GENERAL CONCEPTS AND STS

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENTS

Christel Mae T. Rafols

 Activity 1.1.1
Open Inquiry

Direction: Study figure 1.1 and answer the following concept practice questions. This activity
serves as a personal assessment of students understanding on the relationship between science,
technology and society.

1. Determine the interrelatedness of science, technology, and society.

These three are related with each other since science and technology has had various effects
on society. Basic research accumulates scientific knowledge. Science and technology
advances society. It also solves social problems.

2. Will science and technology solve social problems? Give example.

Yes, through science and technology, we can solve most of society's problems, for example,

the current global pandemic which is the COVID-19. The help of life science technology at
this time of pandemic, is not limited to prevention or treatment of the disease such as in the
case of manufacturing medical supplies, diverse products for health protection, tests to detect
the virus, and critical medical equipment such as mechanical ventilators, among other items.

3. How science and technology advances the society in many directions?

Developments in science and technology are fundamentally changing the way people live,
connect, communicate and transact, with profound effects on economic development through
breakthroughs in health services, education, transportation, environment, infrastructures,
communication, livelihood and any other social aspects. These technologies have the power
to better the lives of poor people in developing countries.

4. Mention the different technologies found in figure 1.1 and state its contributions to the
society.

o Aeronautic Technology- An  aerospace  engineer contributes in this industry by creating fuel
saving wing designs, efficient navigation systems, developing power efficient in-flight
entertainment system, and more. This is a fast growing and developing field that requires a lot
of  contribution  from  aerospace  engineers.
o Environmental Technology- They offer ways of consuming which are less polluting or do so
in a sustainable manner, and often provide new ways to avoid depletion of natural resources
altogether.

o Manufacturing Technology- Manufacturing technologies  improve overall productivity,

which increases profit immensely as well. Reduction in Overall Production Time - The longer the
production  process  is - the more it is going to cost.  Manufacturing technologies  drive the
production  process  and get products out in a much more efficient manner.

o Nanotechnology Material Technology- Major benefits of nanotechnology include improved

manufacturing methods,  water  purification systems, energy systems, physical enhancement,
nanomedicine, better food production methods, nutrition and large-scale infrastructure auto-
fabrication.

o Energy Technology- Modern  environmental technology  has enabled us to capture this

naturally occurring energy and convert it into electricity or useful heat through devices such as
solar panels, wind and water turbines, which reflects a highly positive impact of  technology  on
the  environment.

o Life Science Technology- Biomedical advances have made it possible to identify and
manipulate features of living organisms in useful ways--leading to improvements in public
health, agriculture, and other areas.

o Social Infrastructure Technology- Social infrastructure plays an important role in both the
economic development of a nation and the development of society’s quality of life. Social
infrastructure enhances social wellbeing and furthers economic growth by providing basic
services and facilities which allow businesses to develop and flourish.

o Information Communication Technology- Information communications technology  (ICT)

has the power to transform  society. It plays a key role in each of the United Nations' Sustainable
Development Goals, providing the infrastructure needed to achieve them. As such, it is an
important enabler of change and ICT maturity is closely linked to economic growth.
 5. Create a diagram that would show the relatedness of science and technology in forming
up a healthy society without compromising one another.

The practical application of knowledge in

Healthy Society produces healthier individual that can science especially in a particular area in
sustain and create new knowledge, improving education, medicine is what technology is all about.
and increasing the quality of  our  lives.  Science  must
respond to societal needs and global challenges.

Life Science Technology

Healthy Society

Through the use

of  technology  in  medical  research,  scientists  ha
ve been able to examine diseases on a cellular
level and produce antibodies against them.
These vaccines against life-threatening diseases
like malaria, polio, MMR, and more prevent the
spread of disease and save thousands of lives all
around the globe.

Today, doctors and nurses use handheld devices to record patients'

real-time data and instantly update their  medical  history. This
makes more accurate and more efficient diagnoses and treatments.
Centralization of critical patient data and lab results  has  really
improved the quality of  healthcare.

Activity 1.2.1
Myths of Science

This activity serves as a personal assessment of students’ understanding on the importance

of science and technology to society.
Direction: Modified True or False: Write T if the statement is True and F if False. If your answer
is false justify your answer.

