The Science, Technology and Society perspective in the context of the technological and polytechnic education: first theoretical approaches

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of this essay is to analyze possible relationships between the notion of technological education, as developed in the Brazilian context, and the Science, Technology and Society perspective, presenting preliminary approaches to a problem whose dimensions are practical, theoretical, and conceptual. From the definition of structural duality of education, the text has a need for the theme to be situated in the concrete social reality of school contexts. In the specific case, this reality is the Latin American social formations and their condition of economic, scientific and cultural dependence. As conclusion, it is presented the thesis according to which the concept of polytechnic education is a possible mediation between the educational field and Science, Technology and Society epistemology. This mediation is capable to underscore the ethical-political commitment of technological education, based on three elements: criticism of the neutrality of science; connection with the concept of work; and self-organization of the school community.