(5-8) M1

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 07/01/04

5-8

M1: Research and evaluate the social and environmental impacts of scientific and technological developments.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

How has this technology influenced society?

How has society influenced this technology?

What are the risks and benefits of this technology?

What societal issues inspired scientific research in this area?

What societal issues arose as a result of this scientific development?

Which cultures have contributed to or been influenced by this development?

Elaboration
Science and society influence one another. Science is a human endeavor, and as such it is influenced by (and influences) societal views, cultural views, and ways of viewing the world.

Specific Ideas

Technology has strongly influenced the course of history and continues to do so. It is largely responsible for the great revolutions in agriculture, manufacturing, sanitation and medicine, warfare, transportation, information processing, and communications that have radically changed how people live.Benchmarks 3C4.

New technologies increase some risks and decrease others. Some of the same technologies that have improved the length and quality of life for many people have brought new risks.benchmarks 3C5.

Rarely are technology issues simple and one-sided. Relevant facts alone, even when known and available, usually do not settle matters entirely in favor of one side or another. Benchmarks 3C6.

Societies influence what aspects of technology are developed and how these are used. People control technology (as well as science) and are responsible for its effects.Benchmarks 3C7.

Technology, especially in transportation and communication, is increasingly important in spreading ideas, values, and behavior patterns within a society and among different societies. New technology can change cultural values and social behavior.Benchmarks 7A4.

Modern technology reduces manufacturing costs, produces more uniform products, and creates new synthetic materials that can help reduce the depletion of some natural resources.Benchmarks 8B3.

Automation, including the use of robots, has changed the nature of work in most fields, including manufacturing. As a result, high-skill, high-knowledge jobs in engineering, computer programming, quality control, supervision, and maintenance are replacing many routine, manual-labor jobs. Workers therefore need better learning skills and flexibility to take on new and rapidly changing jobs.Benchmarks 8B4.

Societal challenges often inspire questions for scientific research, and social priorities often influence research priorities through the availability of funding for research.NSES F5b.

Technology cannot always provide successful solutions for problems or fulfill every human need. Benchmarks 3C2.

Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population. Benchmarks 6A6.

Developmental & Instructional Implications
Little research is available on student's perceptions of risk and benefit in the context of science and technology. Students sometimes view social harm from technological failure as unacceptable. On the other hand, some believe if the risk is personal and voluntary, then it is part of life and should not be the concernn of others (or society). Helping students develop an understanding of risks and benefits presents a challenge for middle school teachers. Students are often aware of issues from the media, but their awareness is fraught with misunderstandings. Teachers should begin developing student understanding with concrete and personal examples that avod an exclusive focus on problems.NSES p. 167 - 168.

Examples
In agriculture, as in all technologies, there are always tradeoffs to be made. Getting food from many different places makes people less dependent on weather in any one place, yet more dependent on transportation and communication among far-flung markets. Specializing in one crop may risk disaster if changes in weather or increases in pest populations wipe out that crop. Also, the soil may be exhausted of some nutrients, which can be replenished by rotating the right crops. Benchmarks 8A3.

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Curriculum Organizing Questions	How has this technology influenced society? How has society influenced this technology? What are the risks and benefits of this technology? What societal issues inspired scientific research in this area? What societal issues arose as a result of this scientific development? Which cultures have contributed to or been influenced by this development?
Elaboration	Science and society influence one another. Science is a human endeavor, and as such it is influenced by (and influences) societal views, cultural views, and ways of viewing the world.
Specific Ideas	Technology has strongly influenced the course of history and continues to do so. It is largely responsible for the great revolutions in agriculture, manufacturing, sanitation and medicine, warfare, transportation, information processing, and communications that have radically changed how people live.Benchmarks 3C4. New technologies increase some risks and decrease others. Some of the same technologies that have improved the length and quality of life for many people have brought new risks.benchmarks 3C5. Rarely are technology issues simple and one-sided. Relevant facts alone, even when known and available, usually do not settle matters entirely in favor of one side or another. Benchmarks 3C6. Societies influence what aspects of technology are developed and how these are used. People control technology (as well as science) and are responsible for its effects.Benchmarks 3C7. Technology, especially in transportation and communication, is increasingly important in spreading ideas, values, and behavior patterns within a society and among different societies. New technology can change cultural values and social behavior.Benchmarks 7A4. Modern technology reduces manufacturing costs, produces more uniform products, and creates new synthetic materials that can help reduce the depletion of some natural resources.Benchmarks 8B3. Automation, including the use of robots, has changed the nature of work in most fields, including manufacturing. As a result, high-skill, high-knowledge jobs in engineering, computer programming, quality control, supervision, and maintenance are replacing many routine, manual-labor jobs. Workers therefore need better learning skills and flexibility to take on new and rapidly changing jobs.Benchmarks 8B4. Societal challenges often inspire questions for scientific research, and social priorities often influence research priorities through the availability of funding for research.NSES F5b. Technology cannot always provide successful solutions for problems or fulfill every human need. Benchmarks 3C2. Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population. Benchmarks 6A6.
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Little research is available on student's perceptions of risk and benefit in the context of science and technology. Students sometimes view social harm from technological failure as unacceptable. On the other hand, some believe if the risk is personal and voluntary, then it is part of life and should not be the concernn of others (or society). Helping students develop an understanding of risks and benefits presents a challenge for middle school teachers. Students are often aware of issues from the media, but their awareness is fraught with misunderstandings. Teachers should begin developing student understanding with concrete and personal examples that avod an exclusive focus on problems.NSES p. 167 - 168.
Examples	In agriculture, as in all technologies, there are always tradeoffs to be made. Getting food from many different places makes people less dependent on weather in any one place, yet more dependent on transportation and communication among far-flung markets. Specializing in one crop may risk disaster if changes in weather or increases in pest populations wipe out that crop. Also, the soil may be exhausted of some nutrients, which can be replenished by rotating the right crops. Benchmarks 8A3.