Technology is how humans modify the world around them to meet their needs and wants, or to solve a problem. It extends the potential of humans by allowing people to do things they could not otherwise do. These three standards address what technology is, core concepts and relationships.
1. Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
A. K-2. The natural world and human-made world are different.
B. K-2. All people use tools and techniques to help them do things.
C. 3-5. Things that are found in nature differ from things that are human made in how they are produced and used.
D. 3-5. Tools, materials, and skills are used to make things and carry out tasks.
E. 3-5. Creative thinking and economic and cultural influences shape technological development.
F. 6-8. New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do things that could not be done without the help of technology.
G. 6-8. The development of technology is a human activity and is the result of individual or collective needs and the ability to be creative.
H. 6-8. Technology is closely linked to creativity, which has resulted in innovation.
I. 6-8. Corporations can often create demand for a product by bringing it onto the market and advertising.
B. K-2. All people use tools and techniques to help them do things.
C. 3-5. Things that are found in nature differ from things that are human made in how they are produced and used.
D. 3-5. Tools, materials, and skills are used to make things and carry out tasks.
E. 3-5. Creative thinking and economic and cultural influences shape technological development.
F. 6-8. New products and systems can be developed to solve problems or to help do things that could not be done without the help of technology.
G. 6-8. The development of technology is a human activity and is the result of individual or collective needs and the ability to be creative.
H. 6-8. Technology is closely linked to creativity, which has resulted in innovation.
I. 6-8. Corporations can often create demand for a product by bringing it onto the market and advertising.
2. Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of technology.
A. K-2 - Some systems are found in nature, and some are made by humans.
B. K-2 - Systems have parts or components that work together to accomplish a goal.
C. K-2 - Tools are simple object that help humans complete tasks.
D. K-2 - Different materials are used in making things.
E. K-2 - People plan in order to get things done.
F. 3-5 - A subsystem is a system that operated as a part of another system.
G. 3-5 - When parts of a system are missing, it may not work as planned.
H. 3-5 - Resources are the things needed to get a job done, such as tools and machines, materials, information, energy, people, capital, and time.
I. 3-5 - Tools are used to design , make, use, and assess technology.
J. 3-5 - Materials have many different properties.
K. 3-5 - Tools and machines extend human capabilities, such as holding, lifting, carrying, fastening, separating, and computing.
L. 3-5 - Requirements are the limits to designing or making a product or system.
M. 6-8 - Technological systems include input, processes, output, and at times, feedback.
N. 6-8 - Systems thinking involves considering how every part relates to others.
O. 6-8 - An open-loop system has no feedback path and requires human intervention, while a closed-loop system uses feedback.
P. 6-8 - Technological systems can be connected to one another.
Q. 6-8 - Malfunctions of any part of a system may affect the function and quality of the system.
R. 6-8 - Requirements are the parameters placed on the development of a product or system.
S. 6-8 - Trade-off is a decision process recognizing the need for careful compromises among competing factors.
T. 6-8 - Different technologies involve different sets of processes.
U. 6-8 - Maintenance is the process of inspecting and servicing a product or system on a regular basis in order for it to continue functioning properly, to extend its life, or to upgrade its capability.
V. 6-8 - Controls are mechanisms or particular steps that people perform using information about the system that causes systems to change.
B. K-2 - Systems have parts or components that work together to accomplish a goal.
C. K-2 - Tools are simple object that help humans complete tasks.
D. K-2 - Different materials are used in making things.
E. K-2 - People plan in order to get things done.
F. 3-5 - A subsystem is a system that operated as a part of another system.
G. 3-5 - When parts of a system are missing, it may not work as planned.
H. 3-5 - Resources are the things needed to get a job done, such as tools and machines, materials, information, energy, people, capital, and time.
I. 3-5 - Tools are used to design , make, use, and assess technology.
J. 3-5 - Materials have many different properties.
K. 3-5 - Tools and machines extend human capabilities, such as holding, lifting, carrying, fastening, separating, and computing.
L. 3-5 - Requirements are the limits to designing or making a product or system.
M. 6-8 - Technological systems include input, processes, output, and at times, feedback.
N. 6-8 - Systems thinking involves considering how every part relates to others.
O. 6-8 - An open-loop system has no feedback path and requires human intervention, while a closed-loop system uses feedback.
P. 6-8 - Technological systems can be connected to one another.
Q. 6-8 - Malfunctions of any part of a system may affect the function and quality of the system.
R. 6-8 - Requirements are the parameters placed on the development of a product or system.
S. 6-8 - Trade-off is a decision process recognizing the need for careful compromises among competing factors.
T. 6-8 - Different technologies involve different sets of processes.
U. 6-8 - Maintenance is the process of inspecting and servicing a product or system on a regular basis in order for it to continue functioning properly, to extend its life, or to upgrade its capability.
V. 6-8 - Controls are mechanisms or particular steps that people perform using information about the system that causes systems to change.
3. Students will develop an understanding of the relationships among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
A. K-2 - The study of technology uses many of the same ideas and skills as other subjects.
B. 3-5 - Technologies are often combined.
C. 3-5 - Various relationships exist between technology and other fields of study.
D. 6-8 - Technological systems often interact with one another.
E. 6-8 - A product, system, or environment developed for one setting may be applied to another setting.
F. 6-8 - Knowledge gained from other fields of study has a direct effect on the development of technological products and systems.
B. 3-5 - Technologies are often combined.
C. 3-5 - Various relationships exist between technology and other fields of study.
D. 6-8 - Technological systems often interact with one another.
E. 6-8 - A product, system, or environment developed for one setting may be applied to another setting.
F. 6-8 - Knowledge gained from other fields of study has a direct effect on the development of technological products and systems.
Photo: Oldest remaining Minnesota stone arch bridge, built in 1863. View from Browns Creek Bicycle Trail. Stillwater, MN.