Electronics - Why and in what Form if should appear in the Curriculum

Abstract

Few educationalists would now question the statement - 'All pupils should learn something of the principles of New Technology and become aware of its implications as part of the basic education process'.

There is currently however no clear consensus or understanding of what topics such a study should include? How much curriculum time it should take? Where it should be fitted into the curriculum? Who should teach it? What format the teaching programme should have? How much it will cost and who will pay for it?

It is implied by the statements above that a knowledge of electronics is fundamental to a basis for 'New technology awareness'. To justify this implication it is necessary to define what the basic facts and knowledge required for this are. A very simple definition of 'technology awareness' is; 'An appreciation of the fundamental principles of the technology, how the application of tlle technology relates to human needs and complements human abilities and how the continued development and application of the technology will influence future patterns of living'. In this context the word 'technology', which literally means 'ways of doing things', refers to 'Information Technology' or 'New Technology'.