(Anchorage, Alaska, June 25-26, 1992). INSTITUTION Alaska Univ., Anchorage.; Anchorage School District, AK
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 346 339 CE 061 463 TITLE International Technological Literacy Symposium. Proceedings (Anchorage, Alaska, June 25-26, 1992). INSTITUTION Alaska Univ., Anchorage.; Anchorage School District, AK. SPONS AGENCY Office of Vocational and Adu:t Education (ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE Jun 92 NOTE 165p.; The final paper may be margina2ly legible; contains light type. PUB TYPE Collected Works - Conference Proceedings (021) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Curriculum Development; Foreign Countries; Interdisciplinary Approach; *International Cooperation; *International Programs; *School Business Relationship; Secondary Education; Technical Education; Technological Advancement; *Technological Literacy; Vocational Education IDENTIFIERS Australia; Canada; England; Germany; Japan: Peru; Taiwan; *Technology Education ABSTRACT The following papers are included: "Technological Literacy: Pedagogy for a New World Order" (Peter McGregor);"Career and Technology Studies, A Curriculum Model" (Clarence Preitz); "Vocational and Technical Education at Secondary Schools in Taiwan, Republic of China" (James Yu); "Blueprint for Literacyin Technology" (Jerry Balistreri, Douglas Hammer); "CriticalTechnologies for Economic Growth" Marry Armen); "Applied IndustrialTechnology--A Junior High Technology Program" (Jim Fellenberg); "TheBlueprint for Literacy in Technology" (Don Bernard); "TechnologyEducation: A :teview of the Anchorage Project" (Kendall Starkweather);"Tools for Overcoming Thought Barriers--The Missing Element for Developing Technology Education" (Dietrich Blandow); "TechnologyEducation in Japan" (Shoji Murata, Sam Stern); "InterdisciplinaryTechnology Programs in the Republic of Peru" (James Yu);and "Business Education Partnerships--A Role in Enhancing Technological Literacy"(Brian Swanson). (NLA) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by MRS are the best thatcan be made * * from the original document, * *********************************************************************** U Oho, USINIRTOSAIT OF SOUCA7301$ Educe/row ReSeefthend Improvement ED 'DONAL RESOURCESINFORMATION cENTER &RC? 7 thrli CXunterit Fes been IMMOUClyd as recemS0 trOM The Personor oroaruestroe ohomermg sr r Immor changes hare hese made to Improve reoroductron auiVity Contil ot me* oroomons stated m rho doc men! do hot nCOSaftlyteprpgart1 ottciat aOEM Pourroo or pottcy 'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERI HAS SEEN GRANTED BY / p. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ER)C):" "Ng 0941;010:00-0 1%%%14000000Oets tioto 001_ale 1.00oes%?Ai inoceedioos itoPeWsos,SS 300 EATI4 wwwslAZIlosNwIlli 4 10 2 BEST COPY AY1 LE Forward This publication is a compilation of the papers presented at the International Technological Literacy Symposium in Anchorage, Alaska. Funding, in part, was provided by a grant from the U. S. Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U. S. Department of Education. As part of that grant the symposium was developed as a means to disseminate the results of the Alaska Technological Literacy demonstration project and to assemble representatives of various countries to discuss the processes and developments in teaching technological literacy in their respective countries. Appreciation is extended to all who have assisted to facilitate this symposium. Hosts for this conference were the Anchorage School District and the University of Alaska Anchorage. As project directors, we welcome all who have chosen to participate and offer our time and resources to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. erryal strerl, Secondary Supervisor Career Technology Anchorage School District Douglas E. Hammer, Chair Vocational Teacher Education University of Alaska Anchorage TABLE OF CONTENTS Technological Literacy: Pedagogy For A New WorldOrder Peter McGregor 1 Career and Technology Studies, ACurriculum Model Charence Preitz 1 6 Vocational and Technical Education at SecondarySchools in Taiwan, Republic of China James H. Yu 2 6 Blueprint for Literacy in Technology (BLT) Harry Armen, Jerry Balistreri, Donald Bernard, JamesFeHenberg, Douglas Hammer, Kendall Starkweather 4 0 Tools For Overcoming Thought Barriers - TheMissing Element For Developing Technology Education Dietrich Blandow 8 8 Technology Education in Japan Shoji Murata, Sam Stem 112 Interdisciplinary Technology Programs in the Republic of Peru James H. Yu 123 Business Education Partnerships, A Role in Enhancing Technology Education Brian!: son 136 Technological Literacy: Pedagogy for a New World Order Mr. Peter B. McGregor, Director Centre for Economic Education P.O. Box 334 Albert Park, VIC 3206 Australia Technological Literacy: Pedagogy for a New World Order * Peter B. McGregor Director Centre for Economic Education ** Melbourne * Paper presented to the International Technological Literacy Symposium June 25-26 1992 Anchorage, Alaska ** The Centre for Economic Education Inc is a non-profit organisemion which aims to promote greater understanding of economic considerations in public debate;in particular,to raise the awareness of students and teachers to the importance of economic aspects of public issues. 