Thursday, September 16, 2010

Technocentric Design Theory Post

Technocentric Design Theory

One perspective regarding the attitudes towards human technology and its ability to affect, control, and even protect the environment is technocentrism. Technocentrics have confidence in technology and industry and strongly believe that humans have control over nature. In order to advance developed and developing countries and solutions to our environmental problems, technocentrics trust that we will find the answers through scientific and technological advancement. Essentially, technocenrtics rely heavily on technology.

When we think about technology and education, people have different views. On the one hand, many people think it will be useful for students to use computers and other types of technology to help them with their work. These people believe that it could increase students’ creativity and their interpersonal skills. Alternatively, technocentrism has many critics. These people are worried that students will become lazy about adding numbers because calculators can do it for them. Some even believe it could lead to the loss of handwriting skills since students will be typing more often. Whether people are for technology or not, it is seen more and more in classrooms and will continue to increase with time.

http://www.nwmissouri.edu/compserv/CampusNotebooks/NotebookImages/P8220293.JPG


References

Papert, S. 1987. A critique of technocentrism in thinking about the school of the future. Retrieved 22 January 2009

"Sustainability| Environmental Ethics | Ecocentrism | Technocentrism." Sustainable Development |Renewable Energy |Waste Recycling. Web. 15 Sept. 2010. http://www.sustainable-environment.org.uk/Earth/Ecocentrism_and_Technocentrism.php.