Technology refers to a wide range of human-made machines and tools. It can also be a process or a way of thinking about things, including a particular style of learning. For example, a teacher’s ability to effectively design and implement an effective lesson plan or a particular method of teaching is considered a form of technology. This includes the use of PowerPoint presentations, clickers, white boards, and a variety of other physical classroom tools. However, non-material technologies can be just as important to students’ learning as the more tangible ones. Such nebulous technologies can include mp3 encoding algorithms, the digital compression technique that enabled the rise of digital music (iPod and Apple iTunes); or a mathematical formula or statistical notation system.

Technology has become an important global force for change, and it has created its own momentum in global dynamics. In addition, there is growing awareness that technology can have significant social and political implications, and it is becoming more important for policy makers to be mindful of the unforeseen impacts of new technologies as they consider regulating or adopting them.

The word ‘technology’ comes from two Greek words: techne, meaning art, skill, or craft, and logos, the utterance of inward thought or a statement. This broad definition of technology captures a powerful intervening power present in everything from the sublime of planetary science to changing the gears on your car. Untangling this power is a fascinating endeavor, and scholars across the disciplines are encouraged to explore it.