Technology is the collection of practices, systems, technologies, and strategies employed in the creation of products or services or in the achievement of specific objectives, for instance scientific research. Today the entire world has become involved in technology. The invention of new media and increased globalization have influenced the development of technology in society and in businesses. The influence of technology in society is most evident in its impact on education.
A major part of technology education is the creation of technology-based educational courses that are continuously defined by a particular perspective and curriculum. These courses help students learn and understand technology concepts. Courses such as these are required by most schools. However, many schools are now developing curriculum that are not technology-based, even though they may include some technology concepts. This kind of curriculum tends to lose the focus on technology concepts, especially for those courses that teach how to utilize technology.
Broadening the perspective that technology affects everything in our lives can help us become more flexible. In order to create technology-based educational courses, teachers should be aware of broad patterns and interrelationships between technology and society. For example, teachers should be aware that technology-based technologies like email have created powerful new kinds of relationships based on interpersonal communication. The teaching of social science and technology topics also contributes to broad patterns of understanding.
Broadening the perspective does not mean disregarding the relevance of the technology to specific needs. In fact, teaching technology concepts helps us to address the need for specific technology for specific purposes. In the case of email, for example, we can talk about broad patterns of communication, such as email marketing, electronic mailing, bulk sending, advertising using electronic media, etc. Each one of these methods has various limitations, depending on the purpose and the means of implementation. We can then talk about a general framework in which all these practices can be incorporated, in order to have an electronic teaching curriculum.
Broadening the perspective also helps us to think in different contexts. In fact, broadening the perspective opens up the door for innovative methods of teaching, based on universal attributes of technology and knowledge. Universal attributes of technology are not limited by physical or geographical boundaries. Therefore, it is not enough just to talk about technology practices as if they were isolated facts. Teachers must be prepared to discuss these topics as integrated parts of their curriculum.
When teachers talk about technology, it is important for them to consider these broad concepts. These concepts provide the base for the development of effective teaching systems. Therefore, teaching technology concepts need to go beyond the simple teaching of core concepts. This requires teachers to talk about these concepts in a broader context and develop lessons and activities that are directly relevant to the technology they use in their day-to-day teaching. It also requires teachers to pay more attention to technology literacy and establish a framework for students to understand this technology. By paying more attention to technology literacy, we can ensure that the vast range of technologies available to us – from pens to televisions, from computers to mobiles – have a positive educational impact on our children.