TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT & STS Theory in education

KIT workshop TA in der Lehre, Karlsruhe 1-2 July 2010

Ellen van Oost, University of Twente, The Netherlands

Technology Assessment in Education at University of Twente

Textbook: The Mutual Shaping of Technology and Society.

A Technology Assessment approach

Wim A. Smit & Ellen van Oost

In three programmes at UT

> Computer science (Bachelor)

> Health science, (Bachelor)

> Philosophy of Science, Technology and Society (Master)

+ Various other educational programmes in the Netherlands (Eindhoven, Delft

+ higher vocational education)

Characteristics of the Textbook: : Theory & Practice

• Starts from theoretical perspective: Mutual Shaping of Technology and Society

•Focus on Constructive Technology Assessment

•Student TA-project in four steps + use insights of Technology dynamics

•Technology forecast

•Impact assessment

•Normative Evaluation

•Feedback to technology & societal developments (policy recommendations)

To give an impression: Table of content of the textbook

1. Introduction: Why TA and what is TA?

2. Co-evolution of society and technology: the phone as example.

3. Technology dynamics: a theoretical model

4. Studying societal impacts of technological development

5. Societal impacts of Information Technology

6. Normative evaluation and societal responsibilty

7. The rise and practice of TA

8. TA in Companies

9. Methods and Techniques of TA

10. Example study on Tracking & Tracing

Theory on Technology Dynamics

Social constructivist perspective

Technology is social: embodies social values & structures & power relations > prospective character >

embodies societal impacts

Why TA? Why based in a mutual perspective theory?

Message: engineers not only make technology, but also shape society

Engineers have a responsibility to be reflexive on that point

Many positive impacts, but often too ….. (unforeseen impacts, non-acceptance, failures, social

resistance)

Model: Quasi- evoluationary model

Quasi-evolutionary model of Technology Development

Why: quasi? Variation/selection processes interdependent/

Articulation processes (user articulation/ cultural articulation)

Dynamics: Path dependency,

Simple linear phase model: Technological Development with Feedback Loops

Possibilities for anticipation in the phase model

What can we say about possible social impact of new technology?

Impacts are partly embodied in the technology Script: inviting & inhibiting

Technology is political

Impacts are partly shaped in technology use rebound / new unanticipaties uses

TA contributes to democratising process of shaping technology:

More perspectives on the table , clearer picture of interests and perspective of involved actors

Student TA-project in 4 steps + use insights of Technology dynamics

1. Technology forecast:

- Traditional methods (trend extrapolation) but too technology dynamics (path dependency)

2. Impact assessment: - mapping actor perspectives + script analysis

3. Normative evaluation:

- Interviews/ data search & analysis - learn to distinct: actor perspective – analyst perspective – personal perspective

4. Feedback to technology & societal developments (policy recommendations)

Points for discussion

Does STS theory on Technology Dynamics of provide an added value in teaching TA, in addition to common TA methods?

The “Future problem: ”Does STS theory has prospective potentials?