Technology

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Technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, changing how we work, how we learn, how we shop, and how we connect with others and contribute to the world around us.

Technology has enhanced the general living standards of many people in the last few decades. Without technology, people would still be living within the geographical confines of their societies. Examples of technological advancements that have made life easier include things like phones, tablets, TV, cars gaming consoles, and the Internet. However, these are just the positive attributes of technology; there are also a number of negative effects that it has brought upon society in general.

In this article, we discuss the different aspects of technology (both the good and bad), how it affects education and society in general, as well as some other important facts you need to know.

Importance of Science and Technology: Impact of Science and Technology on Society

Development and growth at any phase are always connected with technology – and technology happens when there is advancement in science. Hence science, technology, and development are all proportional to each other.

Development is required in every nation and for development to occur, science and technology go hand in hand. Basically, science is known as the study of knowledge, which is made into a system and depends on analyzing and understanding facts. Technology, on the other hand, is the application of this scientific knowledge.

For any successful society, particularly in today’s quest for knowledge-based economies, science and technology are the basic requisites. If nations do not implement science and technology, then the chances of getting themselves developed become minimal and therefore could be even rated as an undeveloped nation. Science and Technology are associated in all means with modernity and it is an essential tool for modern development.

Science and technology are important parts of our everyday lives. We get up in the morning from the ringing of our alarm clocks and go to bed at night after switching our lights off. All these luxuries that we are able to afford are a result of science and technology. Most importantly, how we can do all this in a short time are due to the advancement of science and technology only.

Now, it is hard to imagine our life without science and technology. Indeed, our existence itself depends on it now. Every day, new technologies are being developed designed to make human life easier and more comfortable. Thus, we live in an era of science and technology.

For every society to get developed, the application of both science and technology has to go hand in hand. Knowledge, technology, and science are fundamental in modern contemporary society.

Key Terms:

• Technology Literacy

What is technology literacy? By definition, technology literacy refers to the “ability to use, manage, understand, and assess technology. Technological literacy is related to digital literacy in that when an individual is proficient in using computers and other digital devices to access the Internet, digital literacy gives them the ability to use the Internet to discover, review, evaluate, create, and use information via various digital platforms, such as web browsers, databases, online journals, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and social media sites.”

UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization) strives to bring technology literacy to students throughout the world by ensuring educators are using technology in every aspect of their teaching. The more students are familiar not only with learning about technology but learning with technology, the more they will be prepared to use technology to improve their lives.

In 2016, UNESCO detailed how teachers can show Technology Literacy in their classrooms when providing ICT education. Teachers will:

• Describe and demonstrate the basic tasks and uses of word processors, such as text entry, editing text, formatting text, and printing, describe and demonstrate the purpose and basic features of presentation software and other digital resources.
• Describe the purpose and basic function of graphic software and use a graphic software package to create a simple graphic display.
• Describe the internet and the world wide web, elaborate on their uses, and describe how a browser works and use URL to access a website, use a search engine.
• Create an email account and use it for a sustained series of email correspondence, use common communication and collaboration technologies, such as (email), text messaging, video conferencing, and web-based collaboration and social environments.
• Use networked record-keeping software to take attendance, submit grades, and maintain student records.
• Locate off-the-shelf packages, tutorial, drill and practice software, and web resources for their accuracy and alignment with curriculum standards and match them to the needs of specific students.

On May 9, 2019, the UNESCO Cairo Office began a technology literacy project to teach basic literacy skills, life skills, and legal empowerment to 150-200 illiterate women between the ages of 15 and 35 living in the Giza Governate. 

• Empowerment Technology

Empowerment Technology (E-Tech) often deals with the use of different technologies such as telephones, computers, mobile phones, and other devices to locate, save, communicate, and inform. Empowerment Technology is essential because its innovative uses are crucial in our daily lives. Empowerment Technology has key functions: for communication, to make our lives easier, and to help our society grow and develop.

For instance, Empowerment Technology is now a crucial form of communication. As years passed, lots of gadgets and other devices have improved their uses. In the past, a cellphone was only used for texting, calling, and playing simple games. Now, due to technological advances, we can use our cellphones for more than just texting or calling – we can now use them for internet browsing, video calls, and more! 

Media and Information Technology

Technology and the media are interwoven, and neither can be separated from contemporary society today.

Media is a term that refers to all print, electronic, and digital means of communication. From the time the printing press was created (and even before), technology has influenced where and how information is shared. Today, it is impossible to discuss media and the ways societies communicate without addressing technological advancements.

For instance, 20 years ago, if you wanted to announce your baby’s birth, you had to phone or write others to share the news. You might tell a handful of people, but you probably wouldn’t be able to call everyone you know to let them know. Now, you can share the good news with hundreds of people with just a few clicks! You can even join an online community of parents-to-be even before you announce your pregnancy via a staged Instagram picture.

The circle of communication is wider than ever and as we talk about how societies engage with technology, we must take media into account, and vice versa.

Technology creates media. The comic book you bought for your kid is a form of media, as is the movie you streamed for family night, the billboard you passed on the way to pick up your food, the website you used to order takeout, and the newspaper you read while you were waiting for it. Without technology, media wouldn’t exist, but remember, technology is more than just the media we are exposed to.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/media-and-technology-in-society/ 

Negative Effects of Technology

There’s no denying that the numerous advancements in technology have been helpful. The last few decades have seen technology evolve at an incredibly fast rate unimagined before. Today, cellphones are performing tasks that were originally assigned to a computer.

