Technology Education - Mrs. Mullahy

Technology/Engineering here at Sawyer School is taught as suggested by the Massachusetts Dept. of Education Frameworks with an emphasis on problem solving and engineering skills required to design and prototype devices in response to a particular need. Although various aspects of technology are taught in the elementary classroom, Technology/Engineering becomes a stand alone class for students beginning in the fifth grade.

Close integration of the science and technology/engineering curricula is spelled out in the Mass. Frameworks. Here at Sawyer, we make every effort to link the two disciplines and provide technology education classes to students beginning in grade 5. In addition to regularly sharing curriculum and ideas with the school’s science teachers, I have the opportunity to team-teach science and technology with Mrs. Burgos and Mr. Johnson in Grade 5. and with Mr. Isomaki in grade 8. This allows us to draw direct connections between the two areas at the grade level when they will be addressed by MCAS.

Specifically, we are exposing students to many areas of technology through the engineering design process and creative problem solving techniques. Most activities are designed to be self paced learning activities and address the wide range of learning styles present in the classroom.

The areas of technology covered by equipment in the laboratory are:

Robotics and automation

Computer Controlled Machines – Lego Control Lab

MFA microelectronics and digital circuits

Simple and Complex Machines

Graphics and animation

Video production

Plastics technology

Construction technology – bridges and structures

Electricity and electronics

Flight and rocketry

Solar power

Aerodynamics – CO₂ powered dragsters

Biotechnology

Assessment

As technology education is very much a “hands-on” class, participation in class and effective use of classroom time is a must. Students will be assessed on the items they complete in the classroom setting. Assignment of homework will be limited to supplemental work or to work not completed during the allotted class time, as the majority of assignments require the equipment in the classroom for completion.

Classroom project work will include the building of models or projects suitable for the particular area of technology being studied. The completion of worksheets, diagrams, mechanical drawings, and presentations to class will be connected directly to the project being built. Each of these items will be graded with an assessment rubric that is shared with the students at the start of the project.

The classroom is designed to optimize the use of cooperative learning groups. Students will be assessed on their ability to work cooperatively and effectively with many different team members. Students are encouraged to return to the TechEd room during their tutorial and enrichment periods or before or after school to make up any work they have missed as a result of absences.

Additional Information

The Technology/Engineering program is supported by Minuteman Regional Technology High School. Because of this connection, I have access to a wide array of experts in many areas of technology and an equally wide range of technology related equipment. I meet on a regular basis with other Minuteman teachers that are working on technology/engineering programs at middle schools throughout the area.