Technology
Education Standards Rationale
Technology
encompasses the tools and strategies for solving problems, using information,
increasing productivity and enhancing personal growth. The word technology summons
an image of a variety of tools ranging from shovels to gene splitters. When
asked to develop the original Technology Standards, adopted in 1997, the
Committee did so without the benefit of seeing the integration of various
technologies into other curricular standards. Over the past four years,
significant advances in technology have occurred. These changes have caused
many national organizations to review what students need to know and be able to
do in relation to technology. Therefore, when asked to review the current
standards, the Revision Committee examined national standards (National
Educational Technology Standards, Information Power, Information Technology in
Education and Technology for All Americans), along with current
Arizona
standards. The Revision Committee also analyzed current research on technology
skills important to business and industry. The Revision Committee reviewed
technology that is currently integrated into other content area standards with
the vision that as other standards are revised, technology will be seamlessly
integrated.
The
goal is to help students live, learn and work successfully and responsibly in
an increasingly complex, technology-driven society. These Technology Standards
are designed to provide foundational skills and processes that students need in
order to work productively and creatively in their studies, at work and at
home. Research on the transfer of learning strongly supports the position that
instruction and educational activities should closely parallel the final
desired behavior. It is essential that technology instruction be an integral
part of a student’s educational experience. Education’s role is to help
students meet the challenge of the future. Arizona must encourage, assist and
provide all students with the required tools and instruction to enable them to
acquire knowledge, develop skills and apply these tools successfully in our
world.
The
following definition of technology is supported in this document:
Technology
is the application of tools to solve problems that extend
human
potential for the benefit of society
Table
1: Technology Education Standards
STANDARD
1: Fundamental Operations and Concepts
Students
understand the operations and function of technology systems and are proficient
in the use of technology.
STANDARD
2: Social, Ethical and Human Issues
Students
understand the social, ethical and human issues related to using technology in
their daily lives and demonstrate responsible use of technology systems,
information and software.
STANDARD
3: Technology Productivity Tools
Students
use technology tools to enhance learning, to increase productivity and
creativity
and
to construct technology-enhanced models, prepare publications and produce other
creative
works.
STANDARD
4: Technology Communications Tools
Building
on productivity tools, students will collaborate, publish, and interact with
peers,
experts
and other audiences using telecommunications and media.
STANDARD
5: Technology Research Tools
Students
utilize technology-based research tools to locate and collect information
pertinent to the task, as well as evaluate and analyze information from a
variety of sources.
STANDARD
6: Technology as a Tool for Problem Solving and Decisionk
making
Students
use technology to make and support decisions in the process of solving
realworld problems.