Technology Education

Fact Sheet 2000-01

Curriculum and Programs

· Technology Education includes study of the nature of technology, technology and society, technological design, and the designed world.

· Technology Education programs focus on technologies in the areas of medical, agricultural and related biotechnology, energy and power, information and communication, transportation, manufacturing, and construction.

· Technology Education emphasizes technological problem solving, decision making and the application of knowledge from other areas of the curriculum, especially Mathematics and Science.

National & International Trends

· The National Science Foundation and NASA have funded a national Technology Education Standards project entitled “Standards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology”, published by the International Technology Education Association. The standards are outlined for grades K-12.

· Most states have standards and requirements for Technology Education including New York (Math, Science, Technology), Pennsylvania (Science and Technology), Maryland (Technology stand-alone), and Connecticut (Technology stand-alone).

· Most states have a standard teaching license for Technology Education.

· Several other countries including Australia, Canada, France, Taiwan and the United Kingdom have standards and requirements for Technology Education at elementary and secondary levels.

· There is an international association for Technology Education professionals, the International Technology Education Association.

· There is a national association for Technology Education students, the Technology Students Association.

· There is a national association for Technology Education college students, the Technology Education Collegiate Association.

New Jersey State Trends

· Technology Education standards are absent from the New Jersey State Core Curriculum.

· Some standards that address the content of Technology are scattered throughout the New Jersey State Core Curriculum. However, these standards do not address the entire body of knowledge of Technology Education, nor are they required to be taught by persons trained in the field of Technology Education.

· There is no standard license for “Teacher of Technology Education” available in New Jersey.

· Teachers that are currently teaching Technology Education programs in New Jersey are doing so with an Industrial Arts or other license.

· Since the mid-1980’s, students that graduate from NCATE and NASDTEC approved Technology Education college programs and sit for the Praxis exam in Technology Education receive an Industrial Arts license from the New Jersey Department of Education.

· Technology Education is not itself a required area of study for graduation from New Jersey high schools.

“Education for Innovation”