Technology

1. Technology

2. Technology Broadly speaking, technology is how people modify the natural world to suit their own purposes. From the Greek word techne, meaning art or artifice or craft, technology literally means the act of making or crafting, but more generally it refers to the diverse collection of processes and knowledge that people use to extend human abilities and to satisfy human needs and wants. (Standards for Technological Literacy, 2000)

3. Technology: Definitions • 1959: “The science of the practical or industrial arts.” • 1990: “Practice of any or all of the applied sciences that have practical or industrial use.” • 1999: “The application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives.”

4. Technology For All Americans Definition • Technology is how people modify the natural world to suit their own purposes. • Processes and knowledge that people use to extend human abilities and to satisfy human wants and needs.

5. The Critical Needfor Technological Literacy • Everyone uses it • Many abuse it • Most purchase it • A few steal it • Few comprehend it • Not many understand it • But, it is everywhere

6. Humans: The Technology Animal • Dependant on tools • Speeds up life • Makes activity more efficient • Makes new things possible • Increased abilities

7. Technology and Society • Societies have flourished and disappeared as a result of tech. • In early civilization, technology was slow to transfer • Today, transfer is instantaneous • Human potential has been extended

8. Why do People Create Technology • Food • Shelter • Clothing • Communication • Transportation • Safety • Convenience • Power

9. The Extension of Human Potential • Extension through technology • Usefulness • Appropriateness • Perceived complexity

10. Is nothing ever simple? As if you don't have enough to worry about you have to be a rocket scientist to record your favorite television show. Unequivocally not true, as millions have proved, but you think it is. And this anxiety, this phobia - this terror if you will - isn't only the VCR.  It's the auto-defrost on the microwave, it's the CD player, it's voice mail, it's the photocopier.  It's epitomized with the personal computer. It's technology.  It's everywhere and it's not going to get any easier.  Consider society becoming increasingly technological, and this becomes more and more of a serious problem. (Gray, 1992) Think about it…

11. Impacts of Technology • Trade-offs • Loss of control • Use/abuse • Coping with change • Effects on environment, culture, etc. • Impacts on common good • Safety

12. Waves of Change • First Wave: Hunter to Farmer • Second Wave: Farmer to Industrial worker • Third Wave: Industrial Worker to Day Trader

13. Curriculum Development in Technology Education • 1800’s: Morrill Act, Della Vos, Manual Training, Manual Arts • 1940’s: A curriculum to reflect technology • 1950’s-1970’s: IACP, Maryland, AIP, etc. • 1970’s-1980’s: Jackson’s Mill, IL Plan, etc. • 1980’s-1990’s: Systems Approach, British, TFAA.

14. What is Technological Literacy? • The ability to use, manage, assess, and understand technology • The difference between literacy and technological literacy • Why is it important?

15. A Technologically LiteratePerson Understands: • Technology • How technology is created • How technology is used/maintained • How technology shapes society • How technology is shaped by society • How technology solves and creates problems

16. A TechnologicallyLiterate Person is Able to: • Evaluate technological information • Put information into context • Form opinions about technology • Be objective about technology • “Neither afraid, nor infatuated with technology.”

17. Personal Reasons to Focus on Technological Literacy • People choose wisely • People operate products appropriately • People understand basic design and problem solving • People are able to assess the impacts of the technology they buy

18. Societal Reasons to Focus on Technological Literacy • People aren’t as likely to make risky mistakes • Decisions are made rationally • Decisions are made responsibly • Less waste

19. Goals of a Course that is Focused on Technological Literacy: • Produce students who: • Have a conceptual understanding of technology • Understand the place of technology • Grasp and evaluate new bits of information as they become available • Understand technological processes • Can assess the benefits/disadvantages

20. Components of a Course Focused on Technological Literacy • Experiential, “real-world” learning • Discovery using problem solving • Trouble-shooting, invention, innovation, research and development • Applying the design process • Apply concepts to other disciplines

21. The following information was taken from… Standards for Technological Literacy, 2000

22. Technology Content Standards • Technology Content Standards specifies what every student should know and be able to do in order to be technologically literate, and it offers criteria to judge progress to a vision of technological literacy for all students. (Standards for Technological Literacy, 2000)

23. Technology Content Standards – 5 Categories • The Nature of Technology • Technology and Society • Design • Abilities for a Technological World • The Designed World

24. The Nature of Technology Students will develop an understanding of The Nature of Technology. This includes acquiring knowledge of: • The characteristics and scope of technology. • The core concepts of technology. • The relationships among technologies, and the connections between technology and other fields.

25. Technology and Society Students will develop an understanding of Technology and Society. This includes learning about: • The cultural, social, economic, and political effects of technology. • The effects of technology on the environment. • The role of society in the development and use of technology. • The influence of technology on history.

26. Design Students will develop an understanding of Design. This includes knowing about: • The attributes of design. • Engineering Design. • The role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.

27. Abilities for a Technological World Students will develop Abilities for a Technological World. This includes becoming able to: • Apply the design process. • Use and maintain technological products and systems. • Assess the impact of products and systems.

28. The Designed World Students will develop an understanding of The Designed World. This includes selecting and using: • Medical technologies. • Agricultural and related biotechnologies. • Energy and power technologies. • Information and communication technologies. • Transportation technologies. • Manufacturing technologies. • Construction technologies.

29. Standard 18Transportation Technology • In order to select, use, and understand transportation technologies, student should learn that: (Grades K-2) • A transportation system has many parts that work together to help people travel. • Vehicles move people or goods from one place to another in water, air, or space and on land. • Transportation vehicles need to be cared for to prolong their use.

30. Continued… • In order to select, use, and understand transportation technologies, student should learn that: (Grades 3-5) • The use of transportation allows people and goods to be moved from place to place. • A transportation system may lose efficiency or fail if one part is missing or malfunctioning or if a subsystem is not working.

31. Continued… • In order to select, use, and understand transportation technologies, student should learn that: (Grades 6-8) • Transporting people and goods involves a combination of individuals and vehicles. • Transportation vehicles are made up of subsystems, such as structural, propulsion, suspensions, guidance, control, and support, that must function together for a system to work effectively. • Governmental regulations often influence the design and operation of transportation systems. • Processes, such as receiving, holding, storing, loading, evaluating, marketing, managing, communicating, and using conventions are necessary for the entire transportation system to operate efficiently.

32. Continued… • In order to select, use, and understand transportation technologies, student should learn that: (Grades 9-12) • Transportation plays a vital role in the operation of other technologies, such as manufacturing, construction, communication, health and safety, and agriculture. • Intermodalism is the use of different modes of transportation, such as highways, railways, and waterways as part of an interconnected system that can move people and goods easily from one mode to another. • Transportation services and methods have led to a population that is regularly on the move. • The design of intelligent and non-intelligent transportation systems depends on many processes and innovative techniques.