Table of Contents # Important Pages
# Overview
# The Modules
# Another example: electric lighting
# More Details
# Weekly Calendar & Requirements
# Coda
# Possible topics include:
# Important Pages (again)
Important Pages
Also see the following important pages: These are available on most of the site in the left-margin menu.Overview
Students will be divided into groups of (about) four. They will then choose a specific technological and scientific topic to explore. See the end for possible topics.Once the topic has been determined, the group will define the basic problem. Each person in the group will be responsible for researching and writing up one entire module in addition to helping the definition and introduction to the report (Module I).
These five modules will then be combined into a single report. Thus, each module should fit in with the surrounding modules. Written reports are due Week 9.
Group oral presentations are due Week 10. The exact format of this presentation will be the choice of the individual group. Members of each group will receive TWO GRADES: one on their individual module, and one based on the quality of the entire report and final presentation.
The Modules
I. Module 1: Definition of the problem
Example: flying as a form of mass transportation.Brief explanation of why the problem is important. This will eventually become the introduction to the project. This module is the responsibility of the entire small group.
II. Module 2: The history of early solutions
Example: balloons, gliders, blimps, airplanes, helicopters, rockets.Under what circumstances did these early solutions come about? Who paid for their development? Who benefited? Who suffered? What were the technical strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of each? Writing this up is the responsibility of one person.
III. Module 3: What social, political, and technical forces caused one technology, or one primary design, to become dominant?
Examples: military interest, media enthusiasm or hostility, public triumphs or disasters--like the Hindenburg!Again, under what circumstances did this happen? Who paid for the development? Who benefited? Who suffered? What were the technical strengths, weaknesses, and limitations? Writing this up is the responsibility of one person.
IV. Module 4: What competing solutions either failed or became "niche markets"? What social, political, and technical forces caused this to happen?
Example: Blimps failed; helicopters/gliders became niche markets.Writing this up is the responsibility of one person.
V. Module 5: What are the challenges the dominant technology currently faces?
Examples: High fixed costs, fuel expense, safety, security, etc.Are there any technologies that could replace the dominant one? (Trains, small air planes, etc.) How is the dominant technology "fighting back"? Finally, what does the future hold? (A return to trains? Smaller airlines? Faster planes--but then why haven't supersonic aircraft caught on? etc.) Writing this up is the responsibility of one person.
Another example: electric lighting
I. Problem: people cannot see in the dark. Brief explanation of why this is significant.
II. Early solutions: camp fires, candles, oil lamps, kerosene, gas lights, etc.
III. Dominant technologies to emerge: incandescent and fluorescent alternating current bulbs.
IV. Failed or niche alternative technologies: arc lamps, direct current lights.
V. New directions: LED lights--are they serious contenders?
More Details
Length & Format
Module I, the introductory material, may be 1 to 5 pages long. Each of the other modules should be 8 to 20 pages long. Reports must be typed on white paper with black ink. They should be double spaced, and use 12 point font. Acceptable fonts are Times Roman (and similar variants), Bookman, Arial, or similar. Final reports should be packaged attractively and have a professional appearance.Citations, Plagiarism
EACH MODULE MUST CONTAIN A LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES. PICTURES, GRAPHS, AND TABLES MUST BE CITED CORRECTLY AS WELL. And of course, all information must be in your own words. Reasonable amounts of direct quotes are acceptable as long as they are formatted correctly and are correctly cited. Under no circumstances is large-scale copying or cutting and pasting allowed. The penalty for such an action (plagiarism) is so dreadful as to be unspeakable!Weekly Calendar & Requirements
Here are the full requirements for the project:Week 1: Nothing!
Week 2: Be assigned to a group. The group will then choose the topic. Nothing written is due.
Week 3: Pre-proposal due. The pre-proposal is designed to help the students in the group to begin to shape their ideas and to make sure that their over-all plan is reasonable in size and scope. One paragraph is written up and submitted by the entire group. The topic should be stated in the form of a question and the module questions should be determined. Finally, there should be a list of reasons that explain why the project is worthwhile.
