Engaging the Imagination of Young People to Increase Technical Literacy

Abstract

This paper examines the use of cognitive tools in designing an educational website that helps middle school learners improve their technological literacy. The Talk to Me website consists of a young adult novel, online activities that expand on concepts introduced in the novel, and a blog written by college engineering students about their experiences attending college and taking engineering courses. Talk to Me is designed using Imaginative Education, a learning theory developed by Kieran Egan that outlines learners' different phases of development as their level of understanding and linguistic ability becomes more sophisticated. Beta testing occurred in 2010 with a group of elementary, middle, and high school teachers; the teachers responded with positive feedback, stating that they both could and would use Talk to Me in their classrooms. Additional testing with students in a summer robotics camp also supported the use of Talk to Me, showing that the website engaged students with concepts related to technological literacy.