Technology Education Introductory Activities
An assumption of the Civics of Technology project is that “technologies are not neutral and neither are the societies into which they are introduced.” What are are some introductory activities that can encourage students to develop technoskeptical dispositions toward technology of the past, present, and future? The following activities have all been part of Technology Education workshops created by Dan Krutka and Jacob Pleasants with ideas and support from other project contributors. Generally, the workshop (1) draws on prior knowledge with several questions, (2) provides examples of technology problems to spur thinking, (3) encourages critical perspectives with the Technology Quotes Activity, and (4) spurs new futures with the Technology Reset Simulation. Of course, we provide these activities so educators can adapt or remix them for their own contexts.
1. Draw on Prior Knowledge
Educators should not assume what students know and believe about technology. Instead, we offer four questions to initate discussion that draws on prior knowledge, beliefs, and experiences:
How do you define technology?
What do you like about technology?
What do you dislike about technology?
How would you rate your relationship with technologies?
Students may talk in small groups and then share whether their relationships with technology were good (thumbs up), complicated (thumb sideways), or bad (thumb down).
2. Provide Examples of Technological Change and Problems
Educators can share examples of technological changes and problems such as how Ring doorbell cameras are changing neighborhoods and surveillance, cars in the U.S. have replaced walking and biking to school (in comparison with the U.S. past and more bike friendly countries today), and (often of most interest to students) the discriminatory design evident in a “racist soap dispenser” (see video; read article).
3. Inquire into Technology Quotes
The technology quotes activity was created as an introductory activity to encourage people to consider critical interpretations of technology that go beyond simply seeing technology as progress. Educators can use all the quotes in full, choose some, or use simplified quotes. You can use the full or simplified quotes on the site linked below, make a copy of Google slides to use in your class as a gallery walk, or remix the activity in some other creative way.
4. Participate in Tech Reset Simulation
The Technology Reset Simulation transports students to the year 2050 where human problems related to weather disasters racism, inequality, oppression, and misinformation have only intensified. The alien Technoids arrive on Planet Earth to point out that a common villain across these problems is technology. A special task force is thus empowered to create a new “motto” for human relationships with technologies, (b) ban two technologies that violate the motto, and (c) require two technologies that align with the motto. The changes recommended by the task forace may be hard, but humanity requires a new start. What are your recommendations?