Week 4: The proposal is a formal document that lays out in detail the research to be undertaken and the reasons why the work is worthwhile. It includes a schedule and work plan, and shows which student will be responsible for each particular module. The goal here is to provide convincing evidence that the group as a whole is on track, and that each individual is taking responsibility for their module. The proposal should provide a thorough background of the technical questions involved; however, it should also demonstrate an awareness of social, legal, ethical, and political dimensions as well. The entire proposal should be four to six pages long, with about one page dedicated to describing each of the five modules.
Week 5: Each group provides a short (up to 5 min per person)verbal overview of the proposal to the class. They should explain the topic, their methodology, and the expected outcome. One person from the group may do it, or several may contribute. Visual aids may be used. Note that there should be an understudy available to do the presentation in case the main person is sick or forgets something!
Week 6: Individual outlines are due. Each person will turn in an outline showing all expected headings and sub-headings within their module. The goal here is to get each person to think through the structure and content of the final report, and to see the logical links between their subtopics. Often, this step will show where more research is needed and to show where the order of the parts need to be rearranged. Also, it helps the person get started on writing the final report!
Week 7: Group outline is due. This should basically be a compilation the outlines of the four individual modules plus the introductory module. Again, this is intended to make sure everything fits together logically and to guarantee that everybody is on the same page.
Week 8: Nothing. Work on the writing!
Week 9: Entire written project is due!
Week 10: Group presentations are due! Each group must present a formal presentation that highlights the topic and goes into detail about the methodology employed and the results obtained. Students are expected to use appropriate visual aids effectively to present their evidence and to speak both vigorously and clearly. The exact format of the talk is up to the group. Again, there should be a backup person available to do the presentation in case the main person is sick or forgets their notes!
Coda
Requirements for this project are loosely based on the requirements for the senior thesis project of the University of Virginia's Division of Technology, Culture, and Communication. See timelineproposal
Underlying predispositions:
Power, individualism, PRIVACY, speed, quality, expense
Possible topics include:
Bionics (choose one: eyes, ears, or limbs).
Organ transplantation/replacement technologies.
Development of a common household appliances and tools: clocks, watches, stoves, clocks, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, television sets, air conditioners, heat pumps, microwave ovens.
The development of color photography (Autochrome, Kodachrome/K-process, Ektachrome/E-process, etc.).
The rise and fall of instant photography (Polaroid, etc.).
Frozen and/or freeze drying food technology.
Breakfast cereals (historic breakfast foods vs. cereals vs. sweet cereals)
Networking (Ethernet vs. token ring, Novel IPX vs. NetBEUI vs. TCP/IP).
Telephones (telegraph vs. telephones vs. cell phones)
Cell phone technology (ground vs. space based, GSM vs. CDMA vs. TDMA vs. 3G)
Operating systems (MSFT vs. Linux vs. OSX; local CPU-centric vs. "thin client"/network centric).
Computer printer technology.
Computer browser technology.
Automobiles (gasoline vs. steam vs. electric)
Electricity production (grid vs. local vs. home-based; fossil vs. nuclear vs. "alternative")
Medical imaging (X-rays vs. MRI vs. PET, etc.)
Birth control technologies (condom vs. pills vs. implants; male vs. female usage)
Video recording technology (Betamax vs. VHS vs. DVD vs. old videodisk)
Sound recording technology (vinyl records vs. cassette vs. CD vs. DVD)
Artificial sweeteners (sugar vs. saccharine vs. aspartame vs. sucralose)
Advanced weapons systems (the SDI/"Star Wars" system) vs. convention ballistic missiles.
Data-mining in the interest of national security (DARPA's Terrorism Information Awareness system and similar plans).
Advertising on the Web--the race between increasingly aggressive ads (annoying banners, pop-ups that take over you computer, etc. vs. countermeasures such as popup blockers and "AdAware" programs)