The purpose of this lesson is to familiarize students with the role of technology and inventions throughout history. It will also show students how inventions have impacted human life today. The accidental nature of discovery will also be presented. This lesson serves basis for the entire course.

Lesson Objectives:

1. The student will be able to define technology.

2. The student will be able to analyze the role at least one invention had on human society.

3. The student will be able to discuss the accidental nature of discovery and relate at least one series of connections pertaining to the accidental nature of discovery.

Materials: Video: Bill Nye the Science Guy: Inventions

Video: Connections by James Burke (Any one episode will do)

Scientific American Issues before 4/01

Microsoft Powerpoint or Corel Presentations

Lesson Activities

Lesson Activity #1 (Introduction): Question and answer session with students about technology and inventions.

Supporting Web Information: Technology Framework

This site gives the role of technology as it relates to history and human development as well as a link to a timeline of major inventions since the beginning of history.

Lesson Activity #2: Videos: Bill Nye the Science Guy: Inventions

Connections by James Burke –> Students will follow mapping of connections and write them down to reinforce each connection and the connection process used by James Burke.

Lesson Activity #3:

Development of own connections/discoveries into a presentation–explaining each invention/discovery and its impact on human society. Articles written by James Burke which the students can get out of Scientific American will be used as a foundation for the presentation. The presentation will be a multimedia presentation done in MicroSoft Powerpoint (mainly done like a web site). The presentation rubric is as follows:

The presentation must contain:

A title page with credits

A homepage containing all the connections

Each connection on the homepage should be a link to corresponding page

The homepage should be accessible from all other pages

A help page explaining the features of the presentation

The help page should be accessible from all other pages

Navigation through presentation by buttons or hyperlinks

Each connection page should contain an animation, sound and at least one picture

Transitions between pages

Each connection page should explain the connection and the impact of the discovery/invention/idea

Quit at any time

The last connection should link to the first

Incorporating video will count as extra credit

Lesson Activity #4 (Wrap-Up):

Students will view each others presentations.

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Lawrence Capozzelli

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