Technology and the making of Society

💡 Technology and the Making of Society

End Product: A Google Slides or PowerPoint presentation showing how technology has shaped society from ancient times to today.

🎯 Learning Goals

By the end, you should be able to:

• Explain why technology is important in society.
  
  

• Describe inventions that changed people’s daily lives.
  
  

• Explore how inventions and innovations lead to new products, processes, and systems.
  
  

🧭 Your Task

You’ll make 10 slides total that tell the story of technology — from the first inventions to today’s innovations — and finish with your own reflection.

🧩 Part 1: What Is Technology? (Slides 1–2)

Goal: Define what technology means and why it matters.

Slide 1 – Title Slide

• Title: Technology and the Making of Society

• Your name

• Date

• Add a background image or icon that represents technology
  
  

Slide 2 – What Is Technology?

• Define technology in your own words. (Example: “Technology is anything people create to solve problems or make life easier.”)
  
  

• Give two examples:

  • One ancient (ex: the wheel, the plow, or paper)

  • One modern (ex: smartphone, 3D printer, or robot)

• Add pictures or icons for each example.

• End with one sentence explaining how technology helps humans “do more with less effort.”
  
  

⚙️ Part 2: Inventions Throughout History (Slides 3–6)

Goal: Show how one invention changed life and society.

Step 1 – Choose ONE invention:

• The Printing Press (15th century)

• The Steam Engine (18th century)

• The Internet (20th century)
  
  

Step 2 – Research these questions:

• What problem did it solve?

• How did it change daily life?

• What new jobs or industries did it create?
  
  

Slides:

• Slide 3: Title of your invention (example: The Steam Engine) and a picture.

• Slide 4: Explain the problem it solved. (Example: “Before the steam engine, factories relied on water power and couldn’t run anywhere.”)

• Slide 5: Describe how it changed people’s daily lives or society.

• Slide 6: List new jobs, industries, or systems it created. (Example: “Railroads, coal mining, and new factory jobs.”)
  
  

• Add visuals on each slide.
  
  

🔁 Part 3: Innovation and Development (Slides 7–8)

Goal: Understand how inventions lead to innovations and new systems.

Step 1 – Learn the difference

• Invention: Something completely new (like the first computer).

• Innovation: An improvement or new use (like laptops, tablets, or cloud computing).
  
  

Step 2 – Create Your Own Example

Pick a modern invention (smartphone, drone, solar panel, etc.) and make your own chain:

Invention → New Product or Process → New System

Example:
Invention: Computer chip
→ New Product: Personal computers
→ New System: Online shopping, digital banking, remote work

Slides:

• Slide 7: Explain your chosen invention and innovation.

• Slide 8: Create a visual chain reaction with arrows or icons showing the steps.
  
  

🌍 Part 4: The Importance of Technology (Slide 9)

Goal: Summarize what you’ve learned about technology’s role in society.

Slide 9:

Use bullet points or a short paragraph to explain:

• How technology solves problems

• How inventions change how people live and work

• How innovation keeps improving our world
  Add one image or quote about the power of technology (example: “Technology is best when it brings people together.” — Matt Mullenweg)
  
  

✏️ Part 5: Reflection (Slide 10)

Goal: Think about life without certain technologies.

Slide 10:

Prompt:
“How would your life be different if the wheel, writing, or the internet had never been invented?”

Write 4–5 sentences explaining your thoughts and include one picture or symbol that fits your answ