A discussion about philosophies that inform educational practice in North America provides a background for analysis of different philosophies in relation to technology education, and provides insight into the significance of reconstructionism, an outgrowth of pragmatism, as a philosophy in which to frame and describe technology education. This is…

Narrow conceptions of human development and the purposes of schooling tend to displace rather than situate subjects like technology in the curriculum. Understanding how a utilitarian curriculum spawns real human development and learning gives a new perspective to curriculum theory and practice. (Author/AEF)

Raises the question of the philosophical base of a liberal technology education, assuming that it cannot be provided simply by an engineer's perspective. Suggests a series of questions for reconstructing the cultural meaning of technology and a structural model that shows how meaning is generated through a variety of social relationships;…

Explores several engineering concepts as the basis of teaching programs for schools, examines ways in which these concepts are modified and adapted to technical and vocational education, and identifies consequences for teacher education. Focuses on the transformation of models in academic disciplines and extracts knowledge useful for decision…

The methodological approach to technology education is illustrated by the case study of the development Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays in a small Dutch company. Problems emerge when this development is not dealt with according to nature of technologies involved. In technology education such insights can be used to prevent practices in which…