Assignment Guidance

Handout 3
Background

Williams, R. (1974), Television, Technology and Cultural Form, London: Fontana Collins

Williams rejects any form of technological determinism. He rejects those arguments which
insist that technologies have a life of their own, that they emerge from a process of
research and development untarnished by social expectations or political and economic
interests. He rejects just as forcefully the arguments that technologies, by themselves,
can determine a social response, that they have determining effects and consequences
which are just as equally resistant to the complications and uncertainties of society and
history. In other words, he rejects the characterisation of television as technology, as
such. It is not reducible.

For direct quotes from Williams, look at http://tinyurl.com/38evne3

Activity
1) Based on our review of the American history of technology last week and in
light of the above, write a paragraph outlining your thoughts on the interplay
between technology and education. Try to bring in social expectations and
political and economic interests.

Start your paragraph with the following phrase:

‘It’s often assumed that new technologies cause social and educational
change….’

2) Select one priority statement from the Harnessing Technology Executive

Summary and, using the BECTA School Survey as a model, write one
paragraph that describes how far this priority has been addressed in your
own institution.

(Extension activity: Attempt to explain why this is the case in your institution
and evaluate the impact it has on the service you provide).