Foundations of Technology 871

Foundations of Technology 871

Instructional materials developed and presented by Mr. Jonathon Byzon, M.Ed.

OBJECTIVESStudents will:

• Explain that most technological development has been evolutionary, the result of a series of refinements to a basic invention.

• Describe how the evolution of civilization has been directly effected by, and has in turn effected , the development of tools and materials.

• Explain why, early in the history of technology, the development of many tools and machines was based, not on scientific knowledge, but on technological know-how.

• Use graphs to analyze the nature of technological change in quantities in linear relationships.

• Define terms associated with the influence of technology on history.• Identify the periods of human history associated with the evolution of

technology.• Compare and contrast inventions or innovations based on how they

evolved.• Demonstrate curiosity, exhibit motivation for learning, and use class

time effectively.

History of Technology

The Big Idea

Knowledge of the history of technology helps people understand the world around them by seeing how people of all times and places have increased their capability by using their unique skills to innovate, improvise, and invent.

Engagement Activity

Engagement Activity

• How did the assembly line influence the lives of the people who first used it?

• How did the assembly line impact the way people lived, worked, or produced things?

• How did the assembly line influence history?

Exploration Activity

• In your discussion groups, select a technological advancement that is part of your everyday life •List five impacts your technological advancement had on history and/or society

Explanation

• Technology is human innovation in action that involves the generation of knowledge and processes to develop systems that solve problems and extend human capabilities.

• History is a chronological record of significant events, often including an explanation of their causes.

Explanation• Development of Technology

• Technology is evolutionary and the result of a series of refinements to a basic invention.

• Technology has been directly affected by civilization, and has in turn affected the development of tools and materials.

Development of Technology

• Development of Technology:• Technology has been a powerful force in

reshaping the social, cultural, political, and economic landscape.

• Technology was used to create many tools and machines that was not based on scientific knowledge but on technological know-how.

(Stone Age) Paleolithic Age500,000 BC-10,000 BC

• Archaeological period characterized by the earliest known stone tool manufacture.

• Artifacts: stone axes, bone needles, hearth sites

• Impacts on history: improved diet and enhanced security enabled early humans to increase their numbers.

(www.personal.psu.edu/users/w/x/wxk116/axe)

Stone Axes

(Stone Age) Mesolithic Age10,000 BC-4000 BC

• The period between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic, associated with the rise to dominance of microlithics (very small geometric form tools commonly used in composite tools)

• Artifacts: leatherwork, basketry, fishing tackle, stone axes and wooden objects, canoes and bows, domesticating animals, stone circles, hinges

• Impact on history: The gradual domestication of plants and animals led to the beginnings of settled communities.(http://

www.usm.maine.edu/~mcgrath/ireland_images/pages/mesolithic_huts.htm)

Housing

(Stone Age) Neolithic Age4000 BC-2300 BC

• The period is characterized by the development of agriculture and an increasing emphasis on year-round settlements.

• Artifacts: pottery, polished stone tools, spinning and weaving tools, wooden plows, sickles.

• Impact on history: dependable year-round food supply enables division of labor and specialization that spurs invention and innovation.

(http://www.albertomanuelcheung.com/Neolithic%20Machiayao%20Jar.htm)

Pottery

Bronze Age2300 BC-700 BC

• Include earliest civilizations and the development of metallurgy, mainly the combining of copper and tin to make bronze

• Artifacts: bronze jewelry, tools, weapons

• Impact on history: stone tools were gradually replaced by metal ones that enabled humans to alter their environment at a great rate. (http://

www.chichester.gov.uk/museum/tl2250.htm)

Weapons

Iron Age 700 BC-450 AD

• Iron used as the main metal• Artifacts: iron chisels, ornamental

jewelry, swords, axes, spearheads• Impact on history: military

dominance for uses of iron weapons and the use of iron bladed plows enabled humans to increase food production.

(www.bu.edu/anep/Ir.html)

Jewelry

Romans

Living in the Roman Empire VideoLiving_in_the_Roman_Empire.asx

Middle Ages 450-1400 AD

• Period of time between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance

• Artifacts: wheeled plow, horseshoes, waterwheels, windmill, cast iron, cannons, compass, ocean going ships

• Impact on history: rise of money and capitalism, rise and fall of feudalism, beginning of urbanization and industrialization.

(http://www.uea.ac.uk/his/ceas/region.shtml)

Windmills

Renaissance/Enlightenment 1400-1750 AD

• Humanistic revival of classical influence

• Artifacts: telescope, microscope, thermometer, clocks, barometer, Printing Press

• Impact on history: Industrialization allowed scientists to observe and test natural phenomena.

(http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/projects/renaissance/galileo.html)

Galileo’s Telescope

Leonardo Da Vinci

Galileo

• Galileo was born in Italy in 1564. Throughout his career, Galileo discovered many physic properties. See the interactive sites below for some of his discoveries:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/galileo/science.html

Link to video from NOVA program on Galileo

Experiments:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/galileo/experiments.html

Industrial Age 1750-1950 AD

• First use of complex machinery, factories and social changes from agricultural societies.

• Artifacts: steam engine, electricity, automobile, airplane, radio, television, telephone, rocket

• Impact on history: gave rise to urban centers requiring municipal services, population expansion and improvement in living standards.

(http://www.mhrailroad.com/mhrrphoto2.htm)

Steam Engine

Information Age 1950 AD-Present

• Central to society is the gathering, manipulation, classification, storage and retrieval of information.

• Artifacts: transistor, IC, computer, satellite, digital photography, artificial heart, nuclear power plant, space shuttle.

• Impact on history: decentralization of decision making and empowering more people

(http://science.howstuffworks.com/artificial-heart.htm)

Artificial Heart

Changes in the nature of work

Resources

• Text information taken from Foundations of Technology draft document, International Technology Education Association, CATTS

• Video downloaded from: http://pittsford.monroe.edu/PittsfordMiddle/Team6_5/MrsCipolla.htm

Extension Activity• You are to choose a technological

innovation, research your topic and be prepared to present information on:• What was used before the creation of

your innovation to meet the human need?

• What is currently used to meet the human need?

• How does your innovation impact history?