Technology Education: Introduction to Technology Grades 7 + 8 Statement of Purpose: The study of technology has become an integral part of school curriculum. Introduction to technology will emphasize that people must develop and control technology responsibly, and that people have the capabilities to determine how technology can be applied to their benefit. Through the introduction of a simple input-process-output system model, concepts that are generic to all technological systems will become familiar. Description: Introduction to technology is a course of study designed to enable seventh and eighth grade students to understand the concepts that underlie technological systems. Students will learn about the influence of technological systems on their total lifestyles, including home, school, and the world of work. Students will be introduced to the social forces that make technology such a pervasive part of our lives. Students will encounter a wide variety of technical processes, monitor those processes, and use feedback to control the operation of technological systems. Instructional Overview: The technology education program emphasizes hands-on activities and the development of mental process skills such as: Creative thinking, decision-making, critical thinking, and problem solving. Opportunities will be provided within the structure of the curriculum for children to learn from their mistakes; to solve problems through analysis, modeling, trial and error elimination, and other techniques; and to propose creative, innovative, and nontraditional solutions to technical problems.