The Study of Technology

Many countries in the world have

been and are now implementing the
study of technology.

In the United States as well as

in other countries, there is
confusion about the term
technology.

What is Science?
What is
Technology?

What is Technology?
It is the innovation, change, or

modification of the natural environment

in order to satisfy perceived human
wants and needs. (Standards for
Technological Literacy, ITEA, 2000)
The goal of technology is to make
modifications in the world to meet
human needs. (National Science
Education Standards, NRC, 1996)

What is Technology ?
(Continued)
In the broadest sense, technology extends our
abilities to change the world: to cut, shape, or
put together materials; to move things from
one place to another; to reach farther with our
hands, voices, and senses. (Benchmarks for
Science Literacy, AAAS, 1993)
Technology is the process by which humans
modify nature to meet their needs and wants.
(Technically Speaking: Why All Americans
Need to Know More About Technology,
NAE/NRC, 2002)

Science

vs.

Deals with the natural

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

Technology

Deals with how humans

modify, change, alter, or
control the natural world.
Is very concerned with what
can or should be designed,
made, or developed from
natural world materials and
substances to satisfy human
needs and wants

Science vs. Technology

(Continued)
Is concerned with
processes that seek
out the meaning of
the natural world by
inquiry,
discovering what
is, exploring, and
using the Scientific
Method.

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

While technology and science

have a common denominator
being the natural world, they
are similar yet very different.
Technology is not any more
applied science than science is
applied technology.

Techno-Science

Who is a
technologically literate
One that understands:
person?

What technology is
How technology is created
How the use of technology shapes society
and in turn,
How society shapes the development of
technology
A person who is comfortable with and
objective about the use of technology
neither scared of it nor infatuated with it.

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

There is a growing movement in

the U. S. to teach the integrative
subjects of Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM).

What Content should be

taught in the study of
technology that will

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.or
g

Standards
STL Standards are twenty written

statements about what is valued that can

be used for making a judgment of quality.
Standards represent fundamental
concepts.
The goal is to meet all of the standards in
Grades K-12.
STL Standards were written around five
major organizers or categories.

Nature of Technology

Students will develop an understanding of

the characteristics and scope of technology.
Students will develop an understanding of
the core concepts of technology.
Students will develop an understanding of
the relationships among technologies and
the connection between technology and
other fields of study.

Technology and Society

Students will develop an understanding of

the cultural, social, economic, and political
effects of technology.
Students will develop an understanding of
the effects of technology on the environment.
Students will develop an understanding of
the role of society in the development and
use of technology.
Students will develop an understanding of
the influence of technology on history.

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

Abilities for a Technological

World
Students will develop the abilities to apply
the design process.
Students will develop the abilities to use
and maintain technological products and
systems.
Students will develop the abilities to
assess the impact of products and
systems.

The Designed World

Students will develop an understanding of
and be able to select and use medical
technologies.
Students will develop an understanding of
and be able to select and use agricultural
and related biotechnologies.
Students will develop an understanding of
and be able to select and use energy and
power technologies.

The Designed World (Cont.)

Students will develop an

understanding of and be able to

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

The Designed World (Cont.)

Students will develop an

understanding of and be able to

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

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

A Sample Standard &

Benchmark
Standard 11:
Students will develop abilities to apply a
design process.
Grades K-2 Benchmark in Standard 11:
Build or construct an object using a
design process.

In conclusion
The power and promise of
technology can be further
enhanced through the study of
technology to assure that all
people are technologically literate
in the future.