Technology Literacy

The ability to use, manage, assess, and understand technology.

Technology Literacy focuses on understanding and using analog or digital tools designed for a purpose, consisting of physical components or operations organized into a system. Technology literacy involves analyzing the systems that are constructed from technological tools, determining which tools may be appropriate for solving a problem, and using and adapting those technological tools as necessary. It also involves analyzing the many ways in which technologies shape societies and how societies shape technologies. Technology literacy involves determining which tools may be appropriate for solving a problem, and then using and adapting those technological tools as necessary.

Guiding questions

• What components and relationships make up a specific technological system?
• How effective is the technological system for the given situation? Could the technological system be improved?
• How does a specific technology shape interpersonal interactions, organizations, society, culture, or other parts of its context? How are specific technologies shaped by the organization, society, and culture in which they operate?
• What ethical considerations relate to the creation or use of a specific technology?
• When we have a problem with a technology, how do we resolve the issue?
• How might we use a specific technology in different scenarios?
• What collection of tools are most useful in both my professional and personal life?