Technology Education Program
300B War Memorial Hall
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0313
(540) 231-8173, (540) 231-9075 (fax)
http://TechEd.vt.edu/

Technology Education Overview Technology Education is the K-12 school subject area that strives to provide technological literacy for all. The goal is to provide all K-12 students with a fundamental understanding of our human-made (technological) world. These efforts are guided by the Standards for Technological Literacy, developed by the International Technology Education Association and strongly endorsed by the National Academy of Engineering. These national Standards for Technological Literacy identify the fundamental areas of teaching and learning that occur in K-12 Technology Education: The Nature of Technology Technology and Society Technological Design Technological Products, Systems, and Impacts The Designed World Technologies: Medical, agricultural, bio, energy, power,

information, communication, transportation, manufacturing, and construction technologies

Virginia Tech’s Technology Education Graduate Program—long recognized as one of the most outstanding Technology Education graduate programs in the US—prepares teachers, leaders, researchers, and scholars for Technology Education and related STEM education (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) professions. In late Fall 2005, the Technology Education Program began to offer its new Integrative STEM Education graduate courses and degree options (MAed, EdS, EdD, and PhD). Students enrolling in these degree options study the intersections and connections among the STEM education disciplines as well as the unique aspects of those disciplines through a series of STEM Education core classes and field experiences. Graduates of these Integrative STEM Education degree options become leaders and scholars in the STEM education fields. They typically combine a strong foundation in one of the STEM education disciplines with rare and unique understandings of new instructional approaches that prepare them to integrate content across the STEM disciplines. This unique professional preparation prepares them to be exceptional STEM education faculty, administrators, leaders, scholars, and researchers as these integrative approaches increasingly emerge in the teaching and scholarship of these disciplines. Brief History Founded in 1946, Virginia Tech’s Technology Education Program concentrated on undergraduate instruction in its early years, with new graduate degree program offerings added in 1972. In 1991, a study conducted at Utah State University ranked VT’s Technology Education doctoral program the #1 program in the US. In 1996, Virginia Tech’s undergraduate Technology Education Program became one of only 4 such programs in the US to be awarded an “Outstanding Technology Education Program” award from the Council on Technology Teacher Education. In 2005, the Technology Education Program began to offer new Integrative STEM Education graduate degree options for Technology Education and other STEM education professionals. These new graduate degree options prepare a new generation of leaders and scholars from (and for) each of the STEM education disciplines. The focus is on the integrative teaching, research, and leadership practices that will undoubtedly be a hallmark of STEM education in the 21st century. Critical Shortage of Technology Education Professionals Technology Education has long been a “critical teaching shortage area” in Virginia and most other states across the US. Each year, there are far more Technology Education positions open at all levels than there are licensed/well-qualified applicants to fill those positions. As a result, there is tremendous opportunity for Technology Education professionals throughout the K-16 continuum.