Technology Issues Concepts

Beginning (preschool - 7 years)

Concepts

1. People alone or in groups are always inventing new ways to solve problems and do work.
2. Tools and the ways people do things affect all aspects of life.
3. Tools and ideas are technology.
4. When people want to build something new they should consider how it might affect people.

Intermediate (7 years - 11 years)

Concepts

1. Technology has been on Earth since the begining of humans.
2. Technology influences people and people create technology.
3. Any invention is likely to lead to another invention.
4. An invention is likely to cause people to think of new ways of using.
5. We enjoy many luxuries because of technology.
6. Technology is not equally available to all people on Earth.
7. Scientific laws, engineering principles, properties of matter, and construction techniques are all used in designing solutions to problems.
8. Cost, safety, appearance, environmental impact, and what happens if the solution fails should be considered when designing technology.
9. Technologies have drawbacks as well as benefits that may be know or not during design and production.
10. The abililty to invent tools and technology has caused people to have a tremendous impact on all living organisms.

Literate (11+)

Concepts

1. People shape the future by their ability for creating knowledge and technology and communicating it to others.
2. Technology can not solve all problems or meet all human needs.
3. Technology strongly influenced the course of history and contiues to do so (agriculture, manufacturing, sanitation, medicine, warfare, transportation, information processing, and communication).
4. New technologies have benefits and risks.
5. Rarely are technology issues one-sided.
6. Many issues can create benefits as well as negative consequenes.
7. Society influences what aspects of technology are developed and how they are used.

 

Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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