Technology Literacy and Technology Literacy and the K-12 Curriculumthe K-12 Curriculum

Cynthia S. HoodCynthia S. HoodAssistant Professor of Computer Science and Assistant Professor of Computer Science and

EngineeringEngineeringIllinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois Institute of Technology

CinaptusCinaptus2/27/042/27/04

OverviewOverview

What is technology literacy?What is technology literacy? Why is it important?Why is it important? Relationship to K-12 curriculum?Relationship to K-12 curriculum? Common groundCommon ground My experiencesMy experiences SummarySummary

TechnologyTechnology

A large, ever-growing set of human-A large, ever-growing set of human-made tools to help us solve life’s made tools to help us solve life’s problemsproblems

Our focus is on computing Our focus is on computing technologytechnology

Technology LiteracyTechnology Literacy

““An understanding of the nature and An understanding of the nature and history of technology, a basic hands-history of technology, a basic hands-on capability related to technology, on capability related to technology, and an ability to think critically about and an ability to think critically about technological development” technological development”

– Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About TechnologyKnow More About Technology

NoteNote

Use of technology is only part of Use of technology is only part of literacy BUT most of effort to date literacy BUT most of effort to date has focused on thishas focused on this

Use of technology and understanding Use of technology and understanding of technology concepts are NOT the of technology concepts are NOT the samesame

Why does everyone need to be Why does everyone need to be technology literate?technology literate?

Technology is becoming increasingly Technology is becoming increasingly pervasive in our society and touches pervasive in our society and touches almost all aspects of our lives in almost all aspects of our lives in some waysome way

Participation in society will become Participation in society will become increasingly difficult for those who increasingly difficult for those who are not technology literateare not technology literate

More Specifically….More Specifically….

Decision-makingDecision-making– Voting citizensVoting citizens– WorkplaceWorkplace– At homeAt home

WorkplaceWorkplace– Technology jobsTechnology jobs– Technology as problem-solving tool in Technology as problem-solving tool in

non-technical jobsnon-technical jobs

Digital DivideDigital Divide

Gap between those who can benefit Gap between those who can benefit from technology and those who can’tfrom technology and those who can’t– Access to informationAccess to information– EconomicsEconomics

Lack of diversity in technology fieldsLack of diversity in technology fields

Societal BenefitsSocietal Benefits

Tremendous growth over last 20 yearsTremendous growth over last 20 years Many open issues Many open issues

– Role of technologyRole of technology EducationEducation GovernmentGovernment MedicineMedicine Etc.Etc.

– Regulation of technology Regulation of technology – Risks of technologyRisks of technology

Much work to be done!Much work to be done!

Technical BenefitsTechnical Benefits

More diverse workforceMore diverse workforce– WomenWomen– MinoritiesMinorities

Technology designed for the masses Technology designed for the masses instead of technologistsinstead of technologists– Better for allBetter for all– Close the gapClose the gap

I believe it’s importantI believe it’s important

But what can But what can wewe do? do?

Demystify TechnologyDemystify Technology

Comfortable UseComfortable Use– Confident troubleshootingConfident troubleshooting

Basic ConceptsBasic Concepts– Concepts hold through changeConcepts hold through change

Positive Role ModelsPositive Role Models

PerceptionPerception

Technologists

K-12 Teachers

Reality Reality

Knows technology Knows curriculum, pedagogy

We Need a PartnershipWe Need a Partnership

Common ground

How to find common ground?How to find common ground?

Fundamental piece is problem-Fundamental piece is problem-solvingsolving

We all do it all the timeWe all do it all the time Teachers are Teachers are amazingamazing real-time real-time

problem solvers!!problem solvers!!

Technology ConceptsTechnology Concepts

Most technology concepts not Most technology concepts not unique to technologyunique to technology

– Everyday lifeEveryday life– Classroom managementClassroom management– CurriculumCurriculum

Many of these concepts already Many of these concepts already taught explicitly or implicitlytaught explicitly or implicitly

Making the ConnectionsMaking the Connections

Some Key Computing ConceptsSome Key Computing Concepts

Algorithm/Computer Program/ Algorithm/Computer Program/ SoftwareSoftware

Operating systemsOperating systems ProtocolsProtocols Fault managementFault management

Algorithm/Computer Program/ Algorithm/Computer Program/ SoftwareSoftware

TechnicalTechnical

““A detailed sequence A detailed sequence of actions to of actions to perform to perform to accomplish some accomplish some task”task”

– Free On-line Free On-line Dictionary of Dictionary of ComputingComputing

Everyday/ClassroomEveryday/Classroom Instructions to….Instructions to…. Expository writingExpository writing

Example of Hands-On Activity to Example of Hands-On Activity to Illustrate ConceptIllustrate Concept

