Appropriate Technology Christy Page

Officially… Appropriate technology (AT) is technology that is designed with special consideration to the environmental, ethical, cultural, social, political, and economical aspects of the community it is intended for. With these goals in mind, AT proponents claim their methods require fewer resources, are easier to maintain, and have less of an impact on the environment compared to techniques from mainstream technology, which they contend is wasteful and environmentally polluting. ~ Wikipedia definition

My definition Appropriate technology is how you solve technical problems using what you have available to you.

Examples in the field Using bamboo as irrigation pipes Using pvc and bamboo to siphon out a well. Using a double-barrel system to create a bio-gas digester.

How to use AP in the classroom Figure out what you need o Lab equipment? Presentation technology? Use what you have! o Sustainability! o Be creative – popsicle sticks and tape can go a loooong way! o Sticky-notes can be used for pretty much anything o “Kitchen” labs for science. Bluff the rest o Recycle and/or steal whatever you can o Find what other teachers use, and do the same o Ask kids to bring stuff in – they will if you bribe them!

Examples Built screens for sifting soil, drying paper, collecting leaf-litter Card-board and ten-foil solar cooker Paper and straw rockets Breakfast milk cartons for “petri dishes”, planters, bean containers, etc Sticky-notes for presentations, classroom voting, Jeopardy games

Helpful resources ECHO technical notes ERIC journal about appropriate technology Development Center for Appropriate Technology Appropedia: Education Journal article: Open Source as Appropriate Technology for the Classroom

Questions?