Technology Trends and Issues :: essays research papers fc

Defining Technological LiteracyGiven the current earth of technology, a researcher should have little difficulty in finding relevant definitions that embody a spirited understanding of underlying expert and societal interactions that craft a view of the technically literate person. As an exercise, extracting the common elements from various experts definitions of expert literacy should result in a generalise perspective that would provide a foundation supporting further literacy definitions for aspects of technology such as computers or genetics. However, this is easier than it sounds. As Gagel (1997) confirms, defining technological literacy has prove to be an unexpectedly complex and difficult occupation. The difficulty in defining technological literacy is exposed by a number of factors. unmatched factor relates to understanding perspective and determining whether the term is best delineate by putting the emphasis on technology or literacy or whether the subject is bes t speak toed laterally. Indeed, Gagel describes the technological literacy from a technology perspective as opposed to defining literacy and then establishing parameters supporting technological literacy. Perhaps this approach contri neverthelessed to the authors difficulty in defining the term. As technology is so diverse and crosses many boundaries, perhaps the definition of technological literacy should do likewise, and not be restricted to either a technology or literacy perspective.An other factor contributing to the difficulty in defining technological literacy involves the improperly weighting of computer influence on the terms definition. In a speech given by former President, card Clinton, this misunderstanding is propagated further. He states, Today, technological literacy computer skills and the ability to use computers and other technology to improve learning, productivity and performance is a new elemental that our students must master. (Clinton, n.d.) Clearly, th is mindset is remiss and precludes the contribution of myriad other technologies touching our daily lives. According to Harrison, Computer literacy is but a subset of technological literacy, but if this mindset is not encouraged, then the richness of technological literacy will not be passed on to next generations. As technologists, we have the daunting task of reversing this rapidly flowing river. (Harrison, 2000)So, the question is how to define technological literacy without being trap in too narrow a perspective and without utilizing a precise technology to add meaning to the term. It is important that society controls technology for it to facilitate us purposefully in our daily lives and lifestyle in general. For us to control technology, an understanding and knowledge is required to allow us to firebrand informative decisions on how it will affect our lives.