Technology Education versus Liberal Arts Education?

Overview & Synopsis

A dichotomy is often seen between liberal arts or academic education and technology education. Practitioners of each school often feel in competition with each other for students and resources. There is, however, common ground on which to build an educational approach that eliminates the sharp cleavage between liberal arts education and technology education. One starting point is the idea that all academic disciplines have a world-view in mind. In addition, the practice of any discipline implies the guidance of certain principles, which can be found in liberal arts as well as technology. Given equally valued world-views and principles, the educational process and system can be seen as a continuum. In the continuum model, liberal arts and technology are not different components but different perspectives to address the same reality. For the future, a continuum model must be developed that includes the teacher as a master and mentor, multiple curriculum entry points, and integrative core courses. (KC)