From historical thinking to critical thinking about technology

Abstract

This paper, a work-in-progress, presents historical thinking, a framework for teaching history, as a tool that can be integrated into undergraduate courses that relate to technology, society, and ethics to improve students’ critical thinking about technology. Historical thinking teaches students to distinguish past from present in a potentially humanizing process. The framework also raises analytical tensions and questions about the relationship between technology and society that can produce insightful critical analysis and, potentially, answers.