Technology is the application of knowledge to create devices and systems that solve real-world problems. It’s a broad term that includes not only tools such as a crowbar or knife, but also complex machines such as airplanes and particle accelerators. Technology also includes non-material things such as software and business methods.
In the classroom, technology has transformed how students learn and interact. From tablets to online learning, virtual reality to coding, modern educational technologies allow students to connect with each other and with the world around them in new ways.
The word “technology” derives from two Greek words, techne and logos. The former means skill, art or the way of gaining something; the latter refers to the utterance that communicates inward thought. Its meaning has evolved over the centuries, but today the term is used to describe the tools and methods that enable people to accomplish certain tasks.
One of the most fundamental and important technologies is electric power. It provides energy for lighting, appliances and electronics, as well as for a variety of other uses like heating, cooling, and transport.
Another example of a technological innovation is the wheel, which helped early humans travel and control their environment. The wheel was an important tool for the development of agriculture and other human activities. Later, a number of technological developments reduced physical barriers to communication and allowed humanity to expand globally. Several of these developments – including the printing press, the telephone and the Internet – have had a significant impact on culture, social organization, and politics.