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A Report of the Second Survey Conducted by the Gallup Organization for the International Technology Education Association
The first poll in what has become a two-part series was commissioned by the International Technology Education Association (ITEA) in the spring of 2001 with the intent of finding out how Americans viewed technological literacy. Funding for this second survey was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Although it was not anticipated at the time, the opportunity has been provided just three years later to revisit this question in a manner designed to either validate or bring into question the findings in that first survey and to build on and extend what those findings told us.
With that in mind, it is important to cite and acknowledge the three major conclusions reached in 2001. They were:
* The American public is virtually unanimous in regarding the development of technological literacy as an important goal for people at all levels.
* Many Americans view technology narrowly as mostly being computers and the Internet.
* There is near total consensus in the public sampled that schools should include the study of technology in the curriculum.
Technology, as viewed by experts in the fields of technology, engineering, and science, has been with us since the beginning of time. These experts view technology as "anything people do to modify the natural world to meet human needs." By that definition, the earliest inhabitants of this planet, in whatever means they used to carve out caves, create tools from stones, or gather wood for fires, were using technology. To many, however, the word technology has a newer meaning tied more to the modern apparatus, machines, and gadgets people have developed. The first poll was designed to explore the public's view of technology, what it is, and its continuing impact on society.
The International Technology Education Association (ITEA), given its focus on education, has a keen interest, not only in exploring technology, what it is, what it does, and its impact, but also in the ability people have to design and innovate. That interest extends to how prepared people feel they are to interact with technology and the role they see for themselves in decisions...