7th grade Technology Education


Mr. Lopez

Hello... My name is Greg Lopez I have been the 7th grade Technology instructor for the past eight years, I team teach with Pam Balridge the science teacher. Before coming to the Middle School I taught Elementary PE for 13 yrs. My wife teaches 1st grade in the district, I have 3 daughters. During the 2003-2004 school year the 7th grade Technology Lab received a major updrade. Ten out of twelve module workstations were installed with new Synergistic module equipment. During the 2004-2005 school year we moved into a new building... Life is good!!!



Welcome to Technology Education !!!

Technology Education is an integrating discipline that provides students with an opportunity to study the human-made world and to develop technological literacy as part of their fundamental education. Through design, build and test activities, students model solutions to real world problems and develop an understanding of technology of the past, present and future. Technology education is much more than just knowledge about computers and their application. Technology education programs engage learners in critical thinking as they design and develop products, systems and environments to solve practical problems.

 

Who gets to take Science & Technology??? Every student in 6th, 7th and 8th grade gets to take Science & Technolgy. The students are in class for 55 minutes per day everyday, Science & Technology is a core class. In 6th grade the students go to 3 day missions, in 7th grade the students are in 7 day modules and in 8th grade there is a combination of 7 day modules and Science explorations.

 

Philosophy

Pittsburg Community Middle School Technology Education programs are designed to prepare students to be knowledgeable about technology - its evolution, system, technologies, utilization and social and cultural significance.

Mission

Our mission is to assist in the development of a technologically literate citizen.

Is it Science or Technology?

Science
Technology
What do I observe?
What is its' nature?
What if ????
What technology can I use to....
Better understand Science ?
 How does this work ?
How can this be done ?
How can this be done better ?
What science can I use to?
Better develop & use Technology


What's so special about Modules?

Our mission is to try to help students learn as much as they can about the technology that touches their lives. They need to start to think about career choices and the technology that will be needed in that career.
The main thing that the successful student will take with them into the future, is an attitude that "I can find that answer which will help me do that job". Our lab has the necessary technology to really help the kids and their teacher, understand and explain how it works and how it makes our lives better, we hope.
* Modules are self-contained areas of investigation and learning within the classroom. Students work with a partner and cooperatively do a series of planned activities related to a particular technology.

* The fact that you are able to read this from anywhere in the world demonstrates the profound implications for communications and the importance of understanding technology.

* We need to train the next generation to make wise choices about technology so they can not only survive change but lead in the creation of change.

* Tech Ed gives the kids a place to see where they can apply what they learned in math, science, Spanish, art and all the other curricular areas.

* The students will look back in the year 2020 and judge how we prepared the cybrarian, artist, visionary, infonaut and engineer of the future. We don't even know the job titles that will be available to them then.

 

7th Grade Technology Modules

• Practical Skills - Students learn to identify common tools and their uses. They study the history of the measuring system, repair faulty systems and follow directions in assembling a prefabricated furniture.

• Rocketry - Students learn about the development of rocketry and the U S A space program and its history. Students construct and launch a Model rocket.

• Flight - Students learn the principles of flight. Design and test a wing, and use flight Simulator Software.

• Small Gas Engine - Students in this module learn the four stroke operating principal of a small gas motor. Students assemble and start a 5 HP gas engine.

• Light & Lasers - Students explore various aspects of light and lasers. Students use a non-laser light experiments that use lenses, prisms, filters, and intensity meters.

• Tower Construction - Students use math, physics and problem solving skills. The students are given the challenge to build a balsa wood tower that weighs no more than 18 grams.

• Digital Design - Students are introduced to the principles of design that lead to effective visual communication. the students use software to make newsletter, t-shirt design, letterhead and a business card.

• Research & Presentation - Students learn how to take notes and use resources in researching a topic. This topic will be used to make a power point presentation.

• Music & Sound - Students learn music history and explore the creation of music. They apply their skills to create rhythms on an electric drum pad and melodies on an electronic keyboard.

• Video Production - Students examine the history of electric mass communication as it applies to television, movies, and broadcasting and its role in today's society.

• Simple Machines - Students investigate relationships among forces, work, and energy by using the scientific method of problem solving.

• Meteorology - Students record, chart and make daily weather observations & predictions. The students will also learn about weather systems.

 

National Technology Standards

The Nature of Technology

Standard 1: Students will develop an understanding of the characteristics and scope of technology.
Standard 2: Students will develop an understanding of the core concepts of technology.
Standard 3: Students will develop an understanding of the relationships among technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
Technology and Society
Standard 4: Students will develop an understanding of the cultural, social, economic, and political effects of technology.
Standard 5: Students will develop an understanding of the effects of technology on the environment.
Standard 6: Students will develop an understanding of the role of society in the development and use of technology.
Standard 7: Students will develop an understanding of the influence of technology on history.

Design

Standard 8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of design.
Standard 9: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design.
Standard 10: Students will develop an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.
Abilities for a Technological World
Standard 11: Students will develop abilities to apply the design process.
Standard 12: Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.
Standard 13: Students will develop abilities to assess the impact of products and systems.

The Designed World

Standard 14: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use medical technologies.
Standard 15: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use agricultural and related biotechnologies.
Standard 16: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use energy and power technologies.
Standard 17: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use information and communication technologies.
Standard 18: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use transportation technologies.
Standard 19: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use manufacturing technologies.
Standard 20: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use construction technologies.