TEC154 2010S, Class 01: Introduction to the Course Admin: * I will not take attendance today. * So that I can learn your names, I will ask you to prefix any answer with your name. * The course Web is in a bit of a state of flux. Expect it to change over the next few days. * For Wednesday, fill out the Assignment 1: Introductory Survey and Course Details. (Distributed in class.) * For Wednesday, read * Can Technology Replace Social Engineering? Alvin M. Weinberg * Why I am Not Going to Buy a Computer Wendell Berry * Technology and the Tragic View Samuel C. Florman * You should make sure to read the instructions for responding to readings before doing the readings. * The College is doing a fundraiser for Haiti, sponsored by lots of things * Put your spare change in the Ace Hardware buckets scattered around campus * Tell your parents to donate through the "Partners in Health" link on the GC Web Page * Harry says "Give us all your money." Overview: * What is technology? * How does one study technology? * Course structure. * Expectations. Sam is using this electronic whiteboard so that those who need extra notes will have them available. Definitions of technlogy * Knowledge/tools used by animals and humans to assist in life [3] * Or the environment * And knowledge isn't really technlogical * Engineering * Something virtual or real that allows the inventor to acheive material goals * A resource that allows a process to move more quickly Webster's says ... 1 a. The practical application of knowledge, especially in a particular area ENGINEERING b. a capability given by the practical application of knowldge 2 a manner of accomplishng a task, especially using technical processes methods or knowledge 3. the specialized aspects of a particular field of endeavor What isn't technology? * Pure science because - it's not applied, it's just knowledge * We think of technlogy as being APPLIED * History ... because ... * History is technology because ... It's the application of knowledge. * History is not technology because THIS ISN'T A HISTORY COURSE. [Not a good answer, just in case you were wondering.] ["Evolution" implies history] * Religion or spirituality because it requires exiting our world For now, we'll focus on *practical application* and *tools* (the tool can be virtual rather than physical) ---- How can we study this stuff we call "technology"? * We can look at historical aspects * Of a particular technology: From wheel to cars (to windmills to ...) What are the "big" approaches to studying? * Science * (Observe), hypothesize, Experiment, Update hypothesis based on results of experiment * Could apply to the *use* of technlology * In constructing technologies, we use the scientific method * Reading secondary sources * You can learn what other people think about the thing * Reading primary sources * Identify key ideas * And then throw out an idea and argue about it * Analyze * Basing your ideas on both the primary and secondary sources * Each disicpline has its own methodology, but it's not as monolithic as the scientific method * And perhaps not as easy to describe in under a dozen words In this class ... * Study a variety of technologies * By reading about those technologies - often secondary, some descriptive, some analytical * By listening to experts describe those technologies * We will also question the experts to deepen our knowledge/understanding * We will revisit the technology through some theoretical frameworks * We will build our own toolkit of "lenses" through which to explore technologies