Technology education is the study of

technology Technology is the application of knowledge to reach practical goals in a specifiable and reproducible way. The word ''technology'' may also mean the product of such an endeavor. The use of technology is widely prevalent in medicine, scien ...

, in which students "learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology". As a field of study, it covers the human's ability to shape and change the physical world to meet needs, by manipulating materials and

tools A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...

with techniques. It addresses the disconnect between wide usage and the lack of knowledge about technical components of technologies used and how to fix them. This emergent discipline seeks to contribute to the learners' overall

scientific Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...

and technological literacy, and technacy (see https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/technacy). Technology education should not be confused with

educational technology Educational technology (commonly abbreviated as edutech, or edtech) is the combined use of computer hardware, software, and educational theory and practice to facilitate learning. When referred to with its abbreviation, edtech, it often refe ...

. Educational technology focuses on a more narrow subset of technology use that revolves around the use of technology in and for education as opposed to technology education's focus on technology's use in general.

History

Technology education is an offshoot of the Industrial Arts tradition in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

and the Craft teaching or vocational education in other countries. In 1980, through what was called the "Futuring Project", the name of "

industrial arts education Industrial arts is an educational program that features the fabrication of objects in wood or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools. Industrial Arts are commonly referred to as Technology Education. It may include small engine rep ...

" was changed to be "technology education" in

New York State New York, officially the State of New York, is a state in the Northeastern United States. It is often called New York State to distinguish it from its largest city, New York City. With a total area of , New York is the 27th-largest U.S. sta ...

; the goal of this movement was to increase students' technological literacy. Since the nature of technology education is significantly different from its predecessor, Industrial Arts teachers underwent inservice education in the mid-1980s while a Technology Training Network was also established by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). In Sweden, technology as a new subject emerged from the tradition of crafts subjects while in countries like Taiwan and Australia, its elements are discernible in historical vocational programs. In the 21st century,

Mars suit A Mars suit or Mars space suit is a space suit for Extravehicular activity, EVAs on the planet Mars. Compared to a suit designed for space-walking in the near vacuum of low Earth orbit, Mars suits have a greater focus on actual walking and a need ...

design was utilized as a topic for technology education. Technical education is entirely different from general education

Current State of Technology Education

TeachThought, a private entity, described technology education as being in the “status of childhood and bold experimentation.” A survey of teachers across the United States by an independent market research company found out that 86 percent of teacher-respondents agree that technology must be used in the classroom. 96 percent say it promotes engagement of students and 89% agree technology improves student outcomes. Technology is present in many education systems. As of July 2018, American public schools provide one desktop computer for every five students and spend over $3 billion annually on digital content. In school year 2015–2016, the government conducted more state-standardized testing for elementary and middle levels through digital platforms instead of the traditional pen and paper method. The digital revolution offers fresh learning prospects. Students can learn online even if they are not inside the classroom. Advancement in technology entails new approaches of combining present and future technological improvements and incorporating these innovations into the public education system. With technology incorporated into everyday learning, this creates a new environment with new personalized and blended learning. Students are able to complete work based on their own needs as well as having the versatility of individualized study and it evolves the overall learning experience. Technology space in education is huge. It advances and changes rapidly. In the United Kingdom, computer technology helped elevate standards in different schools to confront various challenges. The UK adopted the “Flipped Classroom” concept after it became popular in the United States. The idea is to reverse conventional teaching methods through the delivery of instructions online and outside of traditional classrooms. In Europe, the European Commission espoused a Digital Education Plan in January 2018. The program consists of 11 initiatives that support utilization of technology and digital capabilities in education development. The Commission also adopted an action plan called the Staff Working Document which details its strategy in implementing digital education. This plan includes three priorities formulating measures to assist European Union member-states to tackle all related concerns. The whole framework will support the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning and European Classification of Skills, Competences, Qualifications, and Occupations. In East Asia, The

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...

co-sponsored a yearly (two-day) international symposium In October 2017 with South Korea's Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology and the World Bank to support education and ICT concerns for industry practitioners and senior policymakers. Participants plan and discuss issues in use of new technologies for schools within the region.

References

External links

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The History and Philosophy of Technology Education - "Historical Reader"
from SUNY Oswego {{DEFAULTSORT:Technology Education Applied learning Educational technology