Support for Technology Education
To Whom It May Concern:
Living in the 21st Century requires much more from every individual than a basic ability to read, write, and perform simple mathematics. Technology virtually affects every aspect of our lives, from enabling citizens to perform routine tasks to requiring that they make responsible, informed decisions that affect individuals, our society, and the environment. (International Technology Education Association, 2003) How we educate a generation that can comprehend, cope with, and direct these technologies is a challenge that political leaders, schools, and parents must respond to. The need for literacy in this dynamic content area is the role of Technology Education. (Wisconsin Academic Standards for Technology Education, 1998)
Because it is the responsibility of Technology Education to provide our children with technological literacy, I am writing to you on behalf of____________________. I ask you to take action in the form of___________________________________. In the following narrative, I will offer a tangible rationale as to why this course of action is warranted.
Few issues evoke more passionate conversation than the education of our children. As the economy becomes increasingly global and technologically complex, our educational programs need to be strengthened to prepare today’s students to be tomorrow’s productive workers, citizens and leaders. (American Society of Manufacturing Engineers, 2002 pg. 1) Recently, the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) cited the growing influence and complexity of technology that has resulted in the increased need for a citizenry that possesses a certain level of technological literacy to make informed decisions and maintain a reasonable quality of life. Additionally, Wisconsin Education for Employment Standard (M) has undergone revisions and will become effective July 1, 2004. Under S.121.02 (1) (M) it states, that the purpose for employment programs is to prepare elementary and secondary pupils for future employment, to ensure technological literacy, to promote lifelong learning, to promote good citizenship, to promote cooperation among businesses, industry, labor, post secondary schools, and public schools; and to establish a role for public schools in the economic development of Wisconsin. Schools are failing to provide required systemic curriculum in technological literacy, students do not have a basic understanding of technology so that he/she can educate himself or herself about particular technological issues and be able to make informed decisions on it. (Technically Speaking, 2002 pg. 20) It is now incumbent upon decision-makers such as yourself, to require the study of, and about technology in an effort to increase the citizenry’s technological literacy.
Technology Education requires students to learn about how people design, make, use, keep up, and manage things and systems with hands-on problem solving activities. The mission of Technology Education is to have students who can:
a) Understand why and how people design, engineer, and innovate to meet human needs and wants.
b) Apply ways of thinking and doing essential to designing and problem solving, developing, making, managing, and assessing technological systems in various contexts.
c) Safely use, manage, and evaluate technological systems and engineering processes.
d) Relate technology with science, mathematics and other subjects.
e) Communicate technology content and processes, individually as well as in teams.
f) Understand the historical and future significance of engineered designs and impacts of technological solutions.
g) Develop an awareness of, appreciation for, and engagement in career paths and opportunities in technology and engineering.
When discussing technology, it is extremely important to clearly define it as well as other related terms. ITEA’s Standards for Technological Literacy define technology as “innovation, change or modification of the natural environment in order to satisfy perceived human wants and needs.” (ITEA, 2000a pg. 242) Technological Literacy is the ability to initiate and conduct activity associated with technological processes, systems, problems, opportunities, history, future, impacts, ethics and consequences. (Wisconsin Model Academic Standards, 1998 pg. 12) Technology Education is a program of studies that lead to technological literacy. (WMAS, 1998 pg. 12) According to The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Engineering is the knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, applied with judgment to develop ways to utilize, economically, the materials and forces of nature for the benefit of mankind.
A common misconception occurs when relating technological literacy and computer literacy. Although computer skills are an important aspect of being an educated, well-rounded citizen in a modern country like the United States, the conception of technological literacy is much broader and complex. It involves knowledge, ways of thinking, and acting and capabilities. (Technically Speaking, 2002 pg. 14-15) True technological literacy helps prepare individuals to make well-informed choices in their roles as consumers, workers, citizens and members of the global community.
Schools have made great strides in upgrading Educational Technology (devices and systems such as computers, software and infrastructure used to deliver education) but have largely left out educating students in the engineering design process, how technology shapes society, and the benefits and costs of technology. In a sense, technology education is a primary delivery subject for educational technology using practical reasoning. This leads us into the core relationship technology shares with science and mathematics.
