Conference Session

Installing & Assessing Technology Literacy Courses

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Camille George, University of St. Thomas; Elise Amel, University of St. Thomas; Karl Mueller, University of St. Thomas

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

developing assessment plans and dissemination approaches through her work on the UST Bush Foundation Grant. She has completed pedagogical presentations and publications about international education and service learning.Karl Mueller, University of St. Thomas Karl Mueller is the laboratory supervisor for the School of Engineering at the University of St. Thomas. He joined the department in 1995 after working for eleven years in the manufacturing sector. Karl works with students to ensure safe operation of machine tools and test equipment, and provides design advice. Page 11.119.1© American

Conference Session

Defining Technological Literacy

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Douglass Klein, Union College; Robert Balmer, Union College

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

-traditional, interdisciplinary field • encouraging (and making it possible for) existing faculty to contribute to CT programsCurriculum • ensuring a proper liberal-arts-worthy balance of breadth and depth in CT programs • finding appropriate academic “homes” for CT courses, when they do not neatly fit into existing disciplinary boxes • creating policies for staffing interdisciplinary team-taught courses • integrating CT into the new general education curriculum for all Union students, and recommending homes for CT courses • considering the proper role of CT courses in disciplinary majors and minorsSpace and Facilities • planning for and allocation of space and facilities for CT faculty, research, and academic programs

Conference Session

Installing & Assessing Technology Literacy Courses

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Ohland, Clemson University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

students explained and demonstratedfundamental physics concepts to pre-service teachers were seniors taking Curriculum andMethods for Early Childhood Through Grade 4 II: Mathematics and Science. The pre-serviceteachers then shared these lessons with in-service kindergarten teachers. In addition to theservice they provided the current and future K-12 teachers, the engineering students benefited bylearning to communicate physics concepts to non-engineers by relating those concepts toeveryday experience.22Western Michigan University used a BEE planning grant to develop an engineering-educationcollaboration to create a section of the first-year engineering course Introduction to Engineeringand Technology to be taken by engineering and elementary

Conference Session

Defining Technological Literacy

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Greg Pearson, National Academy of Engineering; David Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

areaffected by technology. Is a local referendum on issuing bonds for the construction of anew power plant a wise use of taxpayer dollars? Does a plan to locate a new wasteincinerator within several miles of one's home pose serious health risks, as opponents ofthe initiative may claim? How should one react to efforts by local government to placesurveillance cameras in high-crime areas of the city? Technologically literate people maydisagree on the best answers to these and other technology-related questions, but theywill be much better able to discuss them in an informed manner.Technological Literacy in the United StatesPeople come to know something about technology in at least three ways. For many if notmost Americans, the predominant mode is

Conference Session

Installing & Assessing Technology Literacy Courses

Collection

2006 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Krupczak, Hope College; Greg Pearson, National Academy of Engineering; David Ollis, North Carolina State University

Tagged Divisions

Technological Literacy Constituent Committee

gauging the impact of efforts to enhance technological literacy and to planning future efforts. This is troubling, since substantial federal as well as private monies and expectations are being invested in such things as curriculum, instructional materials, museum exhibits, and television programming that are meant in part or whole to boost understanding of technological issues. With this problem in mind and with funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council embarked in 2003 on a major study of assessment for technological literacy. The goal of the project was to determine the most viable approach or approaches for assessing technological literacy in