ANSWERS:
1. FALSE. The scientific method, “science” is not a belief system or similar to one, but a
procedure for investigation. It is based on evidences.
2. FALSE. There is no evidence or scientific study that men are way too smart than women.
3. TRUE. Scientists are very creative and too imaginative that they can visualize their
experiments.
4. FALSE. The scientific method makes science more objective not the scientists.
5. FALSE. When conducting research, scientists use the scientific method to collect
measurable, empirical evidence in an experiment related to a hypothesis.
But scientists rarely follow the steps of the scientific method as textbooks describe it.
6. FALSE. All experiments aren't exactly accurate.
7. FALSE. Observation is also another way to prove theories. Not just in experiments.
8. TRUE.
9. FALSE. A theory does not change into a scientific law with the accumulation of new or
better evidence.
10. FALSE. In science, ideas can never be completely proved or completely disproved.
Instead, science accepts or rejects ideas based on supporting and refuting evidence, and
may revise those conclusions if warranted by new evidence or perspectives.
 11. TRUE. Science precedes technology, but in terms of historical order, 
technology long preceded science.
12. FALSE. Science cannot solve all of our problems.
While scientific understanding can help battle things like disease, hunger, and poverty
when applied properly, it does not do so completely and automatically.

Activity 1.3.1
Open Inquiry

Direction: After reading answer the concept practice questions.

1. From the beginning of time, how does man strive to improve his way and quality of life?

The caveman discovered how to make and use tools, developed a logical sequence activities,
and evolve processes that added value to his life.

2. During the ancient times, what are the things that constitute to describe technology?

The totality of the use and application of his knowledge, skills, tools and materials.

3. Review the history of science and technology and make a timeline highlighting the
major discoveries and development in science.

HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

10 million years ago Humans make the first tools from stone, wood, antlers, and bones.
Papyrus was first manufactured in Egypt as far back as the 4TH millennium
BCE. The papyrus rolls describe the last years of building the Great Pyramid
of Giza. In the first centuries BCE and CE, papyrus scrolls gained a rival as a
2560-2550 BCE writing surface in the form of parchment, which was prepared from animal
skins. Early Christian writers soon adopted the codex form, and in the
Greco- Roman world, it became common to cut sheets from papyrus rolls to
form codices.
Early hieroglyphs date back to somewhere between 3,400 and 3,200 BCE
and continued to be used up until about 400 CE, when non-Christian
temples were closed and their monumental use was no longer
3400– 400BCE necessaryEgyptians used cursive hieroglyphs for religious literature on
papyrus and wood a formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians
that combined logographic and alphabetic elements Hieroglyphs - a
character of the ancient Egyptian writing system.
Cuneiform was in use for more than three millennia, through several stages
of development, one of the earliest systems of writing, distinguished by its
34th century BC – 2nd century CE
wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, made by means of a blunt stylus ( tool
for writing).
 Public speaking, persuasive rhetoric, drama, and philosophy Rhetoric - an
art that aims to improve the capability of writers or speakers to inform,
Ancient Greece, 600 BC most likely to persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific
situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice,
rhetoric has played a central role in the European tradition.
The Etruscan alphabet was in turn adopted and further modified by the
ancient Romans to write the Latin language. The Etruscans who ruled early
Rome adopted and modified the Cumaean Greek alphabet. The Greek
Ancient Rome, 7th century BC
alphabet has descended from the Phoenician abjad while the Phoenician
alphabet is derived from Egyptian hieroglyphics Roman alphabet, is a
writing system originally used to write the Latin Language.
THE PRINTING PRESS was invented in the Holy Roman Empire by the
German Johannes Gutenberg around 1440. One of the most influential
1440
events in the second millennium revolutionizing the way people conceive
and describe the world they live in, and ushering in the period of modernity
The Printing Revolution occurred when the spread of the printing press
1518-1524 facilitated the wide circulation of information and ideas, acting as an "agent
of change" through the societies that it reached
FRANCIS BACON (1561–1626) - contributed to the field in his writings. On
matters of style, he proposed that the style conform to the subject matter
and to the audience, that simple words be employed whenever possible,
17th Century BC and that the style should be agreeable. One of the concerns of the age was to
find a suitable style for the discussion of scientific topics, which needed
above all a clear exposition of facts and arguments, rather than the ornate
style favored at the time.
HEALTH Penicillin – Alexander Fleming - Friday, September 28, 1928 -
Penicillium notatum - The challenge of mass- producing this drug was
1928
daunting. On March 14, 1942, the first patient was treated for streptococcal
septicemia with US-made penicillin produced by Merck & Co
By 1985, the global Internet began to proliferate in Europe. Tim Berners-
1985 Lee's vision of a global hyperlinked information system became a possibility
by the second half of the 1980s (“mesh”).
A hypertext enthusiast, Robert Cailliau, published a more formal proposal
on 12 November 1990 to build a "Hypertext project" called
1990 "WorldWideWeb" as a "web" of "hypertext documents" to be viewed by
browsers using a client-server architecture MODERN WORLD – WORLD
WIDE WEB.

