Design of a mini experimental curriculum to help greek primary school students learn about daily-life technologies

Abstract

The word 'technology' is used to represent a variety of means, materials, actions, processes, methods and systems, and often symbolizes the progress in various domains. Technology education as a part of the general education curriculum has different goals and aims within each country, which depends on economic, political, social or epistemological considerations. But it is widely accepted that today technology education programs should provide students with experience and concepts through authentic activities within collaborative and constructivist learning environments. The present paper describes the design and implementation of a mini-experimental curriculum within the frame of social constructivism, in a view of introducing the study of technology in Greek primary school. This mini-curriculum was designed on the basis of an initial research on students' ideas concerning everyday life technologies and their effects on humans' lives, health, and environment. Main directions of this mini curriculum are: the study of past and actual technological forms, technological change, use of technological means at individual or social level, and critical - ethical issues concerning the wide use of technology, as well as their impacts on human lives and the natural and built environment. © Common Ground, Athanassios Tassios, Christina Solomonidou, All Rights Reserved, Permissions.