The Study of TechnologyThe Study of Technology

Many countries in the world have Many countries in the world have been and are now implementing the been and are now implementing the study of technology.study of technology.

In the United States as well as In the United States as well as in other countries, there is in other countries, there is confusion about the term confusion about the term

“technology.”“technology.”

What is Science?What is Science?

What is What is Technology?Technology?

What is Technology?What is Technology?

It is the innovation, change, or It is the innovation, change, or modification of the natural environment modification of the natural environment in order to satisfy perceived human in order to satisfy perceived human wants and needs. (wants and needs. (Standards for Standards for Technological LiteracyTechnological Literacy, ITEA, 2000), ITEA, 2000)

The goal of technology is to make The goal of technology is to make modifications in the world to meet modifications in the world to meet human needs. (human needs. (National Science National Science Education StandardsEducation Standards, NRC, 1996), NRC, 1996)

What is Technology ? What is Technology ? (Continued)(Continued)

In the broadest sense, technology extends In the broadest sense, technology extends our abilities to change the world: to cut, our abilities to change the world: to cut, shape, or put together materials; to move shape, or put together materials; to move things from one place to another; to reach things from one place to another; to reach farther with our hands, voices, and senses. farther with our hands, voices, and senses. ((Benchmarks for Science LiteracyBenchmarks for Science Literacy, AAAS, , AAAS, 1993)1993)

Technology is the process by which humans Technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants. modify nature to meet their needs and wants. ((Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About TechnologyNeed to Know More About Technology, , NAE/NRC, 2002)NAE/NRC, 2002)

ScienceScience vs. vs. TechnologyTechnology

Deals with the natural Deals with the natural world.world.

Is very concerned with Is very concerned with what iswhat is (exists)(exists) in the in the natural world. (i.e.: natural world. (i.e.: Biology, Chemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Astronomy, Physics, Astronomy, Geology, etc.)Geology, etc.)

Deals with how humans Deals with how humans modify, change, alter, or modify, change, alter, or control the natural world.control the natural world.

Is very concerned with Is very concerned with what what can or should becan or should be designed, designed, made, or developed from made, or developed from natural world materials and natural world materials and substances to satisfy human substances to satisfy human needs and wants needs and wants

ScienceScience vs. vs. Technology Technology (Continued)(Continued)

Is concerned with Is concerned with processesprocesses that seek that seek out the meaning of out the meaning of the natural world by the natural world by “inquiry”,“inquiry”, ““discovering what discovering what is”, “exploring”, and is”, “exploring”, and usingusing “the Scientific “the Scientific Method”.Method”.

Is concerned with Is concerned with such such processesprocesses that that we use to we use to alter/change the alter/change the natural world such as natural world such as “Invention”, “Invention”, Innovation”, Innovation”, Practical Problem Practical Problem Solving, and Design.Solving, and Design.

While technology and science While technology and science have a common denominator have a common denominator being the natural world, they being the natural world, they are similar yet very different.are similar yet very different.

Technology is not any more Technology is not any more “applied science” than science is “applied science” than science is

“applied technology”.“applied technology”.

Techno-Techno-ScienceScience

Who is a Who is a technologically literate technologically literate

person?person?One that understands:One that understands:What technology isWhat technology isHow technology is createdHow technology is createdHow the use of technology shapes society How the use of technology shapes society

and in turn,and in turn,How society shapes the development of How society shapes the development of

technologytechnologyA person who is comfortable with and A person who is comfortable with and

objective about the use of technology – objective about the use of technology – neither scared of it nor infatuated with it.neither scared of it nor infatuated with it.

Technological literacy Technological literacy involves:involves:

Much more than a knowledge Much more than a knowledge about computers and digital about computers and digital electronics.electronics. Gaining a degree of knowledge Gaining a degree of knowledge about the nature, behavior, power, about the nature, behavior, power, and consequences of technology and consequences of technology from a real world perspective.from a real world perspective.

