GEN 003: Science Technology & Society

Student Activity Sheet

Lesson #1

Materials:
Lesson title: Historical Developments of Science, Technology & Society Student Activity Sheet, Course
Lesson Objectives: Syllabus, marker
1. Identify the interaction between science and technology.
2. Describe the impact of science and technology to society throughout References:
the history. Bunch, B. & A. Hellemans. 2004.
The History of Science &
Technology. New York:
Houghton Mifflin Co.
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Good day to an independent learner! The topic that you are about to explore today is about the history of
science and technology. Do you believe that technology had already existed thousands of years ago?
“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

B. MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)
SCIENCE deals with learning new facts (discoveries) and solving problems (scientific method) while
TECHNOLOGY deals with creating or inventing things that fulfill our needs and desires or perform certain functions.
Technology is the application of understanding of natural laws to the solution of practical problems.
**Science contributes to technology in many ways, which includes the following:
⮚ New knowledge which serves as a direct source of ideas for new technological possibilities.
⮚ Source of tools and techniques for more efficient engineering design and a knowledge base for evaluation of feasibility
of designs.

**Technology contributes to science in at least two (2) ways:

⮚ Providing a fertile source of novel scientific questions and thereby also helping to justify the allocation of
resources needed to address these questions in an efficient and timely manner, extending the agenda of science.
⮚ Source of otherwise unavailable instrumentation and techniques needed to address novel and more difficult
scientific questions more efficiently.

The emphasis on the realm of Science, Technology and Society (STS) may have the same degree of relevance that
the “historical turn” had in the past. It is a “social turn” which affects philosophy of science as well as philosophy of
technology.

Science, Technology
and Society

Ancient times

Middle Age

Modern Age

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 GEN 003: Science Technology & Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #1

Science and Technology in the ANCIENT TIMES (through 599 BCE) is divided into 3 periods:
1. Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, & Neolithic)
2. Bronze Age
3. Iron Age
1. Paleolithic (or Old Stone Age), Mesolithic
(or Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (or New
Stone Age), this era is marked by the use of
tools by our early human ancestors (who
evolved around 300,000 B.C.)

 In the Paleolithic period (roughly 2.5

million years ago to 10,000 B.C.),
early humans lived in caves or simple
huts or tepees and were hunters and
gatherers. They used basic stone and
bone tools, as well as crude stone
axes, for hunting birds and wild
animals. They cooked their prey,
including woolly mammoths, deer and Paleolithic hand axes
Paleolithic hand axes were teardrop-shaped stone tools with two sharpened edges that met at a
bison, using controlled fire. They also point. In one method, they were made by roughly chipping away flakes from the edges with a
hammer and then sharpening the edges by chipping away smaller flakes. Finally, a pointed stick was
fished and collected berries, fruit and used to pry off tiny flakes of stone.
nuts.
 During the Mesolithic period (about 10,000 B.C. to 8,000 B.C.), humans used small stone tools,
now also polished and sometimes crafted with points and attached to antlers, bone or wood to serve
as spears and arrows.
 Finally, during the Neolithic period (roughly 8,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C.), ancient humans switched
from hunter/gatherer mode to agriculture and food production. They domes ticated animals and
cultivated cereal grains. They used polished hand axes, adzes for ploughing and tilling the land and
started to settle in the plains.

2. During the Bronze Age (about 3,000 B.C. to 1,300 B.C.), metalworking advances were made, as bronze,
a copper and tin alloy, was discovered. Now used for weapons
and tools for animal Domestication, the harder metal replaced
its stone predecessors, and helped spark innovations including
the ox-drawn plow and the wheel.
This time period also brought advances in architecture and art,
including the invention of the potter’s wheel, and textiles —
clothing consisted of mostly wool items such as skirts, kilts,
tunics and cloaks.
Organized government, law and warfare, as well as beginnings
of religion, also came into play during the Bronze Age,
perhaps most notably relating to the ancient Egyptians who
built the pyramids during this time.

