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Categories: technology, education

THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES

The National Academy of Engineering

National Research Council

Committee on Technological Literacy

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Congressional Briefing

Tuesday, March 12, 2002 -- 1:00 p.m.

2318 Rayburn House Office Bldg.

on

Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology

by

A. Thomas Young, Executive Vice President, Lockheed Martin Corporation (retired), North Potomac, Maryland, and Chair, Committee on Technological Literacy, The National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council, The National Academies

Although technology plays an increasingly large role in society today, most citizens have a poor understanding of how even the most everyday technological innovations work. "Technically Speaking," a new report from the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council, provides a blueprint for bringing us all up to speed on the role of technology in our society, including understanding such distinctions as technology versus science and technological literacy versus technical competence. It clearly and decisively explains what it means to be a technologically-literate citizen. The report goes on to explore the context of technological literacy—the social, historical, political, and educational environments.

This briefing was for members of Congress and congressional staff only. The report was released to the public on January 17, 2002, and can be found, in its entirety, on the National Academy Press Web site.