This article in the Summer School for Teachers series is dedicated to the pursuit of technological knowledge. Why do we even teach technology? What standards should we adhere to? How can we assess the content we already have and align it within technological standards?
All this and more we'll cover. This article is not so much a how-to as it is a comprehensive guide to finding the answers to questions you have, to refreshing the knowledge you already hold, and inspiring you to learn something more about technology than you already use.
Why Teach Technology?
Educators in the technology field have chosen to teach this curriculum for a variety of reasons. Below are just a few, collected from educators just like you and me.
"I can think of no other curricular area that effectively taps into a student's creativity, desire for group collaboration, and individual gifts and talents, the way technology education does."
"After a wonderful 15 years of technology teaching, I could never be confined to the teaching of one subject within the boundaries of a single classroom. Technology education encompasses as many environs as it does domains. There is never a dull moment as the ever-present learning curve challenges both student and teacher."
Chip Miller Summit High School, Bend, Oregon
"I enjoy teaching technology because it truly makes learning come alive! Technology is an ever-changing field; never dull. Technology classes get kids out of their seats and into situations that mirror what they'll find in the real world.
Technology education is the bridge between academics and the real world! I like teaching technology because it is the most dynamic subject in a school. While other teachers are covering the same stuff I learned in school decades ago, technology teachers are working with some of the newest challenges in the field.
I like teaching technology because I get to see the world outside the classroom. Educational field trips take me inside local industries and participation in professional organizations like ITEA afford me the opportunity to travel to major U.S. cities to attend conferences. Even after 25 years in the classroom, I still love learning!
