a mind map created using Miro.

Image 4.14
Source: Ramzipoor, E.R. (2020, September). The quick guide to mind mapping. Miro. https://miro.com/guides/mind-mapping/ 
Description: An example mind map with “Miro Mind Map” in the centre of the screenshot. On the left there are three branches: Use cases, More than a mind map, and Availability. On the right there are two branches: Robust collaborative features, and Mind mapping features. The Use cases branch further branches to: brainstorm, structure research results, design information architecture, plan projects, create org charts, develop sales strategies, and analyze problems. The More than a mind map branch further branches to: add as many mind maps as you want on the board; then plan visually or discuss designs at the same board; then embed your mind map to external websites; and finally to five pre-made templates a try. The Availability branch leads to All users including free plans. The Robust collaborative features branch further branches to: real-time collaboration, endless canvas, comments, video chat, presentation mode, and high resolution export. The Mind mapping features branch further branches to: different themes, keyboard shortcuts, auto arrange, and links to anything. Different themes further branches to: multicoloured curved and to monochromatic zigzag. This example mind map uses multicoloured curved lines.

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You can create mind maps using various digital tools, including Miro, Padlet, Mindomo, MindMeister, Lucidspark, Coggle, and Canva.

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Check out this video to learn more about how mind mapping can support you as a learner and a professional!

Video 4.9
Source: Simpletivity. (2022, November 8). How to Use Mind Maps to Work Smarter (and Faster) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7VE68OEYtk 
Length: 11:16

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Solving Problems with Digital Technology

Digital technology has made it possible for organizations to collect large amounts of information, or data, to inform decisions and solve problems. In some cases, data sets are too large or complex to manage using traditional data analysis and reporting software. These data sets are called big data and are typically classified using the 3Vs (SAS Insights, n.d.):

Image 4.15
Source: GutCheck. (2019, August 29). Veracity: The Most Important “V” of Big Data. Toluna. https://gutcheckit.com/about-us/ 
Description: A text-based image that reads: Volume: How much data? Variety: What kind of data? Velocity: How frequent or real-time is the data?

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Volume – data is collected from many sources (e.g., smartphones, videos, images, audio, social media)

Velocity – data streams into organizations at an unprecedented speed due to technological advancements

Variety – data comes in many different formats (e.g., numeric data, emails, videos, audio, financial transactions)

Big data can provide organizations with valuable insights into customer/client behaviour and market trends and inform product development, service offerings, personalized marketing initiatives, and more. However, the sheer volume of data can be overwhelming for organizations because it can be challenging to sift through and analyze all the information to find the most relevant insights.

Watch this video to learn more about the opportunities and challenges associated with big data!

Video 4.10
Source: Cody Baldwin. (2022, October 24). Introduction to Big Data [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEfsltXnCo4 
Length: 3:12

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Regardless of the size or complexity of the data set, data visualization tools can help to make data accessible to support decision making and problem solving. Data visualization (or data viz) tools transform data into graphical or interactive forms to communicate patterns, trends, and insights. Data visualization can be particularly effective in representing and interpreting big data.

There are many types of data visualizations, including:

• Graphs
• Charts
• Maps
• Tables
• Pictographs
• Infographics
• Dashboards

Image 4.16
Source: iStock
Description: A grid showing examples of different types of charts with different labeling methods: a donut chart, pie chart, four circle charts, a bar chart, more pie charts, a bar charts with stacked columns, a plotted line graph, a combined line graph and bar chart, a histogram or segmented bar chart, a two-line line graph, another combined line graph and bar chart, an exploded pie chart, a bar chart with arrows at the top of each column, another line and bar chart combination, four connected puzzle pieces each labeled 25%, and another circle graph.

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Watch this video to learn more about the purpose and types of data visualization!

Video 4.11
Source: Statistics Canada. (2022, June 2). Data Visualization – An Introduction [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gewM4balOek 
Length: 10:54

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Data Visualization Tools

Various tools are available to create data visualizations, including Google Charts, Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and Microsoft Power BI. Take a moment to explore some of these tools.

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