Instruction: Answer the following questions:

1. As a Science, Technology and Society student, how will you uphold your Theresian
identity considering the many influences technology has brought to the society you live
in?
 Technology plays an important role in society today. We are living in an era where technological
advances are common. The internet and cell phones are some examples. However, with technological
advances, there’s a downside to it all. As a Theresian who advocates peace as a way of life with its
simplicity, I will simply make use of the available resources of technology in my environment especially if
it will help me excel in school but not to the point that I will abuse it and let technology dominate my life.

2. As a Science, Technology and Society student, how can you be a guardian of society?
Cite concrete examples.

These responsibilities of being a good role model alone make me become a guardian on my own and in
my society as a whole. For example in today's pandemic, social media is the instrument of
communication in which almost everyone in the world uses it. As a Science, Technology and Society
student, social media should be used appropriately and not in obscenity so that other young people can
emulate it so that they will be responsible in using social media. Another concrete example is wearing a
mask. With so many inventions and ways to eradicate and prevent the spread of the virus, as a role
model, I’m going to value my commitments to myself and to others by strictly following the health
protocols for the safety of my society.

SYNTHESIS

1. Discuss relationship between science and technology and society

Basic research accumulates scientific knowledge. Science and technology advances society. It also
solves social problems. Healthy relationship between Science, Technology and Society is the main reason
for development of any country. Since science  is the study of the natural world by collecting data through
a systematic process called the  scientific  method. And  technology  is where we apply  science  to create
devices that can solve problems and do tasks.  The practical application of knowledge in science especially
in a particular area is what technology is all about. It refers tools and machines that may be used to solve
real-world problems. It is a far-reaching term that may include simple tools, such as a crowbar or
wooden spoon, or more complex machines, such as a space station or particle accelerator.
Technology  is literally the application of  science. So, it really is impossible to separate the two.

Scientific and technological progress has had various effects on society. These effects have not
been limited to the improvement of society’s material wealth, but have also extended to altering the
paradigms under which society operates. Science and technology have formed the foundations for
progress in society, and have helped to make people’s lives more materially prosperous. With various
scientific advances, more new modernized technology will be discovered to improve the lifestyle of the
people in the society.

2. Mention the importance of studying science, technology and society

 Studies  of  technology  and  science  provides students with insight into how different processes of
knowledge are initiated and progressed, and how innovative  the technological  processes are developed,
employed and increase in  importance. There are plenty of reasons why studying Science and Technology
is important.
First and foremost, it is very important to study STS because we can learn many things aside
from its very helpful use in the society. We will come to realize that Science and Technology will have a
great impact into our lives that can help us grow and prosper as a human in a society. Studying it will
make our life easier. When  scientific  discoveries are combined with  technological  developments, they
have resulted in the machines which are  making our lives easy  to manage. From household appliances to
cars and planes, all are the result of  science.  Science  has  made  it possible for farmers to save their crops
from pests and other problems. It helps us organize our daily activities. Works can be done easier through
high-tech  machines and equipment. It  gives  less  work  for humans and job can be done faster. It makes
human  to  feel comfortable and easy  to  live. It helps us to communicate more easily with others.
Technology  and  communication  are not mutually exclusive. In the rise of
digital  communication,  technology  can actually  help communication  skills because it allows people to
learn written  communication  to varying audiences. Faster communication is made possible through
mobile phones and the Internet. New  technology  impacts our daily  lives  in every field, from the cars, cell
phones, computers and networks and power. Studying science and technology also helps us to learn more
and understand more other cultures and societies.
Science helps us to understand how things are. Historically and culture passed down
unquestioned shared beliefs about things that no one understood - but everyone knew existed.

