Page 9 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Technological Education, 2009 (revised)

Innovation
Original and creative thinking resulting in the effective design of a product or service.
Material
Any substance or item used in the creation of a product or delivery of a service.
Mechanism
A system of connected parts that allows a product to work or function.
Power and energy
The resource that enables a mechanism to perform work.
Safety
The care and consideration required to ensure that the product, process, or service will not cause harm.
Structure
The essential physical or conceptual parts of a product, process, or serv- ice, including the way in which the parts are constructed or organized.
Systems
The combinations of interrelated parts that make up a whole and that may be connected with other systems.
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | Technological Education
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Students
Students have many responsibilities with regard to their learning. Students who make the effort required to succeed in school and who are able to apply themselves will soon dis- cover that there is a direct relationship between this effort and their achievement, and will therefore be more motivated to work. There will be some students, however, who will find it more difficult to take responsibility for their learning because of special challenges they face. The attention, patience, and encouragement of teachers can be extremely important to the success of these students. However, taking responsibility for their own progress and learning is an important part of education for all students, regardless of their circumstances.
Mastering the concepts and skills connected with technological education requires work, study, and the development of cooperative skills. In addition, students who actively pur- sue opportunities outside the classroom will extend and enrich their understanding of technology. Their understanding and skills will grow as they engage in recreational activ- ities that involve technology (e.g., model building), reading related to technology (e.g., magazines, Internet sources), and learning about technological advances (e.g., attending technology fairs).
Parents
Parents1 have an important role to play in supporting student learning. Studies show that students perform better in school if their parents are involved in their education. By becoming familiar with the curriculum, parents can determine what is being taught in the courses their daughters and sons are taking and what they are expected to learn. This awareness will enhance parents’ ability to discuss their children’s work with them, to communicate with teachers, and to ask relevant questions about their children’s progress. Knowledge of the expectations in the various courses will also help parents to interpret teachers’ comments on student progress and to work with teachers to improve their children’s learning.
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1. The word parents is used in this document to refer to parent(s) and guardian(s).