Standards Addressed

Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy

The Nature of Technology - Technology and Science - Grades 9 through 12

• Technology usually affects society more directly than science because it solves pratical problems and serves human needs. In contrast, science affects society mainly by stimulating and satisfying people's curiosity and occasionally by enlarging or challenging their views of what the world is like.

• The value of any given technology may be different for different groups of people and at different points in time.

• Social and economic forces strongly influence which technologies will be developed (colonizing and terraforming Mars)and used. Which will prevail is affected by many factors, such as personal values, consumer acceptance, patent laws, the availability of risk capital, the federal budget, local and national regulations, media attention, economic competition, and tax incentives.

• In deciding on proposals to introduce new technologies (colonizing Mars) or to curtail existing ones, some key questions arise concerning alternatives, risks, costs, and benefits. What alternative ways are there to achieve the same ends, and how do the alternatives compare to the plan being put forward? Who benefits and who suffers? What are the financial and social costs, do they change over time, and who bears them? What are the risks associated with using (or not using) the new technology, how serious are they, and who is in jeopardy? What human, material, and energy resources will be needed to build, install, operate, maintain, and replace the new technology, and where will they come from? How will the new technology and its waste products be disposed of and at what costs?

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Technology Education
Chapter 123. Subchapter D. Exploratory, High School

(3) Scientific processes. The student uses critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions (about colonizing Mars). The student is expected to:

• (A) analyze, review, and critique scientific explanations, including hypotheses and theories, as to their strengths and weaknesses using scientific evidence and information

Analysis

Analyze reasons for and against colonizing Mars.

Synthesis

Recombine reasons for and against colonizing Mars to decide for yourself which 'side to support'.

Evaluation

Evaluation conflicting reasons. Rank these reasons. Make a decision and explain the criteria for your choice.

Conclusion

During this WebQuest you learned:

• How to use scientific methods to assess the reasons for and against major technological projects.

This WebQuest can be assessed using scientific research rubrics.

Here is a list of assessment rubrics

Go back to WebQuest: Introduction / Task / Process and Resources

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