Chapter II: Influence of Science and Technology on Education
B.L. Dodds, Ralph W. Lefler · Review of Educational Research · 1946
PRESENTDAY institutional education is peculiarly a product of the tech-nology which has created the economic productivity necessary to supply the wealth to support an extensive educational system. This increase in productivity has released an increasing proportion of our total population from directly productive labor to engage in study. In turn, the complexities of a culture permeated by science and technology have created a demand for more intensive and extensive education on all levels. Thus, in the broad-est sense, a review of the influence of science and technology upon edu-cation would involve consideration of almost every aspect in the develop-ment of American education. However, science has influenced and is now influencing education in many direct and specific ways. World War II brought into striking focus the extent to which national welfare is de-pendent upon scientific research, the application of this research, and the general public understanding of science. Scientific method has been pro-gressively extended into fields of study not originally associated with