Rationale for Technology Education

Rationale for Technology Education

Technology is embodied in devices that extend human capabilities. It provides the tools to extend our vision, to send and receive sounds and images from around the world, and to improve health, lifestyle, economies, and ecosystems. As technology assumes an increasingly dominant role in society, technological literacy is becoming as essential as numeracy skills and the ability to read and write. In providing the fundamentals of technological literacy, technology education helps young people prepare to live and work in a world of continuously evolving technologies.

A technologically literate person uses tools, materials, systems, and processes in an informed, ethical, and responsible way. To be responsible members of society, students must be aware of the impact that ever-changing technology has on their lives. They need to reflect critically on technology's role in society and consider its positive and negative effects. Technology education fosters the development of skills and attitudes that increase students' abilities to responsibly address the social and ethical issues of technological advancements.

To meet career challenges, students must be able to communicate effectively, make independent decisions, solve problems, work independently and cooperatively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and become technically competent. Indeed, the Conference Board of Canada has identified these skills as critical to employment in the 21st century (see the Board's "Employability Skills 2000+" brochure, available online at http://www.conferenceboard.ca/nbec/research.htm or from the Board at 255 Smyth Road, Ottawa ON K1H 8M7 Canada, Tel. (613) 526- 3280, Fax (613) 526- 4857). In Technology Education 11 and 12 courses students have the opportunity to develop a variety of skills and abilities essential for employment in today's economy.

Activities in Technology Education provide opportunities for students to develop, reinforce, and apply:

• numeracy skills as they calculate, estimate, and measure
• information skills as they identify, locate, gather, store, retrieve, process, and present information
• communication skills as they apply technology to communicate their design ideas, solutions, reflections, and products
• problem-solving skills as they identify, describe, and analyse problems, and test their ideas and solutions
• social and cooperative skills as they interact with others to solve problems and complete projects
• leadership and project-management skills as they set goals, plan, address challenges, and resolve conflicts
• physical skills as they carry out technological tasks using tools, equipment, and materials correctly, efficiently, and safely.

Technology Education Objectives

The aim of the Technology Education curriculum is to help students develop technological literacy and lifelong learning patterns that they need to live and work effectively in a changing technological society. To achieve this, the curriculum provides a framework for students to learn how to design and construct solutions to real-world problems and opportunities to put into practice what they have learned.

The Technology Education curriculum is guided by the following goals. Technology Education should provide students with opportunities to:

• develop the ability to solve technological problems
• develop the ability to make things and explore technology
• develop the ability to deal ethically with technology
• develop lifelong learning patterns needed to function effectively in a changing technological environment
• acquire skills and attitudes needed to work with technology both independently and as a cooperative member of a group
• develop appropriate attitudes and practices with respect to work safety and personal health
• gain competence in working with tools, materials, and processes to produce high-quality work
• develop language and visual communication skills to investigate, explain, and illustrate aspects of technology
• apply and integrate skills, knowledge, and resources across disciplines and in technological activities
• explore and pursue technological careers and associated lifestyles
• become discerning users of materials, products, and technical services.