1 i; Technological Literacy: Pedagogy for a New World Order Technological literacyinvolves more than mere technlcal competence. It requires an understanding ofthe dynamic social and economic forcesthat shape society,the technological innovation that accompanies change, aswell as the potential risks. The challenge thateducators in many countriesface today Is to find meaningful raysof bringing science and technology, technical innovation and problem-solvinginto curricula for all students. Importantly, the irrationalsuspicion of technology that is harboured in some communitiesshould not prevent young people from being introduced tothe competencies andimpacts of technologicalchange -- unique forces in modern societies capable of enhancing thelives and work of the world's people. Let nebegin with an illustration of whattechnological literacy isn't. In 1928, Gary Cooper and NancyCooper were in the final scenes of a film called "ShopwornAngel" for Paramount Pictures. At that point, it was decided by thepowers-that-be, that the new technology of sound should beincorporated into the film. At thelast minute,some dialogue was added. Cooper said,"I studied my script containing this newthing called dialogue until it was letter perfect." In the closing seconds ofthe movie, a wedding scene,the first and only words were spoken. Coopersaid,"I do." Carol said,"I do". The film was released to anastounded world as a talkie. Paramount had entered a new agewith a gesture towards a promising new"technology".1 I believe -- under therubric of "technological literacy" dIPM, we are talking about morethan gestures. It is difficult today tothink about the modern world in which we live withoutthinking about the myriad of technologies that support it. Almost every aspect ofeveryday living in the late twentieth century depends on one form of technology or another. Health and medicine, food andagriculture, transport, homes, minerals and manufactures, energy, education, information and communications, travel, the environment. Technology is what we do to do things betterthan before. Traditionally, new technologies haveprovided more and more people with increasing opportunities tobe more fuliy human. They have continually created new resources and new This story appeared in a pamphlet:Science Shoppdng. The Science Shop, Melbourne. Vol 2 No 2. 2 7 possibilities. Though not faultless,without technology, our labours would be littleother than theprimitive effort of animals to obtain subsistence,and survive. Faster,cheaper, leas effort;conserving one of our mostprecious resources, odr tine. Withoutit, we wouldn't recogniseourselves. Yet, teaihnology is one of the leastunderstood concepts of our age. and Although we very often use the terms 'science' 'technology' together, they arenot one and the samething. Technology is very differentfrom science;and, sadly,its Newton, status inferior. Theworld'sgreat scientists -- Galileo, Faraday -- aregenerically distinct from thegreat such as Edison, Tesla and Ford. Science technologists in educator, Professor Peter Fensham ofMonash University Melbourne writes: "Scientistsbasically are comfortable with notions like 'discovering' or 'uncovering' nature. Technologists are more comfortablewith words like'design' and 'invention'." (Fensham, 1990) In Australia, acceptance ofthe central role of technologyhas become orthodoxy, even amongstthose (such as militantunions) who once so fiercely resistedits contemporary manifestations. (I am told that the adoptionrate of some domesticappliances throughout the country areunmatched anywhere else in the world.) At the same time, the governmentis urging people in universities, companies andorganisations like theCSIRO2 to create Australia's futurethrough scientific effort. It is widely accepted that their success in developing new technologies will shape our environment andlargely aetermine the strength of our economy andthe standard of living wewill share in the years ahead. In an interview for theAustralian Rural Times the head of the CSIRO, Dr John Stocker,predicted a bright future for science and technology.He suggestedthat Australia will achieve world recognition in a range ofnew technologies including plant biotechnology, medical biotechnology, astronomy, minerals processing,animal biotechnology, cleaner fuel sources, scientificinstruments, and climate research. We willsee.3 If this is the future,