Define
Technology
What is 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."
(Excerpt from Standards for Technological Literacy, ITEA, 2000)
There are many definitions of technology and many misrepresentations of what technology is meant to be. Below you will find the terms and definitions that we use in order to discuss this widely misunderstood term.
Technology-
- Human innovation in action that involves the generation of knowledge and processes to develop systems that solve problems and extend human capabilities.
- The innovation, change, or modification of the natural environment to satisfy perceived human needs and wants.
Technological Literacy- The ability to use, manage, understand, and assess technology.
Technology education- A study of technology, which provides an opportunity for students to learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology that are needed to solve problems and extend human capabilities.
Defining Technology
There has been confusion as to the meaning of technology because the term has been incorrectly placed under the umbrella of science and seen by many as an indivisible pair. "Pure Science", "Applied Science", and "Technology" have their own distinct definitions. According to Karen Arms (1998) science deals only with things that can be experienced directly or indirectly through the five senses (sight and hearing for example). By definition science has nothing to say about the spiritual or supernatural. Much public support goes to projects on "applied science," investigating problems of immediate concern such as cancer, alternative energy sources or food production. However, there is still a great deal of basic, or "pure," research to be done to discover the principles underlying the behavior of objects and organisms in the world around us.
Hutchinson (1996) describes his definition of technology versus science.
Change in the material environment is the explicit purpose of technology, and not, as in the case with science, the understanding of the natural world and the natural universe.
Technological knowledge describes how the human-built world is designed and created and how people can use it to extend their potential.
Science is the study of the natural world and universe and seeks understanding of nature while technology is the study of the human-made world and seeks solutions. Technology has always been with us. The Stone Age was named for the materials humans used to modify their environment.
Defining Technology Education/Technological Studies
Technology Education Lab stated that technology is an integrated instructional program that includes cultural importance, historic, current and futuristic knowledge. Technology education is an experience-based instructional program organized to prepare students for a global society. It applies mathematics and science concepts to technological systems in areas such as construction, communication, transportation, biotechnology, manufacturing, power and energy. By using a variety of tools, materials, processes and technology systems students are challenged to use team-building concepts to construct solutions. Through computer and other technology systems the students perform activities to develop problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
Students should be exposed to activity-oriented laboratory experiences that reinforce abstract concepts with concrete experiences. In an active laboratory setting technology education is taught with rich hands-on multi-sensory experiences. The combination of "know how" and "ability to do" in carrying out technological work transforms and enhances technological understandings, communication & language art skills, social and societal comprehension, mathematical concepts and scientific knowledge into reality.
As technology development continues to accelerate, the Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Education (1999) states that it can either become increasingly difficult for people to understand and use, or it can become "user friendly". By implementing practical applications, the study of technology is able to reinforce the total curriculum with strategies such as individual student projects, project teams, class group activities, student club participation, enterprise and research & development activities.
Technology Education Lab (1999) offers challenges and advice to students:
"The process by which the individual will be able to maintain a reasonable degree of technological literacy throughout one's life in an ever-changing technological society is one of education's greatest challenges."
"Technology Education provides the finest blend and balance of all the senses used in learning. It is truly the ultimate experience."
Arms, K.A. & Camp, P.S. (1998). The Limitations of Science Biology-A Journey Into Life. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing.
Hutchinson, J. & Darsnitz, J. (1996). Design and Problem Solving in Technology. Cincinnati, OH: Thompson Learning Tools
Ministry of Education. Considerations for Instruction in Technology Education- Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Education Home Page. 9 pars. Online. Internet. Available: http:www.est.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/irps/tech_ed/conins.htm. (1999, Feb. 6)
Technology Education Lab. The Technology Lab. Montgomery County, MD. 7 pp. Online. Internet. Available: http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/teched/ success. html. (1999, Feb.13)
Last updated: 01/31/04