The Evolution of Technology Module consists of a comprehensive teacher guide on two teacher CD-ROMs (one for home preparation, one for in-class instruction); five student CD-ROMs (one per student team); and a class set of printed student readers (one per student).

Teacher CD-ROM

Each teacher CD-ROM is a complete curriculum for the Evolution of Technology Module. It includes:

• a brief overview of the module's content within the context of instruction
• a calendar of lessons and activities
• the detailed instructions for all lessons and activities, including learning objectives, student prerequisites, and commonly-held misconceptions
• the standards and benchmarks addressed
• science background information
• student activity sheets and directions
• assessments and answer keys
• materials lists and preparation instructions
• media:
  • 11 videos
  • the interactive Materials Database
  • the Technology Image Library, containing 72 images with descriptions.
  • a media library that contains 43 images

The organization of the teacher CD-ROM provides quick and easy access for both planning and instruction. All of the information the teacher needs for planning is on one, compact, CD-ROM. The browser format and links between components facilitate finding what is needed.

Print Materials

All materials that must be printed, such as student activity sheets, are provided both as PDF files and as MS Word files, allowing teachers to modify printed materials if desired.

Student CD-ROM

The student CD-ROM contains most of the media section from the teacher CD-ROM, with the videos, images, the interactive Materials Database, and the Technology Image Library. Additional images and videos that are not integral parts of the core instruction are also provided in an Image Library. These will be useful for students who wish to go further. A glossary of terms used in the module is included, as well as the science overview article, written by a project scientist. While the article is written primarily as a resource for the teacher, it may also be appropriate for better students.

Student Readers

The Evolution of Technology Module student reader is a soft-cover printed collection of the following seven articles:

• "Tools at the Table" by Ellen Klages, Exploring Tools, 1993
• "It's More Complicated Than That," by Coral Clark
• "Developing Technologies," by Carolyn Csongradi
• "Research: Question of the Day," by Marshall Brain
• "How Will Your Class Radio Work?," by Carolyn Csongradi, SETI Institute, 2001
• "Costs and Benefits of Diapers", by Cara Stoneburner
• "Predictions for the Future," edited by Cara Stoneburner

The articles are integral parts of the instruction and are usually assigned as homework reading for specific activities. Each student receives a reader to keep. Students reading at or near grade level should be able to read the articles independently.

Materials

The equipment and materials required for the VTT activities are those typically found in most high school science departments or readily available at modest cost, either locally or from science education suppliers. Preparation directions and lists of materials, including those that must be addressed well in advance of instruction, are repeated at the module, lesson, and activity levels of the curriculum. Please see Material Requirements for more details.

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