1. Science, Technology, and Society
Dr. Charles Ophardt
EDU 370

2. Nature of Technology
Technology extends our abilities to change the world: to cut, shape, or put together materials;
...to move things from one place to another; to reach farther with our hands, voices, and senses.
We use technology to try to change the world to suit us better.

3. Technology and Science
Technology Draws on Science and Contributes to it
Early technology based on personal experience handed down
Why it worked was not known
Today based upon scientific understanding of principles

4. Issues in Science, Tech., and Society
Characteristics
Prepare Students to
Utilize science and technology knowledge for improving their lives and cope with tech. society
Deal responsibly with science and technology issues
Make decisions on career options

5. Characteristics of STS
Problem and Issue Oriented
Interdisciplinary
Relate science to society
Global Awareness
Relevance

6. Characteristics of STS II
Problem and Issue Oriented
How did it become a problem or issue?
What are some alternative approaches to a solution?
What are effects of applying alternatives to individuals or society?

7. Strategies for Teaching STS
Use of local resources
Active Involvement and Action skills
Clarifying values Depends upon cultural, religious backgrounds
Moral/ethical implications

8. Procedures for Teaching STS
Select and define the problem
Formulate problem question
Determine sources of information
Collect data and evidence
Interpret data using cause and effect
Solutions to Problem Force Field method - pros & cons Cost/Benefit/ Risks

9. Engineering and Science
Engineering Combines Scientific Inquiry and Practical Values
Engineering is allied to scientific inquiry and mathematical modeling
Engineering finds a problem and designs a solution for it
Solutions go from general ideas to very specific details

10. Technology Design and Systems
Design Under Constraint
Constraints are identified and taken into account
Absolute Constraints - defined by physical laws
Flexible Constraints - have flexibility - money, political, social, ecological, ethical

11. Design and Systems II All technologies Involve Control
Require control to keep operating
Compare what is happening to what might happen
Controls requires feedback

12. Design and Systems III Technologies Always Have Side Effects
Designs have intended benefits,
Designs have unintended side effects to users or public or environment
Or may have additional unexpected benefits

13. Design and Systems IV All Technological Systems Can Fail
Most things are very reliable
The larger the system the more things that can go wrong.
Hedge with over design or redundancy

14. Issues in Technology Human Presence Sheer numbers of people
Humans can dominate nature and other species
Can shape the future

15. Issues in Technology II
Technological and Social Systems Interact Strongly
Politics, Economics, Government
Social Systems Impose Restrictions on Openness
Due to large investment of money open sharing is a constraint
Decisions on Use of Technology are Complex

16. References
Science, Technology and Society in the Science Classroom
Nature of Technology