Indicators of Progression in Technology
Components of Technological Knowledge
The Indicators of Progress within the Technological Knowledge section are divided into three components:
Technological Modelling
Technological modelling refers to modelling practices used within technological developments, and includes functional modelling and prototyping. Functional modelling allows for the ongoing evaluation of design concepts for yet-to-be-realised technological outcomes. Prototyping allows for the evaluation of the fitness for purpose of the technological outcome itself.
Through technological modelling, evidence is gathered to justify decision making within technological practice. This modelling is crucial for the exploration of influences on the development, and for the informed prediction of the possible and probable consequences of the proposed outcome. Technological modelling is underpinned by functional and practical reasoning. Functional reasoning focuses on ‘how to make it happen’ and ‘how it is happening’. Practical reasoning focuses on ‘should we make it happen?’ and ‘should it be happening?’
Decisions as a result of technological modelling may include the: termination of the development in the short or long term, continuation of the development as planned, or changing/refining the design concept and/or the nature of the technological outcome before proceeding.
Technological Products
Technological products are material in nature and exist in the world as a result of human design. Understanding the relationship between the properties of materials and their performance capability is essential for understanding and developing technological products. Technological knowledge within this component includes the means of evaluating materials to determine appropriate use to enhance the fitness for purpose of technological products. It includes understandings of new materials formulation and their potential impacts on future product function. The impact of material use and development on product life cycles/expectancy is also included with regards to understanding material sustainability in its broadest sense.
Technological Systems
Technological systems are a set of interconnected parts (technological products and processes) that serve to transform, store, transport or control materials, energy and/or information. These systems exist in the world as the result of human design and function without further human design input. Understanding how these parts work together is as important as understanding the nature of the each individual part. Technological knowledge, within this component, will include an understanding of input, output, transformation processes, and control. Understanding the notion of the ‘black box’ is included in this component, in terms of understanding, and of developing, complex systems that involve integrated sub-systems. This component includes understandings of redundancy and reliability within system design and performance and therefore an increased understanding of the operating parameters of systems. Specialised languages provide important representation and communication tools. Understanding these specialised languages is important in system development, maintenance and troubleshooting.
More information on each of these components can be found in the Technological Knowledge Explanatory Papers.
The Indicators of Progression for the components of Technological Knowledge and Nature of Technology are in draft form and should be used to support discussion and formative assessment only. Updated versions of these Indicators for summative and reporting purposes will be provided in 2010.
