So if you are testing or piloting some new thingy, whay are you doing it. If you are trying to introduce something new in terms of the use of an equipment in a teaching process and find out that it is NOT well received by the students, don't you wonder WHY? Well, you can actually do some kind of questionnaire and present the percentages of students who liked it and those who don't. So what? And we are excited that 50% of the class liked it. Huh? what about the other 50% who DIDN'T like it??
This brings us back to the definition of technology. Yeah, right, we are going to take a BIG step backwards before we put another step forward. Well, what is the definition of technology?
Technology has a number of characteristics. Did you know that? Technology involves DESIGN!!. In fact, at the CENTRE of technology lies DESIGN. The design process in technology is a sequential process which
- begins with the perception of a need,
- continues with the formulation of a specification,
- the generation of ideas and a final solution, and
- ends with an evaluation of the solution.
Further, Technology involves MAKING!! This is so powerful and it relates to the whole point of the process of education which is engagement, constructing and activity. The motivating factor behind all technological activity is the desire to fulfil a need.
This is where our usage of technology breaks down, WHOSE need are we fulfiling? the students? the headmaster? the politicians? the businessman? the education system??
For this reason all designs should be made or realised - whether that be through prototype, batch- or mass- production or some form of three-dimensional or computer model - if the need is to be truly fulfilled, the design is to be legitimately evaluated, and the design activity is to have been purposeful and worthwhile.
Try it .. ask yourself all these questions next time you look at a piece of equipment, say a computer ... and ask all these statements and answer them in your own context. Tell us in the Forum or any feedback that meet your requirements. Talk to you again ....... have fun ..