TECHNOLOGY AND IDEOLOGY – IMPLICATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

A number of complex issues are involved when one attempts to define the social, cultural, and ethical contexts of technology. Some of these are philosophical and historical, while others are more closely embedded in social science research. In many respects, these do not necessarily (or even naturally) converge into any single set of meanings or implications. It is not a puzzle that can be assembled in any single manner. The process is further complicated by the complexity of what is meant by culture or more accurately, cultures. The purpose of this paper will be to identify and discuss selected issues in some depth and then attempt to assemble them into at least one coherent pattern. It may not be immediately obvious why these particular issues were selected as pertinent. It also may not be apparent how these particular issues converge to structure an ideology within which technology and its interaction with culture can be better understood. These matters hopefully will become clear as the paper unfolds. If the paper is successful, the implications for research in technology education as well as for technological literacy will become apparent. The paper will conclude by posing some questions about the unique nature of the interaction of complex communications technologies with society and culture and their implications for education and research.