Technology Indicators of Progression
Components of Nature of Technology
The Indicators of Progress within the Nature of Technology section are divided into two components:
Characteristics of Technology
Technology is defined as purposeful intervention-by-design. It is a human activity, known as technological practice that results in technological outcomes that have impact in the world. Technological outcomes can enhance the capability of people and expand human possibilities. Technological outcomes change the made world, and may result in both positive and negative impacts on the social and natural world. Technology uses and produces technological knowledge. Technological knowledge is aligned to function and validation of this knowledge occurs within technological communities when it is shown to support the successful development of a technological outcome. Technology is historically positioned and inseparable from social and cultural influences and impacts. Contemporary Technological Practices increasingly rely on collaboration between people within the technology community and with people across other disciplines.
Characteristics of Technological Outcomes
Technological outcomes are products and systems developed through technological practice for a specific purpose. A technological outcome is evaluated in terms of its fitness for purpose. Technological outcomes can be described by their physical and functional nature. A technological outcome can only be interpreted when the social and historical context of its development and use are known. The term proper function is used to describe the function that the technologist intended the technological outcome to have and/or its socially accepted common use. If a technological outcome does not carry out its 'proper' function successfully it is described as a malfunction. Alternative functions are successful functions that have been evolved by end-users. Technological outcomes work together with non-technological entities and systems in the development of socio-technological environments.
More information on each of these components can be found in the Nature of Technology Explanatory Papers.
The Indicators of Progression for the components of the Nature of Technology can be used to guide and support formative and summative assessment, and provide a basis for reporting purposes. These were originally based on the work of Compton and France. For details of the research underpinning these components please refer to Compton V.J and France B.J. in Curriculum Matters 2007. The teacher guidance and indictors have been revised and further developed by Dr V Compton and A Compton as a part of the Ministry of Education funded research project: Technological Knowledge and Nature of Technology: Implications for teaching and learning.