Science, Technology, and Mathematics:
It is not “ground breaking news” that science, technology and mathematics tenets intertwine. For example, much of mathematics is done because of its intrinsic interest, without regard to its usefulness. Yet, most mathematics does have applications, with science and technology providing a large share of such applications and stimulants. (AAAS, 1993 pg. 30)
The relationship between science, mathematics and technology is cyclical with each area relying on the other for advancement. For example, as scientific research discovers a new composite material, technology designs and engineers an application for that material that improves the way we live or work. Mathematics is the universal language that science and technology use to communicate. Additionally, the needs of natural science and technology often lead to the formulation of new mathematics. These three disciplines should not be taught in isolation in a school curriculum, but interdisciplinary reinforced, and continually cross referenced, as part of a dynamic triangle that ultimately researches, designs, and creates the way we live, work and play.
I ask you to imagine a world, in which workers are technically competent but technologically illiterate. A world in which a person can “fix” a hardware problem with a personal computer but may not be able to evaluate the risks, benefits or tradeoffs associated with understanding if a gas-electric hybrid engine is a good investment, or if it would be better for the environment than a traditional internal combustion engine. (Technically Speaking, 2002 pg. 22) Our citizens, our economy, our environment, our democracy are all dependent upon a certain level of “technological understanding”. How can a person reasonably vote in an election on issues such as “Star Wars Defense System”, “human cloning”, “fuel cells”, “flexible transistors”, “robots”, “nanotechnology”, etc… without having a general background knowledge in technology? Unless action is taken, we are at a crossroads where citizens can be trained to do a skilled job but not understand the benefits or consequences of using a present or future technology rationally and responsibly. In reality, few students are leaving schools in Wisconsin today with adequate literacy in technology to become the informed citizens of tomorrow.
The study of Technology in education helps create a citizenry that is highly literate, disciplined, capable of thinking critically and creatively, knowledgeable about a range of cultures, and able to participate actively in discussions about new discoveries and choices. Students are leaving our K-12 educational systems with an adequate understanding of educational technology (computers), but dangerously lacking in the skills and abilities to make informed decisions on present and future technological issues.
In closing, I ask you to take a leadership role in initiating systemic change that will positively influence all of our children’ future. I would be pleased to answer any questions personally, regarding the importance of technological literacy for all students in the State of Wisconsin.
American Society of Manufacturing Engineers, . (2002). Improving K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education: Options for State Legislatures. Washington , DC:
International Technology Education Association, . (2003). Advancing Excellence in Technological Literacy: Student Assessment, Professional Development, and Program Standards. Reston, VA: .
International Technology Education Association, . (2000). Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology. Reston, VA: .
National Academy of Engineering & National Research Council, . (2002). Technically speaking: Why all Americans need to know more about technology. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Project 2061, American Association for the Advancement of Science, . (1993). Benchmarks for Science Literacy. New York: Oxford University Press.
Retrieved Jul. 10, 2003, from The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology: http://www.abet.org/
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, . (1998). Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards for Technology Education. Madison, WI: Publication Sales.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation promotes the progress of engineering in the United States in order to enable the Nation's capacity to perform. Its investments in engineering research and education aim to build and strengthen a national capacity for innovation that can lead over time to the creation of new shared wealth and a better quality of life.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
This site discusses the need for a technologically literate citizenry. There is an urgent need to develop a technologically capable workforce that can compete in the global economy. Employers are increasingly concerned about the lack of technically skilled workers. Much more emphasis must be placed on pre-college STEM education if this skill deficit is to be overcome.
Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology,
Technological literacy, a broad understanding of the human-designed world and our place in it, is an essential quality for all people who live in the increasingly technology-driven 21st century. This website explains what technological literacy is, why it's important, and what's being done to improve it.
Technology for All Americans Project
In 1994, the International Technology Education Association (ITEA) launched its Technology for All Americans Project (TfAAP) as a means to advance student attainment of technological literacy. Technological literacy is far more than the ability to use technological tools. Technologically literate citizens employ systems-oriented thinking as they interact with the technological world, cognizant of how such interaction affects individuals, our society, and the environment.
The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology
ABET provides world leadership in assuring quality and in stimulating innovation in applied science, computing, engineering, and technology education. It serves the public through the promotion and advancement of education in applied science, computing, engineering and technology.
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers
This site is dedicated to the world's leading professional society supporting lifelong manufacturing education. Through our member programs, publications, expositions and professional development resources, SME promotes an increased awareness of manufacturing engineering and helps keep manufacturing professionals up to date on leading trends and technologies.
Wisconsin Technology Education Association
The purpose of the Wisconsin Technology Education Association is to provide training and instruction to technology educators to assist them in providing quality programs that will benefit their students.
© Copyright 2005 Wisconsin Technology Education Association
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