Technology Trends and Issues :: essays research papers fc

Defining Technological LiteracyGiven the current order of engineering, a researcher should have little difficulty in decision relevant definitions that embody a spirited understanding of underlying good and societal interactions that craft a view of the technically literate person. As an exercise, extracting the common elements from various experts definitions of proficient literacy should result in a reason perspective that would provide a foundation supporting further literacy definitions for aspects of technology such as computers or genetics. However, this is easier than it sounds. As Gagel (1997) confirms, defining technological literacy has proven to be an unexpectedly complex and difficult occupation. The difficulty in defining technological literacy is exposed by a number of factors. atomic number 53 factor relates to understanding perspective and determining whether the term is best outlined by putting the emphasis on technology or literacy or whether the subject is best mounted laterally. Indeed, Gagel describes the technological literacy from a technology perspective as opposed to defining literacy and then establishing parameters supporting technological literacy. Perhaps this approach contri neverthelessed to the authors difficulty in defining the term. As technology is so diverse and crosses many boundaries, perhaps the definition of technological literacy should do likewise, and not be restricted to either a technology or literacy perspective.An opposite factor contributing to the difficulty in defining technological literacy involves the improperly weighting of computer influence on the terms definition. In a speech given by former President, nozzle Clinton, this misunderstanding is propagated further. He states, Today, technological literacy computer skills and the ability to use computers and other technology to improve learning, productivity and performance is a new staple fibre that our students must master. (Clinton, n.d.) Cle arly, this mindset is remiss and precludes the contribution of myriad other technologies affecting our daily lives. According to Harrison, Computer literacy is but a subset of technological literacy, but if this mindset is not encouraged, then the richness of technological literacy will not be passed on to next generations. As technologists, we have the daunting task of reversing this rapidly flowing river. (Harrison, 2000)So, the question is how to define technological literacy without being pin down in too narrow a perspective and without utilizing a detail technology to add meaning to the term. It is important that society controls technology for it to set us purposefully in our daily lives and lifestyle in general. For us to control technology, an understanding and knowledge is required to allow us to stool informative decisions on how it will affect our lives.