It is now hard to imagine life without things like the Internet, email, or other communication features on phones and tablets. Other technological gadgets like TV, gaming consoles, and movie or video games have also evolved over time, each offer its consumers a variety of choices and novel possibilities.

However, despite the publicity and positive advancements and achievements brought about by modern technology, many don’t realize the impact and negative effects it has brought to people and society in general.

Arguably, a number of technological advancements have adversely affected certain industrial sectors, such as print media. These advancements have even caused several businesses to shut down forever or shift their scope of business because there is a lack of demand for their type of goods and services.

For instance, newspaper businesses have been hit hard; some have been forced to shut down or lay off a large chunk of their employees because these days, the news is readily available on the Internet, especially on social media. Several companies and other businesses now depend deeply on digital printing mean for brochures, magazines, as well as, other advertisement supplies they require, thereby putting conventional, lithographic printing in a tough spot.

Music lovers don’t have to purchase their favorite albums or singles from music stores anymore, many files are readily accessible over the Internet, a phenomenon that has forced big music store companies to shut down or shift their mode of business. Consequently, the movie industry has also suffered since consumers can now purchase or download movies online, which has decreased DVD sales.

There’s no denying that technology has its positive benefits, but when looking at the way it has impacted on society, especially the way people interact with each other, then it is safe to state that technology also has a negative impact.

Modern technology has changed the way people interact nowadays. Today, you can easily communicate with people via text, chat, or video calls which sounds really great. However, it has also created a distinct barrier because people have ceased to interact on a personal basis. As a result, people are becoming confined to their homes, and don’t want to interact with the outside world. We have to remember that while technology is vital in making life easier, interaction with the rest of society is still important. 

Science and Technology in The Philippines

Science and technology in the Philippines describe the scientific and technological progress made by the Philippines and analyses related policy issues. The main agency responsible for managing science and technology (S&T) is the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). There are also sectoral councils for Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture, the Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorology, Volcanology, and Seismology.

History. Even before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine Islands, the natives of the archipelago already had practices linked to science and technology. Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the methods of extracting medicine from herbs. They already had an alphabet, a number system, a weighing, and measuring system, and a calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining, and weaving. 

The colonization of the Philippines contributed to the growth of science and technology in the archipelago. The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institutions. During the early years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. Parish schools were established where religion, reading, writing, arithmetic, and music were taught. Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture were taught to the natives. Later the Spanish established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the University of Santo Tomas.

The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued under American rule. On July 1, 1901, The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government Laboratories which was placed under the Department of Interior. The Bureau replaced the Laboratorio Municipal, which was established under the Spanish colonial era. The Bureau dealt with the study of tropical diseases and laboratory projects. On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of Science and on December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was established.

Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing, medicine, and pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the development of industrial technology due to the free trade policy with the United States which nurtured an economy geared towards agriculture and trade.

During Ferdinand Marcos’ presidency, the importance given to science grew. In the amended 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article XV, Section 9 (1), he declared that the “advancement of science and technology shall have priority in the national development.” In his two terms of presidency and during Martial Law, he enacted many laws promoting science and technology.

In 1986, during Corazon Aquino’s presidency, the National Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and Technology, giving science and technology a representation in the cabinet. Under the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987–1992, science and technology’s role in economic recovery and sustained economic growth was highlighted. During Corazon Aquino’s State of the Nation Address in 1990, she said that science and technology development shall be one of the top three priorities of the government towards economic recovery.

In the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the science and technology sector of the Philippines was dubbed as the “golden age” of science and technology by then secretary Estrella Albastro. Numerous laws and projects that concern both the environment and science push technology as a tool to increase the country’s economic level. This is to help increase the productivity of Science, Technology, and Innovations (STI) and help benefit the poor people. Moreover, the term “Filipinnovation” was the coined term used in helping the Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia. 

Technology and Livelihood Education in the Philippines

Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) is one of the learning areas of the Secondary Education Curriculum used in Philippine secondary schools. As a subject in high school, its component areas are Home Economics, Agri-Fishery Arts, Industrial Arts, and Information and Communication Technology.

TLE is also referred to as CP-TLE for Career Pathways in Technology and Livelihood Education. The 2010 Secondary Education Curriculum allocates 240 minutes per week for CP-TLE, which is equivalent to 1.2 units. However, CP-TLE is required to include practical work experience in the community, which may extend beyond its specified school hours.

The Technical-Vocational Education-based TLE is focused on technical skills development in any area. Five common competencies, based on the training regulations of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), are covered in the exploratory phase (Grades 7 and 8): mensuration and calculation, technical drafting, use of tools and equipment, maintenance of tools and equipment, and occupational health and safety. The specialization phase is from Grades 9 to 12.

The 2010 Secondary Education Curriculum expanded the CP-TLE to include additional special curricular programs. This makes a total of six programs: Special Program in the Arts (SPA), Special Program in Sports (SPS); Science and Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (STEM Program, previously called ESEP), Special Program in Journalism (SPJ), Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Education (TVE), and Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL).