Praxis Technology Education flashcards
Praxis Technology Education · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Technology definition
- The modification of the natural environment to satisfy human needs and wants; includes the knowledge, processes, and products people create to solve practical problems.
- Universal systems model
- A framework describing any system as inputs transformed by processes into outputs, regulated by feedback and bounded by constraints within a context.
- Technological literacy
- The ability to use, manage, understand, and assess technology, combining knowledge about technology, capability in designing and making, and critical decision-making.
- Closed versus open systems
- A closed system exchanges no matter, energy, or information with its environment; an open system does, which is typical of most real technological systems.
- Criteria versus constraints
- Criteria are the desired, often measurable goals a design should meet; constraints are fixed limits such as budget, time, safety codes, or available materials.
- Decision matrix
- A weighted table that scores design alternatives against criteria, multiplies each score by its weight, and sums totals to justify selecting an option.
- Iconic versus analogic models
- An iconic model looks like the thing it represents, such as a scale model; an analogic model behaves like it, such as a circuit or wind-tunnel test.
- Invention versus innovation
- An invention is a new device or process; innovation is the successful introduction and adoption of that invention in the marketplace or society.
- Ergonomic percentile design
- Designing for a population range, often from the 5th-percentile female to the 95th-percentile male, so products fit most intended users.
- Utility versus design patent
- A utility patent protects how something works or is made, lasting about 20 years; a design patent protects ornamental appearance, lasting about 15 years.
- Nyquist sampling theorem
- To reconstruct a signal accurately, sample at a rate greater than twice its highest frequency component, avoiding aliasing in digital conversion.
- AM versus FM
- Amplitude modulation encodes information by varying a carrier wave's height; frequency modulation varies its frequency, which resists amplitude noise better.
- Fiber optic transmission
- Data travels as light pulses through glass or plastic strands using total internal reflection, offering very high bandwidth and immunity to electromagnetic interference.
- OSI model layers
- A seven-layer networking reference: physical, data link, network, transport, session, presentation, and application, each handling a distinct communication function.
- Orthographic projection
- A multiview drawing method showing separate top, front, and side views aligned on one sheet, with hidden lines and dimensions, to define an object precisely.
- Raster versus vector graphics
- Raster images are grids of pixels and lose quality when enlarged; vector images use mathematical paths and scale cleanly, ideal for CAD and logos.
- Thermoplastic versus thermoset
- A thermoplastic softens when heated and can be remolded repeatedly; a thermoset cures permanently and cannot be remelted without degrading.
- Injection molding
- A manufacturing process that melts plastic pellets and forces them into a closed metal mold, producing identical parts rapidly at high volume.
- Annealing versus hardening
- Annealing heats and slowly cools metal to relieve stress and soften it; hardening heats and rapidly quenches metal to increase hardness.
- Precision versus accuracy
- Precision is how closely repeated measurements agree with each other; accuracy is how closely a measurement matches the true value.
- Dead versus live loads
- Dead loads are static weights of the structure itself and permanent fixtures; live loads are movable or variable, such as occupants, furniture, or snow.
- Truss triangulation
- A structural framework of triangles that resists distortion, distributing tension and compression through members to span distances efficiently.
- Kinetic versus potential energy
- Kinetic energy is energy of motion, calculated as one-half mass times velocity squared; potential energy is stored energy from position or condition, such as mgh.
- Electrical power formula
- Power in watts equals voltage times current (P = VI); it also equals current squared times resistance (I²R) or voltage squared divided by resistance (V²/R).
- Efficiency formula
- Efficiency equals useful output divided by total input, usually expressed as a percentage; no real device reaches 100 percent because energy is lost, often as heat.
- Gear ratio
- The number of teeth on the driven gear divided by the driving gear's teeth; a larger ratio increases torque while reducing output speed.
- Pascal's principle
- Pressure applied to a confined fluid is transmitted equally in all directions, the basis for hydraulic and pneumatic power systems.
- Regenerative braking
- A system that converts a vehicle's kinetic energy during braking into electricity stored in a battery, improving efficiency, especially in hybrid and electric vehicles.
- Backward design
- A planning approach that first identifies desired learning results, then determines acceptable evidence of learning, and only then designs instruction and activities.
- Formative versus summative assessment
- Formative assessment monitors learning during instruction to guide feedback and adjustment; summative assessment measures achievement at the end of a unit.
- Negligence elements
- A liability claim requires a legal duty of care, a breach of that duty, causation, and actual injury; documented safety instruction helps demonstrate the duty was met.
- Universal design for learning
- An instructional framework providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression so diverse learners can access content and show understanding.