Strand One: Toffler’s Three Waves

Strand One:Toffler’s Three Waves Changes in Technology SheddrickRisper

Technology Progresses Through Time • First Wave- Agricultural- 8000BC-1650-1750 • Second Wave- Industrial- 1750-1950 • Third Wave- Informational- 1950-2004 • Four1th Wave- Nano/Biotechnology 2004-???

First Wave: Agricultural-8000BC-1650-1750 Characteristics • Communication—Oral was common • Family Structure- Extended family • Economy—Hunting/fishing important for food • Production- Solar energy, natural resources very important • Education—Home schooling, individual instruction, one room schools

First Wave continued • Politics—Individuals classified by classes

Second Wave- Industry- 1750-1950 • Family Structure- Nuclear families • Education- Rote and repetition teaching practices • Economy—Trade with foreign countries • Production-Factories, assembly lines • Communication—newspapers, tvs • Politics- wars, strikes, crisis, and political uprisings

Third Wave—Informational—1950-2004 • Economy-Global industry, supply of oil and gas • Family—2 parents work, more single-parent homes and grandparents raising their grandchildren • Education- secondary schools offer distance and online courses, Internet, digital networks • Politics- Varietyof government s such as democracies, socialism, capitalism

Third wave Continued • Communication—Twittering, texting from cell phones, computer phones, computers and laptops • Production-Medical discoveries, cars with special features, science inventions,

Fourth Wave—2005--??? • According to Dr. Thornburgand Dr. Dede there willbe a fourth wave. They have predicted that this age will include biotechnology related products that will be more durableand creative.

Resources • Dede, C. (Speaker). (2008). The Next Wave, Part 2. Laureate Education, Inc. • Thornburg, D. (Speaker). (2008). The Next Wave Part 1. Laureate Eduaction, Inc. • Toffler, A. (1980). The Third Wave:New York: Batam Books cambridge University Press.

Strand One: Toffler’s Three Waves