Technically Speaking: Why Americans Need to Know More About Technology

By National Academy of Engineering, National Research Council, Committee on Technological Literacy

Book Overview

Cell phones . . . airbags . . . genetically modified food . . . the Internet. These are all emblems of modern life. You might ask what we would do without them. But an even more interesting question might be what would we do if we had to actually explain how they worked?

The United States is riding a whirlwind of technological change. To be sure, there have been periods, such as the late 1800s, when new inventions appeared in society at a comparable rate. But the pace of change today, and its social, economic, and other impacts, are as significant and far reaching as at any other time in history. And it seems that the faster we embrace new technologies, the less we're able to understand them. What is the long-term effect of this galloping technological revolution? In today's new world, it is nothing less than a matter of responsible citizenship to grasp the nature and implications of technology.

Technically Speaking provides a blueprint for bringing us all up to speed on the role of technology in our society, including understanding such distinctions as technology versus science and technological literacy versus technical competence. It clearly and decisively explains what it means to be a technologically-literate citizen. The book goes on to explore the context of technological literacy--the social, historical, political, and educational environments.

This readable overview highlights specific issues of concern: the state of technological studies in K-12 schools, the reach of the Internet into our homes and lives, and the crucial role of technology in today's economy and workforce. Three case studies of current issues--car airbags, genetically modified foods, and the California energy crisis--illustrate why ordinary citizens need to understand technology to make responsible decisions. This fascinating book from the National Academy of Engineering is enjoyable to read and filled with contemporary examples. It will be important to anyone interested in understanding how the world around them works.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0309082625
• ISBN13: 9780309082624
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: National Academies Press
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 7.1" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Technically Speaking

The title says it all: Why all Americans need to know more about technology. It explains the importance of basic technological literacy for Americans so we can be educated consumers and active participants in society.

Why Technical Education Matters

This book is actually the culmination of over 2 years of research by the National Research Council on technological literacy in the United States.The sad truth is that although we are utterly dependent on sophisticated technological systems to maintain our way of life, as a nation we are ignorant of the functioning of those systems to an astonishing degree.This report makes the case that everyone involved in education needs to do a better job of educating students about how the technical world around them works. The book provides firepower to those who have been advocating for additional technical education and a wake up call for those who have not. I highly recommend reading this if you are involved in education at any capacity.

Technically Speaking

This book should be standard reading within all vocational and Career/Technical Education coursework. In addition, the integration of Technological Standards with Academic standards is a must for all educators (academic and CTE)concerned with providing rigorous and relevant instruction to secondary and post-secondary level students. This book lays out the arguements for Technological Literacy (TL) in America in a straight forward, yet comprehensive manner. The book really has two sections. The first 100 pages or so explain the rationale for TL in education, with the remainder of the book providing references for additional supporting evidence.Save yourself time by buying multiple copies up front. One for you to keep and the others to give to those individuals you know need to hear this message!