3. Outline the historical timeline of science and technology during the ancient times

HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 10 million years Humans make the first tools from stone, wood, antlers, and bones.
 2560-2550 BCE The PAPYRUS
 3400– 400BCE HIEROGLYPHS
 34th century BC – 2nd CUNEIFORM
century CE
 Ancient Greece, 600 RHETORIC
BC
 17th Century BC FRANCIS BACON (1561–1626) - contributed to the field in his writings.
 Ancient Rome, 7th ROMAN ALPHABET
century BC
 1440 THE PRINTING PRESS
 1518-1524 THE PRINTING REVOLUTION

 1928 PENICILLIN
 1985 By 1985, the global Internet began to proliferate in Europe. Tim Berners-Lee's vision of a
global hyperlinked information system became a possibility by the second half of the
1980s (“mesh”).
 1990 MODERN WORLD – WORLD WIDE WEB
 4. Critique on the different inventions and discoveries that change the world over the
course of history

There are many inventions and discoveries that changed the world from time to time. We
couldn’t change the fact that these inventions made by brilliant minds happens to have a great impact in
today’s society. Though there are many inventions that was being discovered by scientist themselves,
there are surely a lot of invented things that people never knew who invented it but still being used up to
these days and change the world completely upside down. This innovation was the one that ignited the
Age of Discovery and also enabled interaction between previously isolated populations around the world.
The printing press had an amazing impact for people all around the world, because information
could be recorded and spread around the world much faster than before. It also made books far more
affordable to middle class people. Since the telephone was invented, the telephone has been regarded as one
of the most useful things to have in your home. It simply lets us communicate with any other person in
the world that also has a telephone. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine a person going anywhere without a
cell phone in their pocket. None of the existing transportation methods that you can see around you
would ever be possible if the steam engine hadn’t been invented. More importantly, you wouldn’t have
supermarkets and large quantities of foods, drinks, and clothes everywhere if it wasn’t for this
innovation.  The invention of antibiotics was a huge step for medicine. It saved and is still saving
countless lives by preventing the growth of harmful bacteria.
With the advancement of electronics and semiconductors, came the computer.  Most of us spend
a large portion of our day in front of the computer, whether for entertainment purposes or to work and
they are such complex machines that a large number of highly paid professions are based on only a few
computer programs or the knowledge about just a small part of its software or hardware. 
The  internet  is the one thing that enabled us to be connected to the whole world, no matter where
we are. The whole modern world depends on the internet, as it has the most impact on business, economy,
politics, art, entertainment, communications, etc. It helps us get our hands on absolutely any type of
information we need. However, some people claim that we have only begun to see what type of impact it
will have on the world.
If there is one thing that people can’t live without today – it is electricity. It is without a doubt
one of the most important things that mark the era we live in. Just imagine a world without electricity;
you wouldn’t have TV’s, computers, air conditioning, electric lights etc. That’s a world I wouldn’t want
to live in.

ASSESSMENT

INSTRUCTION: Students will list the required information in the following areas as indicated.

Problems What I thought about What my partner What we decided to

the Topic thought about the topic share
Why do you think the It’s because the
society readily accepts society believes that
the benefits the science
science has facts and
and technology
although negative evidences that can
results also come out help improve the
from them? society to have a
better and progressive
environment with the
application of the
science applied
through modernized
technology.
How is science and Science and technology
technology affecting have formed the
the growth of a nation? foundations for progress
in society, and have helped
to make people’s lives
more materially
prosperous. With various
scientific advances, more
new modernized
technology will be
discovered to improve the
lifestyle of the people in
the society.
As a STS student, how These responsibilities
can you be a guardian of being a good role
of society? Cite
model alone make me
concrete examples.
become a guardian on
my own and in my
society as a whole. As
a Science, Technology
and Society student,
social media should be
used appropriately
and not in obscenity
so that other young
people can emulate it
so that they will be
responsible in using
 social media.
ASSIGNMENT:

Graphic Organizer (i.e. Fishbone) on the historical timeline of science and technology

10 MILLION YEARS AGO 2560-2550 BCE

FIRST TOOLS FROM STONS, WOODS, PYPARUS WAS DISCOVERED
AND BONES.

3400-400 BCE 34TH CENTURY BC- 2ND CENTURY CE

HIEROGLYPHS CUNEIFORM

600 BC 15TH CENTURY BC

RETHORIC FRANCIS BACON CONTRIBUTED HIS WRITINGS

17TH CENTURY BC 1440

ROMAN ALPHABET THE PRINTING PRESS

1518-1524 1928
THE PRINTING REVOLUTION PENICILLIN WAS MADE

1955 1990-PRESENT
HYPERLINKED INFORMATION WORLD WIDE WEB
SYSTEM