Technological+Systems

back to Technology curriculum back to Technological knowledge

Technological Systems

This component provides opportunity for students to explore how system development can be deemed appropriate and how acceptable it is to integrate technological systems with other systems – for example, robotic technologies integrated into human physiological systems. Understanding the values associated with a wide range of stakeholders, and how they prioritise their own and others’ needs when taking positions on such issues, allows students to explore their own reactions in a more informed manner. Redundancy and reliability within technological system design and performance can be critiqued, in terms of how they are perceived by people and evaluated in terms of risk acceptability. Exploring the use of black boxes, when working with technological systems, provides opportunity for students to understand the advantages and disadvantages of black boxing system components. For example, understanding the possible advantages of using a black box approach to gain a holistic understanding of a complex system, versus the possible disadvantages for the end-user should the system malfunction. Understanding how the components of a technological system work together was imperative when modifying a grabbing tool for a disabled client. Exploring the specific needs of the client allowed the student to prioritise the factors that were of most value to the client, and thereby ensure the final outcome was valued by the client as a ‘third arm’ rather than a frustrating tool.

from []

Technological Processes Technological processes are the activity side of technology - the make and do component. It is the most important part. Having the capability to engage in technological activity means being able to develop technological solutions to problems. The result of technological activity is products and services that people need or want, either for personal consumption or for company or industrial use. By way of example, consider all the products and services that are consumed/used every day by members of the class (food, clothes, cars, bikes, skates, ..., banking, takeout food, ...). How many are imported? How many are created in their community? Technological capability means being able to produce those products and services. Technological problem solving is a set of actions that are employed in one form or another worldwide by any company or individual who creates new products and services. The more sophisticated the product or service, the more well thought out the strategy. The most common name for this strategy, or methodology, is design. Technology Education programs encapsulate these strategies into a simplified design model. Implementing the model means having students apply it to develop solutions to problems. In order to work through the design model, students learn to follow procedures, how to document their work, how to identify technological resources and use them, and to give reasons for their decisions. They acquire new skills with tools and materials, and they build confidence in their ability to create something new and original. They build technological problem solving capability.