Subject Overview

Technology is the achievement of human purposes through the disciplined use of materials, energy and natural phenomena. Technology education involves students in developing their knowledge and skills, and in applying these through suitable tasks.

Content

Knowledge and skills:

Communications
Craft and materials
Energy and control
Technology and Society

Design Procedure:

Problem identification
Research of information
Conceptualisation and modelling
Production
Evaluation

Tasks

The set of tasks, through which the student applies his/her knowledge and skills in the process of finding a solution to a problem, involve both progression (from closed to more open-ended tasks) and balance (in terms of range of resources, criteria, and relevance).

Assessment

Junior Certificate Technology is assessed at both Ordinary level and Higher level by means of a terminal examination paper and a student project.

Status

Junior Certificate Technology was introduced into schools on a developmental basis, beginning in September 1989. A review of provision for technology education in the junior cycle has taken place and work on syllabus revision for these subjects will commence in 2006/2007.