%0 Book %A National Academy of Engineering %A National Research Council %E Pearson, Greg %E Young, A. Thomas %T Technically Speaking: Why All Americans Need to Know More About Technology %@ 978-0-309-08262-4 %D 2002 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10250/technically-speaking-why-all-americans-need-to-know-more-about %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10250/technically-speaking-why-all-americans-need-to-know-more-about %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Health and Medicine %K Engineering and Technology %P 170 %X Cell phones . . . airbags . . . genetically modified food . . . the Internet. These are all emblems of modern life. You might ask what we would do without them. But an even more interesting question might be what would we do if we had to actually explain how they worked? The United States is riding a whirlwind of technological change. To be sure, there have been periods, such as the late 1800s, when new inventions appeared in society at a comparable rate. But the pace of change today, and its social, economic, and other impacts, are as significant and far reaching as at any other time in history. And it seems that the faster we embrace new technologies, the less we’re able to understand them. What is the long-term effect of this galloping technological revolution? In today’s new world, it is nothing less than a matter of responsible citizenship to grasp the nature and implications of technology. Technically Speaking 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 book goes on to explore the context of technological literacy—the social, historical, political, and educational environments. This readable overview highlights specific issues of concern: the state of technological studies in K-12 schools, the reach of the Internet into our homes and lives, and the crucial role of technology in today’s economy and workforce. Three case studies of current issues—car airbags, genetically modified foods, and the California energy crisis—illustrate why ordinary citizens need to understand technology to make responsible decisions. This fascinating book from the National Academy of Engineering is enjoyable to read and filled with contemporary examples. It will be important to anyone interested in understanding how the world around them works. %0 Book %A National Academy of Engineering %T Engineering Studies at Tribal Colleges and Universities %@ 978-0-309-10127-1 %D 2006 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11582/engineering-studies-at-tribal-colleges-and-universities %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11582/engineering-studies-at-tribal-colleges-and-universities %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Education %K Engineering and Technology %P 71 %0 Book %A National Academy of Engineering %A National Academy of Engineering %T Memorial Tributes: Volume 14 %@ 978-0-309-15218-1 %D 2011 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12884/memorial-tributes-volume-14 %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/12884/memorial-tributes-volume-14 %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Biography and Autobiography %P 380 %X This is the fourteenth volume in the series of Memorial Tributes compiled by the National Academy of Engineering as a personal remembrance of the lives and outstanding achievements of its members and foreign associates. These volumes are intended to stand as an enduring record of the many contributions of engineers and engineering to the benefit of humankind. In most cases, the authors of the tributes are contemporaries or colleagues who had personal knowledge of the interests and the engineering accomplishments of the deceased. %0 Book %A National Academy of Sciences %A National Academy of Engineering %A Institute of Medicine %T Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future %@ 978-0-309-18758-9 %D 2007 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11463/rising-above-the-gathering-storm-energizing-and-employing-america-for %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11463/rising-above-the-gathering-storm-energizing-and-employing-america-for %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Industry and Labor %K Education %K Engineering and Technology %K Policy for Science and Technology %P 590 %X In a world where advanced knowledge is widespread and low-cost labor is readily available, U.S. advantages in the marketplace and in science and technology have begun to erode. A comprehensive and coordinated federal effort is urgently needed to bolster U.S. competitiveness and pre-eminence in these areas. This congressionally requested report by a pre-eminent committee makes four recommendations along with 20 implementation actions that federal policy-makers should take to create high-quality jobs and focus new science and technology efforts on meeting the nation's needs, especially in the area of clean, affordable energy: 1) Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 mathematics and science education; 2) Sustain and strengthen the nation's commitment to long-term basic research; 3) Develop, recruit, and retain top students, scientists, and engineers from both the U.S. and abroad; and 4) Ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world for innovation. Some actions will involve changing existing laws, while others will require financial support that would come from reallocating existing budgets or increasing them. Rising Above the Gathering Storm will be of great interest to federal and state government agencies, educators and schools, public decision makers, research sponsors, regulatory analysts, and scholars. %0 Book %A National Academy of Engineering %A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine %T Building America's Skilled Technical Workforce %@ 978-0-309-44006-6 %D 2017 %U https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23472/building-americas-skilled-technical-workforce %> https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/23472/building-americas-skilled-technical-workforce %I The National Academies Press %C Washington, DC %G English %K Industry and Labor %P 258 %X Skilled technical occupations—defined as occupations that require a high level of knowledge in a technical domain but do not require a bachelor’s degree for entry—are a key component of the U.S. economy. In response to globalization and advances in science and technology, American firms are demanding workers with greater proficiency in literacy and numeracy, as well as strong interpersonal, technical, and problem-solving skills. However, employer surveys and industry and government reports have raised concerns that the nation may not have an adequate supply of skilled technical workers to achieve its competitiveness and economic growth objectives. In response to the broader need for policy information and advice, Building America’s Skilled Technical Workforce examines the coverage, effectiveness, flexibility, and coordination of the policies and various programs that prepare Americans for skilled technical jobs. This report provides action-oriented recommendations for improving the American system of technical education, training, and certification.