DESCRIPTION
Technological Systems
Intended Audience
8th Grade students (no prerequisite)
Course Overview
This course is intended to teach students how technological
systems work together to solve problems and capture opportunities.
A system can be as small as two components working together
(technical system/device level) or can contain millions of
interacting devices (user system/network level). We often
break down the macro systems into less complicated Microsystems
in order to understand the entire system better. However,
technology is becoming more integrated, and systems are becoming
more and more dependent upon each other than ever before.
Electronic systems are interacting with natural (i.e. bio)
systems as humans use more and more monitoring devices for
medical reasons. Electrical systems are interacting with mechanical
and fluid power systems as manufacturing establishments become
more and more automated. This course will give students a
general background on the different types of systems, but
will concentrate more on the connections between these systems.
Course Length
18 weeks recommended
Connections
Technology Systems builds on K-5 experiences as well as those
in Exploring Technology and Invention and Innovation to develop
a student’s understanding of the scope of technology
and the iterative nature of technological design and problem-solving
processes. Students participate in engineering design activities
to understand how criteria, constraints, and processes affect
designs. Students are involved in activities and experiences
where they learn about brainstorming, visualizing, modeling,
constructing, testing, experimenting, and refining designs.
Students also develop skills in researching for information,
communicating design information, and reporting results.
As the suggested capstone middle school course,
Technology Systems provides the foundation for future studies
in a Technology Education sequence. Students learn how technology,
innovation, design and engineering interrelate and are interdependent.
