Standard 8.1B: Technology

Content Area: Technological Literacy

Index: 8.1B Grade 8 CPI 1

Standard:8.1 - Computer and Information Literacy

Strand: B - Application of Productivity Tools

Cumulative Progress Indicator: 1 - The student will demonstrate an understanding of how changes in technology impact the workplace and society.

Grade: 8

Sample Activities:

· Climatic conditions have changed in the twenty-first century. Research scientists are looking at the oceans to create habitable communities. Create an underwater community.

· Mr./Ms. Z's company has decided to relocate the employee and the family overseas. The employment opportunities exist in Australia, Brazil, China, Kenya, and Switzerland. Your family must make the decision as to the country of preference with a backup alternative. Provide a justification to the human resource department. Be prepared to negotiate a contract that meets career, financial, and personal needs.

· Earth is becoming uninhabitable.

· Although New Jersey is well known as the Garden State, it certainly could be recognized as the Invention State. We now live in an increasing complex "global society" with demands for increased invention, design, and manufacturing to make people's lives and work more productive while meeting personal and family needs.

· Current transportation systems consume natural resources and add to pollution and congestion.

· An individual wants to select a career pathway such as Arts and Humanities, Health and Human Services, Science, Mathematics, and Technology and/or Business and Information, etc.) in an area of interest for future employment and postsecondary and lifelong learning. Invite a speaker to discuss the career field and changes brought about by technology in the field. Write statements about the changes in technology in the field and the impact it has had or could have on lives of people.

· Students will compare and contrast “family life” in a New Jersey community from the past (preferably from their own community) to “family life” in the same community in the present day. Students will pay special attention to ways technological advances have influenced “family life” over the passing of time. Students will research and trace the chores and responsibilities of school-aged children (ages 6-14) from the early 1800’s to the present day. Students will create a chart that demonstrates the evolution and change of chores/responsibilities within a family and interpret their findings to see how technology has influenced the type of chores/responsibilities they are responsible for in their own lives. Students will also demonstrate how demographics, living conditions, and different socio-economic backgrounds are influenced or have been influenced by this transition. Students will role-play this transition of time by dressing up in period costumes and demonstrate the technological differences and changes that have evolved over time. Areas to consider are, but not limited to, transportation, bathroom facilities, food preparation, types of clothing and their construction, water distribution systems, entertainment, communications, social gatherings, education, work responsibilities of family members, occupations, etc. Students will become a resource to younger elementary students by presenting their dramatic role-playing demonstration reflecting the impact of technology on the lives of adolescents over the past years. Students would also become a resource for local, county and state historical societies and /or historical villages. Students could present their findings at meetings and role-play in historical villages, such as Waterloo Village or Historic Speedwell.

· Resources:
New Jersey Historical Societies and Cultural Organizations: http://www.npl.org/Pages/Collections/njiclist.html

Historic Speedwell: http://www.speedwell.org/
The Social Impact Of New Communication Technology Bibliography
http://www.hfac.uh.edu/MediaFutures/readings.html#5
Journal of Educational Technology & Society
http://www.ifets.info/