There is a growing movement in There is a growing movement in the U. S. to teach the integrative the U. S. to teach the integrative subjects of Science, Technology, subjects of Science, Technology,

Engineering, and Mathematics Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).(STEM).

What What ContentContent should be should be taught in the study of taught in the study of technology that will technology that will

provide technological provide technological literacy for all students?literacy for all students?

Standards for Technological Literacy (STL)(ITEA, 2000,2002/2007) presents the content for what every student should know and be able to do in order to be technologically literate.

www.iteaconnect.org

StandardsStandards STL Standards are twenty written STL Standards are twenty written

statements about what is valued that can statements about what is valued that can be used for making a judgment of quality.be used for making a judgment of quality.

Standards represent fundamental Standards represent fundamental concepts.concepts.

The goal is to meet all of the standards in The goal is to meet all of the standards in Grades K-12. Grades K-12.

STL Standards were written around five STL Standards were written around five major organizers or categoriesmajor organizers or categories..

Nature of TechnologyNature of Technology Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of

the the characteristics andcharacteristics and scope of technologyscope of technology.. Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of

the the core concepts of technologycore concepts of technology.. Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of

the the relationships among technologies and relationships among technologies and the connection between technology and the connection between technology and other fields of studyother fields of study. .

Technology and SocietyTechnology and Society Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of

the the cultural, social, economic, and political cultural, social, economic, and political effects of technologyeffects of technology..

Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of the the effects of technology on the effects of technology on the environmentenvironment..

Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of the the role of society in the development and role of society in the development and use of technologyuse of technology..

Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of the the influence of technology on historyinfluence of technology on history. .

DesignDesign

Students will develop an understanding Students will develop an understanding of the of the attributes of designattributes of design..

Students will develop an understanding Students will develop an understanding of of engineering designengineering design..

Students will develop an understanding Students will develop an understanding of the of the role of troubleshooting, research role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in innovation, and experimentation in problem solvingproblem solving. .

Abilities for a Technological Abilities for a Technological WorldWorld

Students will develop the abilities to Students will develop the abilities to apply apply the design processthe design process..

Students will develop the abilities to Students will develop the abilities to use use and maintain technological products and and maintain technological products and systemssystems..

Students will develop the abilities to Students will develop the abilities to assess the impact of products and assess the impact of products and systemssystems..

The Designed WorldThe Designed World

Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use and be able to select and use medical medical technologiestechnologies..

Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use and be able to select and use agricultural agricultural and related biotechnologiesand related biotechnologies..

Students will develop an understanding of Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use and be able to select and use energy and energy and power technologiespower technologies..

The Designed World (Cont.)The Designed World (Cont.)

Students will develop an Students will develop an understanding of and be able to understanding of and be able to select and use select and use information and information and communication technologiescommunication technologies..

Students will develop an Students will develop an understanding of and be able to understanding of and be able to select and use select and use transportation transportation technologiestechnologies..

The Designed World (Cont.)The Designed World (Cont.)

Students will develop an Students will develop an understanding of and be able to understanding of and be able to select and use select and use manufacturing manufacturing technologiestechnologies..

Students will develop an Students will develop an understanding of and be able to understanding of and be able to select and use select and use construction construction technologiestechnologies. .

BenchmarksBenchmarks

Benchmarks inBenchmarks in STL STL are specific are specific requirements or enablers for each requirements or enablers for each grade level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, & 9-12) grade level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, & 9-12) that identify what needs to be done that identify what needs to be done in order to meet a given standard.in order to meet a given standard.

A Sample Standard & A Sample Standard & BenchmarkBenchmark

Standard 11:Standard 11:

Students will develop abilities to apply a Students will develop abilities to apply a design process.design process.

Grades K-2 Benchmark in Standard 11:Grades K-2 Benchmark in Standard 11: Build or construct an object using a Build or construct an object using a

design process.design process.

In conclusion…In conclusion…

The power and promise of The power and promise of technology can be further technology can be further

enhanced through the study of enhanced through the study of technology to assure that all technology to assure that all

people are technologically literate people are technologically literate in the future.in the future.