Technological Illiteracy
State universities working to reverse a lack of technical understanding

Nearly half of American adults incorrectly believe they risk electrocution by using a portable phone while in the bathtub. And, only 26 percent are correct in believing that FM radios operate free of static.

In addition, many use technology with minimal comprehension of how or why it works, and have a poor understanding of the essential characteristics of technology, how it influences society and how people can and do affect its development.

Also, consider that neither the educational system nor the U.S. policy-making apparatus has recognized the importance of technological literacy.

All this is from a recent study and report issued by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council. Improving our technological literacy, the report also states, would lessen dependence on foreign workers to fill jobs in many sectors.

Should we confess our technological inefficiencies, roll over and give up the ghost? Is our technological economic future really dim? Not necessarily. The four Kentucky college and university programs in industrial technology have given and are giving American technology a very positive shot in the arm.

“Are we in a national crisis? I don’t think so,” affirms Dr. Gary Mahoney, who heads the Technology and Industrial Arts program at Berea College. “We’re not far behind; we’re the leading edge in a lot of (technological) things. Technology still is being developed here.”

Dr. Terry Leeper, chair of Industrial Technology at Western Kentucky University, and Mahoney agree that Americans generally may be lacking in understanding technology. That notwithstanding, America’s technological future looks good.

Based on what he knows about foreign-exchange students, Leeper says he doesn’t think “they (international students) are any better off understanding technology than our own students.”

“I don’t know that we’re falling behind,” Eastern Kentucky University’s Ed Davis states. “I think we’ve made vast improvements to increase the technical skills of our students in the past 10 years and I think we’re continuing to do that,” the EKU Technology chair adds.

If Americans are deficient in technology, Morehead Industrial Education and Technology Chair Robert Hayes emphasizes that “we’re probably better off than a lot of foreign countries.”

“(Foreign) students may do as well or better than some of our students in science, math and technology in written aspects, but as far as the practical application, I think our people do well. I don’t think it’s as bad as it (the study) sounds.”

“Look at what’s happening at our schools,” Dr. Davis said. “In just the last 10 years with Kentucky education reform, what we’ve done is increase the technical and academic competence for our students in Kentucky. Many school districts have implemented the tech prep initiative, which is funded through the Carl Perkins Act and which integrates the academics – the math and the sciences – with technical education.

“We’re moving in a direction where students in our high schools are selecting career majors and these majors reflect the technical fields – manufacturing, computer-related drafting and design and all the technical fields in business. What we’re seeing is a better prepared student when they come into our program at Eastern.”

Students’ interest in technology is reflected in steadily increasing enrollment and graduation figures at each of the four Kentucky schools.

Mahoney said Berea is graduating about 26 students per year and “that’s higher than it was 10 years ago.”

Leeper reports that at Western “we’re graduating between 20 and 35” each year in two tracts – manufacturing and architecture.

Eastern, which has seven bachelor degree programs in technology, is graduating about 26 per year in Aviation, about 20 each per year in Industrial Technology and in Construction Management and some 25-30 in the Teacher Education program.

Morehead has anywhere from 60-70 graduates per year, all of whom receive a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology. Hayes said the degree has four program options – Construction Mining, Electronics, Manufacturing and Robotics, and Automated Drafting.

Graduate courses in technology also are offered at Western, and Eastern and Morehead have graduate programs.

Each of the four schools are successful in placing graduates in technology positions with business and industry. The machine tool and automotive industries, manufacturing and design engineering, quality control and assurance, sales, robotics, production and product management are just some of areas where Kentucky technology graduates are in demand. They’re also attractive to employers because they have more than just technology theory. Through internships and summer employment, the four chairmen point out, they have practical experience and the know-how that makes for successful supervisors and managers.

There is, however, a critical problem nationwide in technology education. Technology teachers are in short supply in a variety of states.

“The state (Kentucky) department of education is crying for teachers,” Leeper stated. “If I had as many as 150 students who wanted to teach, I could place every one of them.”

All four schools are providing technology teachers, but the higher salaries in business and industry are more attractive. The department chairs, however, keep encouraging the technology education option. Hayes, for example, stresses to students “there are other benefits and rewards for teaching.”

The Morehead professor also believes that Kentucky students are going to continue filling a lot of technology job openings.

“And, I think there’s going to be even more need, especially in Eastern Kentucky at all the industrial parks where we’re encouraging manufacturers to locate. Those companies and plants will need technical managers and quality assurance people we’ll be providing.

“There’s a real need and I think we’re doing a respectable job of meeting that need,” Hayes commented. “And, there’s also room for growth.”

Davis also likes Kentucky’s technology direction.

“I think we’re giving the business and industry world a very competent worker, technician and manager,” he concluded.

Ed Ford is a staff writer for The Lane Report
editorial@lanereport.com

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