summary statement
How could a similar experience linking of all components be used to develop broad technological literacy in a classroom context?
- In technology, you want to encourage children to be constructive and critical consumers. We live in a man-made technological world. You want to provide opportunities for children in your class to explore technological aspects of that world. This exploration will assist children’s understanding that technological development is in response to a need, a situation or an opportunity. Reflecting on the social, cultural, and environmental impact of that technological development on our world. This activity will help their understanding of the Nature of Technology – the “Know Why” strand.
- In Technological Practice the “Know How” strand most children will be comfortable with this as it provides them with the hands-on experience of making something to meet a need. Through engagement with other individuals and/or specialists, they learn about specific practice which helps guide their decision-making process. It is through Technological Practice that children develop skills such as planning, evaluating, consulting, reflecting and reviewing. Skills which they would be able to incorporate in other curriculum subjects.
- Through the Technological Knowledge the “Know That/What” strand this helps guide children in undertaking management of risk through evaluating and correcting to ensure technological outcome is fit for purpose. This can be seen when modeling and making corrections to prototype prior to product development, through to selecting the appropriate materials after reviewing their properties and suitability for use in the product.
- It is through the above connections that children will start to understand the involvement of all three strands (Nature of Technology, Technological Knowledge, and Technological Practice) in the production of one technological outcome.