Programs to build Programs to build lego creationslego creations

Human Human “computers” “computers” execute programsexecute programs

Build programs Build programs from legosfrom legos

Operating SystemOperating System

TechnicalTechnical Software that Software that

coordinates coordinates computing activitiescomputing activities– SchedulingScheduling– Resource allocationResource allocation– Communication from Communication from

peripheralsperipherals Windows XP, Windows Windows XP, Windows

2000, MacOS, Linux2000, MacOS, Linux

Everyday/ClassroomEveryday/Classroom CoordinatorCoordinator

– Teacher in classroomTeacher in classroom– Mom/Dad at homeMom/Dad at home

SchedulingScheduling InterruptsInterrupts

SchedulingScheduling

When to do homework?When to do homework?– Time constraintsTime constraints

Get home at 4pmGet home at 4pm Bed at 9:30pmBed at 9:30pm Dinner at 6pmDinner at 6pm

– Must doMust do HWHW ChoresChores EatEat

– Want toWant to Play outside with friendsPlay outside with friends

Math SheetSpellingStudy for Science test

How long will each task take?

InterruptsInterrupts

TechnicalTechnical Peripherals Peripherals

(keyboard, mouse, (keyboard, mouse, etc.) communicate etc.) communicate with operating with operating system through system through interruptsinterrupts– Mouse click or Mouse click or

keyboard stroke keyboard stroke immediately immediately recognizedrecognized

ClassroomClassroom

Fire alarmFire alarm– Everyone must stop Everyone must stop

what they are doing what they are doing and head outsideand head outside

– Upon return, Upon return, everyone picks up everyone picks up where they left offwhere they left off

Another Interrupt ExampleAnother Interrupt Example

Student doing Student doing homeworkhomework

Receive Instant Receive Instant Message (IM) from Message (IM) from friendfriend

Go back to Go back to homework homework

ProtocolProtocol

TechnicalTechnical A set of rules that A set of rules that

allows systems to allows systems to communicatecommunicate– EthernetEthernet– TCPTCP– IPIP

Everyday/ClassroomEveryday/Classroom Mailing lettersMailing letters Classroom rulesClassroom rules

– Library passesLibrary passes– Talking in classTalking in class

Students raise hands Students raise hands when want to talkwhen want to talk

Teacher chooses Teacher chooses student student

Classroom Communication Classroom Communication Protocol DesignProtocol Design

Design IssuesDesign Issues– How should teacher choose student to talk?How should teacher choose student to talk?

First hand upFirst hand up Closest studentClosest student Random choiceRandom choice Etc.Etc.

– How long can each student talk?How long can each student talk? Evaluation of designEvaluation of design

– Does it workDoes it work When wouldn’t it work?When wouldn’t it work?

– Is it fair?Is it fair? Do all students get chance to communicate?Do all students get chance to communicate?

One person talks at a timeOne person talks at a time

Sharing the airSharing the air– TalkingTalking– Cellular phonesCellular phones– Wireless networks Wireless networks

Sharing the wireSharing the wire– EthernetEthernet

Fault ManagementFault Management

TechnicalTechnical Keeping networked Keeping networked

computer systems computer systems running properly running properly under a variety of under a variety of operating operating conditionsconditions– Make adjustments Make adjustments

to avoid to avoid catastrophic failurecatastrophic failure

Everyday/ClassroomEveryday/Classroom Driving/Riding a Driving/Riding a

bicyclebicycle– Adjust speedAdjust speed– Adjust steeringAdjust steering

Keeping classroom Keeping classroom running smoothlyrunning smoothly– Many studentsMany students– Unexpected Unexpected

disruptionsdisruptions– Resource issuesResource issues

My experiencesMy experiences

Working withWorking with– Teachers Teachers – IIT studentsIIT students– K-12 studentsK-12 students

Work with Teachers Work with Teachers

Work with Teachers Work with Teachers

Truly a PartnershipTruly a Partnership

BenefitsBenefits– Lots of creative ideasLots of creative ideas

TeachingTeaching– Reach broader audienceReach broader audience

ResearchResearch

– Different perspectiveDifferent perspective– Great for studentsGreat for students– Fun Fun

Way to empower diverse groupWay to empower diverse group

Ongoing EffortOngoing Effort

What concepts are key to technology What concepts are key to technology literacy?literacy?

Partnering with teachersPartnering with teachers Curriculum connectionsCurriculum connections

– Activity developmentActivity development– Trial and errorTrial and error

AssessmentsAssessments

SummarySummary

Technology literacy criticalTechnology literacy critical– Participation/Decision-makingParticipation/Decision-making– WorkforceWorkforce

K-12 Educators keyK-12 Educators key Potential for big impactPotential for big impact Lots of connections to be made….we Lots of connections to be made….we

are just beginningare just beginning

More InformationMore Information

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