ASSESSING TECHNOLOGY LITERACY AND THE USE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY CURRICULA BY UTAH K-12 EDUCATORS

摘要

Thomas Friedman in The World is Flat wrote, "The NSB (National Science Board) report found that the number of American eighteen- to twenty-four-year-olds who receive science degrees has fallen to seventeenth in the world, whereas we ranked third three decades ago." The primary reason for this results from K-12 students' declining interest in engineering and technology. Engineering and technology are as intertwined with society just as they are with each other, unfortunately members of society do not always understand engineering and technology, nor their relationship. In fact, at times, people are accepting of their lack of understanding - they feel there is no need for them to try to understand technology, engineering, and their interplay. Instead, they feel their ability to use technology suffices, and represents a "satisfactory or adequate" understanding.