Technology is the human relevance of materials, tools, and processes to explain problems and give benefits to humankind. Technology in Pennsylvania is used mainly to improve the society and the environment. Such improvements are in connection with our basic needs such as food, shelter, and safety. While technology is a good thing it could also have adverse effects on people and the environment when not used properly.
Technology education comprises a wide array of activities and knowledge. Effective learning technology in Pennsylvania merges knowledge on processes, content and skills coupled with a holistic technique to learning. Effective technology education in Pennsylvania provides exceptional prospects to apply facts and theories learned on various practical hands-on applications. The students knowledge of skills, process and content must be effectively combined together to be able to solve problems methodically and to communicate successfully. Students should be able to understand that the connection between science and technology is: 1)science develops theories and principles, whereas 2) technology gives the practical application of the principles and theories learned.
Having adequate knowledge of content in relation to technology education in Pennsylvania includes the following factors:
1. Methods of designing and improvement of results.
2. Principles for choosing and using suitable materials, tools, and procedures.
3. Experimental and design requirement for testing and evaluation of solutions and results.
4. Standard for judging the presentation and outcome of the acquired solutions.
5. Evaluating the effect of changing a method to improve performance.
Pennsylvania technology education warrants the proper integration of the following aspects:
1. Nature of Science – student must understand that science encompasses observation, classification, hypothesizing and interpreting of data.
2. Unifying themes of science – these are the generalization of theories and principles which could lead to an inquiry.
3. Knowledge – pertains to principles, theories, facts, and laws that could be substantiated by using scientific investigation which will entail chemistry, biology, and physics.
4. Inquiry – is a rational procedure of logic which requires verifying of results, and having an explanation about events, phenomena, and natural objects.
5. Process Skills – these involves the acquisition of knowledge and applied science through observation, classification, computing, predicting, measuring, manipulation of variables, interpretation of data, generating solutions, etc.
6. Problem Solving – relevance of concepts or problems that normally leads to the identification of new problems. This could have social repercussion that requires decision-making and appropriate action. It also entails the recognition of variables, the formulation of models and inquiry.
7. Scientific Thinking – requires the passing of judgment until such time that all answers and justification are analyzed and proven based on factual information.
At present, technology education in Pennsylvania encompasses many aspects that are related to software application and computer hardware operations that range from networking software design, data management, etc. Although the benefits that could be reaped from studying technology in Pennsylvania is endless, students must be made aware of the proper ethics involve when dealing with technology in order to protect the environment and make their community a better place to live in.