Course Description

As the title suggests, this is an introductory, exploratory course in technology. During the 40+ class periods allotted to this course, students will learn about technology as a major component of human activity and a major domain of human knowledge. They will briefly study an overview of the history of technology and how technological knowledge interrelates with other domains of knowledge such as the sciences, mathematics, arts and humanities.

Students will briefly study an overview of major systems of technological knowledge (communication, construction, manufacturing, energy and power, transportation, and bio-related technology), and then focus on selected parts of communication technology, energy and power technology, and production (manufacturing and construction) technology. Specific activities and benchmarks will be drawn from two sources: the Iowa Content Standards and Benchmakrs for Industrial Technology, and the Technology for All Americans Standards and Benchmarks.

Units of Study

The unit structure and time allocations for this course are shown in the following table. Topics may not follow the sequence shown. For example, we may do some production activities in conjunction with energy and power activities. The production laboratory will be used to produce some of the materials used in the Communications and Energy and Power units.
Major Units and Topics
Unit No Class
Periods		 Unit Title Major Topics
I. 2 Orientation
  1. Introductions
  2. Seating
  3. Enrollment Information
  4. Syllabus and Expectations
  5. CAD Lab Orientation
  6. Production Lab Orientation
II. 2 Technology
  1. Definitions and History of Technological Knowledge
  2. Definitions of Other Domains of Knowledge
  3. Interrelationships with other Knowledge Domains
  4. Basic Groupings of Technological Knowledge
  5. Technological Knowledge/Literacy and Career Paths
III. 12 Communication Systems
  1. Introduction to Technical Sketching
  2. Orthographic Drawings
  3. Standards and Conventions
  4. Pictorial Drawings
  5. Dimensioning
  6. Introduction to VersaCAD
  7. The Design Process
IV. 12 Energy and Power Technologies
  1. Basic sources of energy.
  2. Energy and Power Units of Measure
  3. Technologies for converting forms of energy
  4. Technologies for transmitting energy
  5. "Alternate" Energy Sources
  6. Fuel Cells and Hybrids
  7. Home Energy Systems
V. 12 Production Technologies
  1. Production Lab Safety and Operation
  2. Properties of selected materials
  3. Basic material processing
  4. Safe operation of selected tools and equipment
  5. Use of tooling, jigs and fixtures
  6. Manufacturing a Product
  7. Types of construction
  8. Construction systems and functions
  9. Developing a model
VI. 2 Review and Final Test
  1. Knowledge Domains
  2. Technology Systems
  3. Communication Technologies
  4. Energy & Power Technologies
  5. Manufacturing Technologies
  6. Construction Technologies