Technology as a new learning area in the South African school curriculum: a critical reflection

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This thesis investigates the implementation of Technology as alearning area in the South African school curriculum. Thisinvestigation is done within the context of three articles contained inchapters two, three and four.Article one, chapter two, investigates the readiness of educators toimplement Technology in the classroom. A survey was done bymeans of interviews and a questionnaire. The interviews andquestionnaire focused on three critical questions to determine thereadiness of educators, namely• A conceptual understanding of Technology as learning area;• The type of technology suitable for the South African curriculum;and• The extent of government support to implement Technologysuccessfully.The findings suggest that educators do have a conceptualunderstanding of Technology and that they emhasized the use oftechnology within the curriculum that suits local conditions. Itidentified the lack of government support as the biggest problemfacing the successful implementation of Technology.Article two, chapter 3, investigates Technology as part of theOutcomes- Based Curriculum 2005. It is a theoretical study thatdiscuss the relevance and purpose of Technology as learning area inthe new curriculum.It finds that the position of Technology as learning area in thecurriculum is unequivocal. It proved that there is a strong linkbetween technological innovation, economic growth and socialdevelopment. It suggest, therefor, that Technology is a catalyst foreconomic growth and social development.Article three, chapter four, invetsigates how Technical Drawing assubject from the old dispensation can be reconciled with Technologyas a learning area.It finds that Technical Drawing as a graphical language can beapplied as an effective tool of communication in the different stagesof the Technological Process. It suggests that the old subjects canreconcile with the learning areas in the new curriculum.These three articles, in summary, emphasize the importance andrelevance of Technology as a separate learning area in the newcurriculum. The objective, therefore, is to use Technology as acatalyst for economic growth and social development, so dearlyneeded by South Africa.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University