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 GEN 003: Science Technology & Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #1

3. The discovery of ways to heat and forge iron kicked off the Iron Age (roughly 1,300 B.C. to 900 B.C.).
At the time, the metal was seen as more precious than
gold, and wrought iron (which would be replaced by
steel with the advent of smelting iron) was easier to
manufacture than bronze.
Along with mass production of steel tools and weapons,
the age saw even further advances in architecture, with
four-room homes, some complete with stables for
animals, joining more rudimentary hill forts, as well as
royal palaces, temples and other religious structures.
(source: https://www.history.com/news/prehistoric -ages-timeline)

 Science and Technology in “Antiquity” (600 through 529 BCE) - started with the rise of Greek civilization
- developed institutions such as the Academy, Lyceum, and Museum
- were the first to believe that humans could understand the universe using reason alone rather than through
mythology or religion (philosophers)
⮚ Characterized by war between religion and science (Dark ages)

 In the Middle Ages (530 through 1452), there was a decline of science in Europe
- Use of currency replaced by barter
- Poverty was endemic and people suffered from wars, piracy, famine, and epidemics
⮚ Chinese philosophy developed theories on matter and living beings
⮚ Revival of Western science started during the last centuries of the first millennium
⮚ Technological revolution took place
⮚ Vast improvements in communication and transportation

 In the Modern Age The twentieth century witnessed the greatest changes in technology and science that humans
have ever witnessed. These occurred rapidly and affected such a broad range of people. Scientists, inventors, and
engineers built upon the great inventions of the 19th century to expand the reach of modern technology - for a citizen
in 1900, communication, transportation, and agricultural was still primarily local activities; by 2000, an American
citizen was part of an interconnected global community. These developments in science and technology were also
important in the social and cultural changes of the period. The Great Depression, the World Wars and Cold War, the
civil rights and women's rights movements - all were greatly impacted by the rapid scientific and technological
advancements in the universities and industry.

2) Activity 2: Skill-building Activities (with answer key) (18 mins + 2 mins checking)

(I.) Hook Activity (3 mins)

Directions: Answer the question below and write your answer on the space provided.

1. What is the role of science & technology in this pandemic that we are experiencing right now?
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(II.) Formative Assessment (10 mins)

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 GEN 003: Science Technology & Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #1

Directions: Refer to the graph in the next page. Make an observation on the sequence of discoveries, then analyze
the gaps among the different periods in the historical developments of science and technology and
answer the following:

1. How long our ancestors have been using stones as their tools? _____________
2. Our ancestors have been experiencing Bronze Age for ______ years.
3. Telegraphy replaces telephone (true or false) – _________
4. Electricity emerged during 1600 A.D. (true or false) – _________
5. Radar was discovered before the computer (true or false) – _________

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISCOVERIES

C. LESSON WRAP-UP
1) Activity 3: Thinking about Learning (5 mins)
Directions: Identify and describe briefly one MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT of science and technology in each of the
following periods:
● ANCIENT – ______________________________________________________________________

● MIDDLE – _______________________________________________________________________

● MODERN –_______________________________________________________________________

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 GEN 003: Science Technology & Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #1

The Muddiest Point

In today’s session, what was least clear to you?

_____________________________________________________________________________________

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FAQs
1. What is technology?
Ans. Technology is a TOOL that had existed even during the ancient times. Stone tools are considered to be the very
first technology.
2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word – technology? Does it mean gadgets or internet only?
Ans. Technology does not limit only to gadgets or the internet, it includes many things such as machines, equipment, etc.

KEY TO CORRECTIONS
● Activity 2
I. – Science & technology provides us necessary information to understand the nature of this novel corona virus
(n-cov) which is the causative agent for the covid-19 disease. Because of the highly sophisticated technology,
it is possible now to detect the presence of virus in the human body.

II. – 1.) 992,000 years; 2.) 4,500 years 3.) False; 4.) False; 5.) True

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