NAC389.391. Eighth grade: Introduction to technology.

A course in the study of biological, informational, communicative and physical technology must include instruction designed to teach the pupil by the completion of the eighth grade to:

     1. Demonstrate how the evolution in each area of technology has contributed to a progression from the agricultural era to the industrial era to the information era.

     2. Describe the evolution of a modern tool, device or method within each area of technology and describe how each has changed daily routines and contributed to human progress.

     3. Describe examples of technological innovation in each area of technology.

     4. List examples of the seven resources of technology—people, information, tools, materials, capital, energy and time—and identify their different forms.

     5. Use technological resources to produce a given product.

     6. Identify technological alternatives for satisfying a given human need in two selected nations of differing cultural conditions and differing amounts of nonrenewable resources.

     7. Design and carry out an optimal solution to a given technological problem.

     8. Recognize the limitations of resources which limit solutions to technological problems.

     9. Describe examples of common technological systems in each area of technology.

     10. Apply the model for technological systems to the safe assembly or construction and operation of a technological system.

     11. Demonstrate a functional open-loop system, add feedback to close the loop and operate the system to produce a given result.

     12. Identify the subsystems of a modern, complex technological system in each area of technology and describe how each is combined to generate a new system resulting in improved or additional human capabilities.

     13. Demonstrate a technological system in each area of technology and describe results that are desired, undesired, expected and unexpected in one of the areas.

     14. Identify instances of conflict between a technological system, the human user and the resulting environment made by humans in each area of technology and demonstrate techniques for resolving each instance of conflict.

     15. Identify instances of conflict between a technological system and the natural environment in each area of technology, and demonstrate techniques for improving each instance of conflict.

     16. Demonstrate a solution to a problem within each area of technology and identify needed and alternative resources to solve the problem.

     17. Investigate the properties of various synthetic, raw and biological materials through testing and describe why materials are often chosen on the basis of their properties.

     18. Demonstrate a functional technological system by substituting the use of different resources to optimize the results of the system within given constraints.

     19. Demonstrate a variety of traditional and modern processes for converting materials within each area of technology.

     20. Process information and communicate a message using graphic, photographic or electronic means.

     21. Use information from data stored in a computer to solve a problem in a technological system.

     22. Perform a variety of processes for converting energy within each area of technology.

     23. Use a computer to apply computer software to verify the solution to a problem related to processing resources in a technological system.

     24. Describe examples of open-loop and closed-loop systems in each area of technology using graphic illustrations.

     25. Demonstrate how human and technological sensors are used to monitor the results of a technological process.

     26. Assemble and operate a closed-loop technological system.

     27. Use a computer to control a technological system.

     28. Use techniques of extrapolating the effect of changes in society on the future to anticipate the consequences of a new technology.

     29. Describe how technology has created new jobs and made other jobs obsolete.

     30. Describe a local, national and global problem, propose alternative technological solutions to each problem and demonstrate a solution to one of the problems.

     31. Draw and label a diagram depicting a systems approach to solving a problem in each area of technology.

     32. Use a systems approach to solve a technological problem.

     33. Use a computer to document progress toward reaching the optimal solution to a technological problem.

     34. Demonstrate basic math skills and concepts regarding whole numbers, common fractions, decimal fractions and percents in the solution of a technological problem.

     (Added to NAC by Bd. of Education, 1-26-90, eff. 9-1-93; A 5-27-92)—(Substituted in revision for NAC 389.444)