Technology and science have long been considered to be inseparable. Although this belief is not inaccurate, it can be narrowed down. The lack of a clear definition of the T in science, technology, and engineering is widespread, and it often is the teacher of science, technology, and engineering who inherit the responsibility of defining how technology and science will be applied in their classroom. This paper proposes a theory of directed learning that expands the agendas of science, technology, and engineering in the classroom, making it easier to teach students how to build on established concepts while applying new innovations to existing curriculum requirements.
Teaching science, technology, and engineering as separate areas requires teachers to make assumptions about how their teaching will effect each other. Science may benefit from technology in some way, while engineering might need science to advance and become more robust. For example, science has identified the importance of observing stars and planets for studying cosmology, which in turn might require students to observe stars and planets with telescopes. This observation interferes with some aspects of technology, such as space travel. It also shows how technology and science are interdependent.
Technology and science teachers then must decide how each area of study will relate to the others. For example, if observing stars and planets entails designing solar systems and going to the moon to study atmospheres, it would seem to suggest that science would have something to do with space travel. While the connection between science and technology is not exact, it seems like a good theory. By connecting science and technology in this way, science teachers not only help their students understand how these topics interrelate but also help them create a visual vocabulary of how science concepts are related.
In order for technology to advance, new technological tools must be created or invented. Science and technology teachers create new technological tools to help their students understand new scientific concepts. Some new technological tools include satellites, weather balloons, and space shuttles. These tools help teachers show students how technology interacts with the natural world, leading to a more accurate understanding of how science and technology affect the world around us.
Although technology and science can sometimes seem very far away from each other, it doesn’t have to be that way. Science teachers can use technology to help their students learn the material in class. Instead of using a microscope or a watch to explain an experiment, teachers can make a video about it so that their students can see exactly what the material is about. This brings up an important point about technology and its effect on society. Science can stimulate people’s minds and can even cause them to think more clearly, which can lead to further developments in the scientific world.
The more teachers incorporate technology into the classroom, the more they can use it to stimulate their students’ minds. In turn, students will gain more interest in the subject matter and will want to learn more about it. For example, kids are always asking questions about science, but if a teacher cannot answer their question, they will likely move on to another question. Technology helps teachers avoid this problem. When teachers incorporate technology into the classroom, they provide students with a resource library to use when they ask questions about the subject matter.
Not all teachers are happy about the integration of technologies into the classroom, however. There are some who believe that the introduction of technology will make students frivolous and that they will stop paying attention in class. This isn’t necessarily the case, as technology has been shown to improve student’s grades and to help stimulate their minds in many other ways.
Students need to be introduced to new technology as it is being used. Once students are aware of the technology, teachers can then use it to enhance the curriculum. For example, teachers can show students how the computer works or how the Internet helps students organize their data. Teachers can teach the benefits of recycling using solar technology or how geology and paleontology are influenced by technology. When students are introduced to the different types of technology, they tend to enjoy learning about it and begin to see how it can be used in their daily lives. This can lead to further study of the scientific methods involved with the different technologies.