Technology Education
Technology Education is a
standards-based (National and State Standards) program that allows
students to investigate and experience the means by which they meet their
needs and wants, solve problems and extend their capabilities. It is
concerned with the knowledge and skills needed to develop, produce and use
products and services, and how to assess the impacts these activities have
on humans and the world.
In Technology Education, students gain knowledge and
skills in the application, design, production and assessment of products,
services and systems. The study of technology allows students to
reinforce, apply and transfer their academic knowledge and skills to a
variety of interesting and relevant activities, and problems and settings.
In addition to their general academic and technical knowledge and skills,
students gain an understanding of the career opportunities available and
what employers require gaining and maintaining employment in the 21st
century.
In 1999, the National Standards for Technology Education
were released for use by the International Technology Education
Association (the standards have been under development for the past six
years). The Office of Career and Technical Education adopted the National Technology Education Standards for State standards. The standards
present a vision of what students should know and be able to do in order
to be technologically literate. The standards do not attempt to define a
curriculum for the study of technology education; that is best left to
states, school districts and teachers. Instead, as the name implies, the
standards describe what the content of technology education should be in
grades K-12. Setting forth a consistent content for technology education
in schools around the country will help ensure that all students receive
effective instruction about technology.
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