Florida A&M University Technology Education Program Philosophy
An Agent of Change
The Technology Education Program is a teacher education program within the College of Education and the Department of Secondary Education that produces Technology Education Teachers. These educators will be able to teach Technology Education courses at 6-12 grade levels in either high schools or middle schools. In the State of Florida, Technology Education falls under the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) cluster within Workforce Education through the Florida Department of Education. Additionally, Studies from the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association and the Florida Technology and Engineering Education Association indicate Technology Education is considered a “Critical Shortage” area within the State of Florida as well as Nationally.
Because technology is ever changing, The FAMU Technology Education curriculum not only reflects the pedagogical and professional aspects all teachers must possess, but the technological aspects as well. These include rigorous instruction in technological areas such as Bio and Medical Technologies, Construction, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Electronics, Energy and Power, Information Technologies and Transportation. Within these constructs are a plethora of sub-technologies. For example, Energy and Power technologies can include sub-technologies from automobile engines to green energy sources such as solar and wind energy. All activities are tied into mathematics and science principles through instruction as well as engineering design.
The Technology Education Program (formerly Industrial Arts) has essentially been dormant at FAMU for the past 5 years. Credentialed Faculty was hired in August of 2008. Since that time, the program curriculum has been updated to reflect current State and National standards and is in the process of being certified by the Florida DOE at the undergraduate level.
Finally, The overarching goal for Technology Education is to make all citizens technologically literate. This can be accomplished through technology education alone, but also by integrating math, science and engineering principles into Technology Education programs. This is being done not only in the State of Florida, but nationally as well. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiative is being researched at large research institutions throughout the nation. Additionally it is being utilized in the State of Florida. Technology Education Programs in the State of Florida fall under the STEM cluster.
The overarching goals of Technology Education in post-secondary schools are to produce certified Technology Education teachers that are equipped with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to be effective educators and leaders.Students who graduate from the Florida A&M Technology Education Program will be creative problem-solvers, critical thinkers, knowledgeable in standards-based teaching, learning and assessment, and reflective practitioners that can not only train and educate students, but are lifelong learners as well.
Technology Education Programs in the middle and high schools across the country are sorely underrepresented in terms teachers and students of diverse cultures both male and female. The FAMU Technology Education Program is committed to being
“an agent of change” in this regard.
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