This course emphasizes technology assessment
and decision-making. In the context of commercial
systems, students learn about simulations, quantitative modeling, and
computer modeling used to support
decision-making. Complex decisions involving open-ended problems are
analyzed through specific
examples.
Dr. Stanionis has suggested the following Science for All Americans
links:
Chapter 1: THE NATURE OF SCIENCE
(A) The Scientific World View
(B) Scientific Inquiry
(C) The Scientific Enterprise
Chapter 3: THE NATURE OF TECHNOLOGY
(A) Technology and Science
(B) Design and Systems
(C) Issues in Technology
Chapter 4: THE PHYSICAL SETTING
(A) The Universe
(B) The Earth
(C) Processes that Shape the Earth
(D) Structure of Matter
(E) Energy Transformations
(F) Motion
(G) Forces of Nature
Chapter 7: HUMAN SOCIETY
(A) Cultural Effects on Behavior
(B) Group Behavior
(C) Social Change
(D) Social Trade-Offs
(E) Political and Economic Systems
(F) Social Conflict
(G) Global Interdependence
Chapter 8: THE DESIGNED WORLD
(A) Agriculture
(B) Materials and Manufacturing
(C) Energy Sources and Use
(D) Communication
(E) Information Processing
(F) Health Technology
Chapter 9: THE MATHEMATICAL WORLD
(A) Numbers
(B) Symbolic Relationships
(C) Shapes
(D) Uncertainty
(E) Reasoning
Chapter 10: HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES
(A) Displacing the Earth from the Center of the Universe
(B) Uniting the Heavens and Earth
(C) Relating Matter & Energy and Time & Space
(D) Extending Time
(E) Moving the Continents
(F) Understanding Fire
(G) Splitting the Atom
(H) Explaining the Diversity of Life
(I) Discovering Germs
(J) Harnessing Power
Chapter 11: COMMON THEMES
(A) Systems
(B) Models
(C) Constancy and Change
(D) Scale
Chapter 12: HABITS OF MIND
(A) Values and Attitudes
(B) Computation and Estimation
(C) Manipulation and Observation
(D) Communication Skills
(E) Critical-Response Skills