Technology Readings
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September | October | November | Final Exam
Readings by short titles of chapters & selections from authors
Neil Postman, Technopoly
Carroll Pursell, White Heat
Mark E. Eberhart, Why Things Break.
Arnold Pacey, Technology in World Civilization, [TWC]
Charles P. Snow, Two Cultures
Michio Kaku, Visions
Week # & Date Focus & assignments Readings by chapters or pages assigned
Clarify
matters we are studying:
Week 1 Introduction & assessment “Tools of Toil: difficulty in defining technology.”
8/26 Pretest -- What did the “The Ice Man” Otzi have?
8/28 “Story of Thamus” Postman pp. 3-20. Pacey , TWC, pp. vii-16 Philes v. Phobes
At least 2 full pages of notes on readings is due at the start of class!
September,
Monthly
problem: technologies play what role in sustaining our contentment?
Week 2 Examining the complexity of Technology by taking notes.
9/2 Pursell, pp. 13-30. Interview subject(s) and questions: the art of communicating clearly.
9/4 Discuss interviews so far, what people define as technology (hard vs. soft).Pacey,TWC, pp. vii-19 . What did Asian inventors give to us?
9/9 discuss notes:
9/11 -- see syllabusWeek 3 Critical Reading and finding evidence for technological web’s complexity.
9/16 Interviews due9/18
Week 4 Essay writing based on notes and evidence about applied science.
Bring in completed interviews of 3 to 5 people.
Pursell, pp. 37-63. Frankenstein and inventing our world.Week 5
October,
Organize thoughts concerning technology as a dialectic.
Monthly
problem: What makes any technological change an important problem?
Week 6
Week 7 The close or “cozy” relation of science to technology in creating our society.
Week 8 Interpretation of evidence “distinguishing the signal from the noise!”
Week 9 oral readings The Heart of Deep Technopoly & “White Heat”.
Deep
technology is a tetrahedron referring to Pacey’s four aspects:
formal, social-organiational, cultural meaning, and personal aspects of
tools.
Week # & Date Focus & assignments Readings by chapters or pages
assigned
November
Reflect on the human impacts of our technical suite of opportunities
Monthly
problem: Knowing The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of tool complexes
Week 10
Transforming natural into artificial ecological places.
Week 11 Science, electro-magnetism and physical features as a source of reality.
Week 12 Gender & society: prospects for adjusting to technological change
7 page essay (typed) due on comparison & contrast Pacey’s, Pursell’s & Kranzberg’s arguments.
Week 13 Values and ethical responses in a synthetic society and plastic environment.
December
Evaluate
how we redesign “People-Centered” techniques
Week 14
Week 15 Examine your projects & the behaviors they require us to change or adapt.
Dec. 12: Final Exam take home written essay on the texts and research: a summary is drafted and that summary of the essay is presented –may be a web page or power point format-- orally ( 5 minutes ) at 5-7 PM, the day of the exam, with graphic aides as are used in the Pursell, Pacey and Kaku books. Rehearse your talk, to stay within the allotted time.
Readings by short titles of chapters & selections from Authors
