What is Technology?
Technology is all around us. It is so much a part of our world that it’s sometimes hard to tell technology apart from civilization itself. It is also hard to define technology. A very simple definition is that technology is anything made by humans, as opposed to things made by nature. With the progress being made in genetic engineering, however, it might become hard to make even this simple distinction. If the genes in a tomato were manufactured by a person, is the tomato natural or artificial?
Another definition of technology is that it is the tools humans make to help them succeed in their natural environment. This includes things like a hammer, which could help someone build their home, or things like coats, which keep people warm in the winter.
Nowadays, when people use the word technology, they are usually referring to modern, complex inventions like computers, satellites, or an artificial heart. But technology can also refer to simple everyday items like can openers, paper, and tables.
Why Technology? (Technological Literacy)
Technological Literacy can be described as the intellectual processes, abilities and dispositions needed for students to understand the link between technology, themselves and society in general. Technological Literacy is concerned with developing students’ awareness of how technology is related to the broader social system, and how technological systems cannot be fully separated from the political, cultural and economic frameworks which shape them. In order to achieve an informed, balanced and comprehensive analysis of the technological influences on their lives and then be able to act on the basis of their analysis, students require certain levels of knowledge, skills and abilities. These include:
- understanding that technology includes hardware, know-how, cultural needs and desires, and economic and political decision making;
- understanding how technology shapes and is shaped by society;
- understanding that technological issues involve conflicting assumptions, interpretations and options;
- having the necessary data collection and decision making skills to make intelligent choices;
- having the ability and desire to take responsible action on social issues.
A Technologically literate person is someone who critically examines and questions technological progress and innovation. To be critical about technology means to have the intellectual skills to analyze the pros and cons of any technological development, to examine its potential benefits, its potential costs, and to perceive the underlying political and social forces driving the development. Decisions about the creation and use of new technology involve human, social and environmental issues which place constraints and limits on the solutions. Values also influence intellectual processes, since anything that involves choice also involves consideration of whose values are shaping a particular technological development. The capacity to make critical judgments involving technology increases the ability of students (as citizens) to use such knowledge to shape and influence their environment.
Top 6 Reasons why students need Technology Education
- Technology has, and will increasingly have, a tremendous effect on all aspects of their lives. It is very important that students begin to understand technology so they can make intelligent decisions about its use, decisions that may affect the entire world!
- Concepts are covered here that are not covered in any other classes and will appear on the MSAs.
- All of our units require students to apply related concepts to the successful solution of a given problem.
- All of our units place heavy emphasis on developing problem solving ability. Problem solving is a universal skill that is necessary for success in any field.
- Technology Education provides for the practical application of knowledge and skills gained in their academic classes and directly supports the K-12 Science and Math curriculum.
- There is an existing ( and growing! ) shortage of workers with technical skills. “The fact is, careers requiring technical skills comprise the largest percentage of available employment in our economy. These careers offer high pay and will make up 65 percent of available jobs as of this year.” ( Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tech Directions, March 2000 ) Good jobs await students possessing the type of skills we are beginning to foster. Many of these jobs don’t require four years of college.
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TECHNOLOGY |
SCIENCE Goal: the pursuit of knowledge and understanding for its own sake Corresponding Scientific Processes |
| Design, invention, production | Discovery (controlled by experimentation |
| Analysis and synthesis of design | Analysis, generalization and creation of theories |
| Holism, involving the integration of many competing demands, theories, data and ideas | Reductionism, involving the isolation and definition of distinct concepts |
| Activities always value-laden | Making virtually value-free statements |
| The search for and theorizing about new processes (e.g. control; information) | The search for and theorizing about cause (e.g. gravity; electromagnetism) |
| Pursuit of sufficient accuracy in modeling to achieve success | Pursuit of accuracy in modeling |
| Taking good decisions based on incomplete data and approximate models | Drawing correct conclusions based on good theories and accurate data |
| Design, construction, testing, planning, quality assurance, problem solving, decision making, interpersonal and communication skills | Experimental and logical skills |
| Trying to ensure, by subsequent action, that even poor decisions turn out to be successful | Using predictions that turn out to be incorrect to falsify or improve the theories or data on which they were based |
Something Different!!!
In my classroom I try to stimulate students in all aspects of learning. I feel that a multimedia approach to learning is key in helping students see and understand concepts. But the most important of all ways of learning is hands on. A hands on approach allows students to retain information because they go through trial and error. They touch, feel, and build their projects allowing them to remember the information 90% more effectively.
I also use music to help stimulate learning. I play classical music in the background to help students focus on their work. I use something called the Mozart Effect. It is an unproven theory, but in my practices as a teacher and using the strategies the past four years, I see a 20% increase in productivity. The music helps match the brain waves during student activities and it blocks out noise that would other wise distract them.