In the past several decades, technology has become a big part of American society. It has changed the way people interact with one another as well as how they proceed with everyday life. However, K-12 educational systems have been resistive to change, with most American schools still using traditional instruction in the classroom, consisting…

The nation's public schools serve as the foundation for preparing a workforce that is literate in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (The National Academies, 2007). In the report, "Rising above the gathering storm: Energizing and employing America for a brighter economic future," members of The National Academies identified that…

The central purpose of this study was to expand upon previous research in relation to competencies that are desired by university engineering faculty in their incoming freshman. This study used a Delphi technique as noted by Paige, Dugger, and Wolansky (1996) and Wicklein (1993) to identify and analyze what secondary education competencies should…

School improvement initiatives have been the focus of recent political agendas, professional conferences, and publications. A recent educational change initiative in Indiana has been Project Lead The Way (PLTW). According to Rogers (2005) the state's technology education teachers have embraced PLTW and its infusion into the high school curriculum.…

The 1984 edition of Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines technology as "a scientific method of achieving a particular purpose" (p. 176). The meaning of the word "technology," however, is relative to the context and time period in which it is used. An additional characterization of technology, written 36 years ago in the American Heritage…

In 1993 Wicklein conducted a study to determine the present and the future critical issues and problems facing the technology education (TE) profession. The Wicklein study questioned 25 panelists from 15 states and the District of Columbia to ascertain the issues and problems facing TE. However, in the Wicklein study, only seven of the panelists…

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is thought by some to be the nation's premier program in providing high schools and middle schools with pre-engineering curriculum and linkage to college-level engineering and engineering technology programs. This study examined the infusion of the PLTW pre-engineering curriculum into the well-established technology…

Technology education is being taught today in almost every high school and middle school in America. Over 1000 technology education departments are now including pre-engineering education in their programs. According to these authors, the time has come for the profession to agree that including pre-engineering education in technology education…

This paper offers some concrete ideas and suggestions for incorporating discussions of experimental technologies in the middle level technology education classroom. Technology education students should be aware of experimental technologies. They should understand the ramifications of items such as hybrid vehicles, photovoltaic solar panels,…

Seventh-graders (n=160) were assessed before and after a 9-week industrial technology course: 67 in traditional labs with old equipment, 65 in modular labs, and 28 in contemporary, updated labs. The contemporary lab produced the greatest achievement gain, significantly better than the modular approach in a number of areas. (SK)

Responses from 156 of 430 trade/industrial teachers, of whom 123 were secondary, indicated they perceived affective competencies to be a more important outcome of technology education than cognitive or psychomotor; ability to measure and use hand tools/equipment was more important than using high-tech machines. (SK)

Responses to the Stages of Concern Questionnaire by 42 of 59 technology education/industrial arts teachers in Nebraska revealed that technology education is not accepted by industrial arts teachers. Older, more experienced teachers are revising or altering technology education curriculum before accepting it. (SK)