Tech Directions- October 2008

technically speaking Susanne Peckham susanne@techdirections.com Earlier this fall, the nationally circulated Christian Science Monitor ran an article that gives strong support to technical education and argues against the trend toward college-for-all. The article was written by Walt Gardner, who taught for 28 years in the Los Angeles Uniﬁed School District and in the graduate school of education at the University of California at Los Angeles. He opens his article by writing: “Fall classes are barely underway and already guidance counselors across the country are conferring with students about the courses they need for their high school diplomas. In the process, more than 90 percent will be steered toward a college prep curriculum, according to the Alfred P. Sloan Study of Youth and Social Development. This, however, is not as laudable as it seems.” Gardner goes on to say that, despite much of the general public’s view of the value of a bachelor’s degree, its importance has been “wildly oversold.” The usual argument in favor of a four-year college degree is that it brings with it a substantial wage premium. But, as Gardner notes, the studies that have found that those with a degree on average earn more than those without one were conducted before the full emergence of the new global economy, which calls into question the public’s long-held assumptions. According to Alan Blinder, former vice chair of the Board of Govenors of the Federal Reserve, the only jobs that will be secure in the coming decade are ones that cannot be sent abroad electronically. “That means,” writes Gardner, “plumbers, electricians, and auto mechanEDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Michael Fitzgerald, Technology Education Specialist, Ofﬁce of Career and Technical Education, Indiana Dept. of Education, Indianapolis, IN Paul Koontz, President, Denford Inc., Medina, OH Ed Prevatt, School Specialist, National Center for Construction Education and Research, Gainesville, FL John Roccanova, Technology Education, Webutuck Central School, Amenia, NY Mark Schwendau, Technology Instructor, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL Kendall N. Starkweater, Executive Director,International Technology Education Association, Reston, VA PEER REVIEW BOARD Gregory G. Belcher, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Technical Teacher Education, Pittsburg State University, KS Daniel M. Claiborne, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Industrial and Engineering Technology, Murray State University, KY Sam Cotton, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Ball State University, Muncie, IN Ronald F. Gonzales, Ph.D., ASE, Program Chair, Technology Teacher Education Professor, Brigham Young University, UT Clarke Homoly, Assoc. Professor, Dept. of Aviation, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg Robert T. Howell, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Technology Studies, Fort Hays State University, KS Robert D. Mordini, Ed.D., Asst. Professor, Technology Studies, Fort Hays State University, KS Richard Phillips, Ed.D., Division Chair, Technologies Division, Mountain Empire Community College, VA Joseph Scarcella, Ph.D., Professor of Education, California State University, San Bernadino Mark S. Schwendau, M.S., Technology Instructor, Kishwaukee College, Malta, IL Bert Siebold, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Industrial & Engineering Technology, Murray State University, KY Chris Zirkle, Ph.D., Asst. Professor, College of Education, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH Subscriptions: individuals: $30 per year; $55 two years; Canadian and foreign: add $10 per year. Canadian GST #R126213487. Single copies $3. Group rate for students in teacher-training insti-tutions available upon request. Periodicals postage paid at Ann Arbor, MI, and additional mailing ofﬁces. Printed in U.S.A. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address information to Tech Directions, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623. Manuscripts should be addressed to: Editor, Tech Directions, PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623. Manuscripts become property of Tech Directions upon letter of acceptance to author and signed copyright release form. Payment made on publication. Electronic copies of back issues available from ProQuest Information and Learning, www.il.proquest.com. Microform copies available from NAPC, www.napubco.com ©2008 by Prakken Publications, Inc. ics, for example will be working steadily while many of their degreed classmates will be collecting unemployment checks.” And, since earnings vary within any occupation, those with college degrees who do succeed at acquiring work in their ﬁelds will not necessarily ﬁnd themselves receiving top salaries. While the same is true for those with solid technical educations, “at least they will be in far greater demand because their skills cannot be off-shored,” writes Gardner. As a result, they will be able to command wages at the top of their respective brackets. Gardner closes by noting that “[o]ur competitors abroad have long understood and accepted the fact that students can have a productive and gratifying career even when they do not go on to some form of tertiary education. They grant equal respect to these students, rather than view them as second class. . . . But their realistic attitude goes against the romantic notion that unfortunately prevails in this country. What Americans ultimately need to learn is that college is merely the most convenient place to learn how to learn. It is not an absolute determinant.” A Prakken Publications Magazine Digital Tech Directions (ISSN 1940-3100) is published monthly, except June and July, by Prakken Publications, Inc., 832 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48108. Executive, editorial, and advertising ofﬁces are at PO Box 8623, Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623, telephone 734-975-2800; fax 734-975-2787. Vol. 68, No. 3. Board of Directors Turalee A. Barlow, George F. Kennedy, Janice E. Knope, Susanne Peckham Publisher George F. Kennedy Assistant Publisher & Business Mgr. Turalee A. Barlow, tbarlow@techdirections.com Managing Editor Susanne Peckham, susanne@ techdirections.com Associate Editor Pam Moore, pam@techdirections.com Art, Design, and Production Manager Sharon K. 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Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Directions- October 2008

Tech Directions Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The Report Technology's Past Technology Today Mastering Computers Automotive Power and Energy Technology Education Career Directions Electronics Special Feature More than fun

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