Curriculum Problems of Computer Education in Technology Education for Lower Secondary School

Abstract

The Course of Study for Lower Secondary school revised in 1998, introduced the new area 'Information and Computer' into Technology Education. It's computer competence encompasses three domains: information science (including computer programming), computer applications (learning how to use computer programs), and general knowledge and attitudes about information society. But these subject matters should be reexamined, because they are not seemd to have enough worth teaching as universal technology education. We think that computer education in the 'Information and Computer' area should be organized forming a link in the chain of Technology Education so that its main aim is to help students explore the world of the flexible automation technology, as well as the basis of communications technology that has develloped with computer, and comprehend that manufacturing efficiency can be improved by integrating machines and equipments under computer control into a system. Students reexperience activities of designing, objectfying, and try and testing the programs for program control, as a result, they should be able to explain why computers can make automations be flexible, and to get the image of communications by computer. The course of study and teaching materials for the unit "Technology of Communications and Control" which we developed, can attain these aims and objectives of the computer education in technology education.