Module Project 3.1 - Technopoly: Ch.

3-4

Cavitt Bradley, Eric Neal, Meredith Hall

Learning Objectives/Outcomes:
SWBAT: Analyze the differences between a tool-using culture, a technocracy, and a technopoly.
SWBAT: Share advantages and disadvantages of these cultures.
SWBAT: Simulate and discuss the effects different types of societies have on learning.
SWBAT: Discuss the pros and cons of our information driven world and the glutton of
information available.
Class Activities:
Activity 1: Technology Poll: poll students in class about their frequency of using technology
(particularly cell phones). Students will be shown statistics about the uses of cell phones in
America. Discussion will follow. This Discussion will be around 10 minutes.
Link: https://goo.gl/forms/dQpHEq1kJutgLY5m1
Sequence:
1. Begin class by asking students how often they check their cell phones throughout
the day. Have every student click on the link above and submit their answer:
a. Every few minutes
b. Few times a hour
c. Once a hour
d. Few times a day
2. Initial Discussion
a. Point out that the classs frequency of use distribution resembles
that found in the entire population
b. Give important statistics from Gallup Poll regarding frequency of
cell phone use in American society
c. Questions
i.
What do you think about this?
ii.
Is the popularity and dependence on cell phones a
good thing?
iii.
What would Postman say about this?
3. Change the conditions by now presenting negative statistical information about
cell phone usage:
a. Number of people that daily use phones while driving and the
number deaths per year that results
b. Percentage of cell phone dependent population that had to cancel
their service at some point because they couldnt afford it - pointing out that the
individuals using cell phones the most come from the population that financially
cant afford them
i.
Highlights a breakdown in basic social structure
when people care more about the latest phone than they do making sure

they have enough money for food that month.

c. Discussion
i.
What would Postman say about this?
ii.
Does knowing this change your opinion regarding
cell phones?
iii.
Would you say our dependency on cell phones is a
good indication that we are in a technopoly?
4. Introduction to Postmans philosophy regarding fanaticism - overly positive or
negative views. Tie his philosophy into his theory regarding technology in society. Use
the introduction to set up the later discussion of the various types of societies.
Possible Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think they are a positive aspect of our society?
2. Are there negative aspects?
3. Do we over rely on technology
4. In our lifetime, what terminology has been added into our culture?
5. How has our education system today become more of a
technopoly?
6. What values are we losing?
Activity 2: Technology Cultures Simulation: Divide the class into 3 groups of students. Assign
each group a different technology culture type (Tool based, technocracy, or technopoly). Begin
by asking the class what education would look like in these cultures. After up to 5 minutes of
discussion, explain the activity. Each group will attempt to learn how to tie a tie in 10 minutes.
The groups will be able to use the relevant technologies and social values of their culture. The
tool based society will be able to discuss and demonstrate, the technocracy can look at the given
online diagram or search for other explanations online (but NO videos), the technopoly can use
videos or diagrams, but they cannot talk to each other. We will discuss the outcomes, successes,
and frustrations of the activity and how it relates to the cultures discussed in the book as well as
their effect on education. Link: http://www.tie-a-tie.net/windsor/
Possible Discussion Questions:
1. What would education be like in these cultures?
2. What are the pros of these cultures relationships with technology?
3. What are the cons of these cultures relationships with technology?
4. How do we see these effects play out in education today?

Activity 3: Two Truths and a Lie: Students will be given 3 statements at a time from which one
is false. Students will attempt to identify which statement is false. Discussion will follow.
Two Truths and a Lie
Round 1:
Maine is the closest state to Africa.

-Shark pregnancies can last up to 6 years (4).

Russia has a larger surface area than Pluto
Round 2:
-Australia will deny people residency visas if they have too high of a BMI, and there are cases
where people have been rejected because of their weight.(New Zealand)
Home Alone was released closer to the moon landing than to today.
Mr. Cleans full name is Veritably Clean.
Round 3:
A teaspoonful of neutron star would weigh 6 billion tons.
-Green eyes are only naturally present in 5% of the earths population. (2%)
Betty White is older than sliced bread.
Round 4:
-Left Handed people are 7 times more likely to die of an accident that Right Handed people (5).
The average person accidentally eats 430 bugs each year of their life.
Not once in the Humpty Dumpty nursery rhyme does it mention that hes an egg.
Possible Discussion Questions:
1. What makes it so difficult to determine what is a truth and a lie?
2. In todays society, we often are faced with the challenges of having
a lack of context and overload of information. How do we cope with these issues
as a society?
Technology: Google Poll: Google forms allows users to create simple surveys and
questionnaires. It collects the responses quickly and puts them into charts as well. It is an
interesting alternative to the clickers used in some classes, and in this case it is more accessible.