La Carlota City College

City of La Carlota
-oOo-
Criminal Justice Education Department
Module in GE7
1st semester, AY 2021-2022
HOPE ARREN M. PINEDA
Contact #: 09951479452
Email: [email protected]
Facebook Account: Hope Arren Pineda

I. COURSE TITLE : GE7 (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY)

II. NUMBER OF UNITS : 3 Units
III. COURSE DESCRIPTION :
This interdisciplinary course engages student to confront the realities brought about by
science and technology in society. Such realities pervade the personal, the public, and the global
aspects of our living and are integral to human development. Scientific knowledge and
technological development happen in the context of society with all its socio-political, cultural,
economic, and philosophical underpinnings at play. This course seeks to instill reflective
knowledge in the students that they are able to live the good life and display ethical decision
making in the face of scientific and technological advancement.

IV. COURSE OUTCOMES:

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

Knowledge
1. Articulate the impacts of science and technology on society, specifically Philippine society
2. Explain how science and technology affect society and the environment and its role in nation-
building
3. Analyze the human condition in order to deeply reflect and express philosophical
ramifications that are meaningful to the student as a part of society
4. Define and demonstrate the impact of social media on the students’ life and Philippine
society in general

Values
1. Imbibe the importance of science and technology in the preservation of the environment and
the development of the Filipino nation
2. Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology such that the
student may be able to define for himself/herself the meaning of the good life
3. Foster the value of a healthy lifestyle toward the holistic and sustainable development of
society and the environment.

Skills
1. Creatively present the importance and contributions of science and technology to society
2. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative
and creative solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards
3. Illustrate how the social media and information age impact their lives and their
understanding of climate change.
V. COURSE OUTLINE

A. PRELIM PERIOD

 Historical antecedents in which social considerations changed the course of science and
technology
 Intellectual revolutions that defined society
 Science and technology and nation building

B. MIDTERM PERIOD

 The Human Person flourishing in terms of science and technology

 When technology and humanity cross
C. SEMI FINALS PERIOD
MODULE 3. SPECIFIC ISSUES IN STS
 The Information Age
 Biodiversity and the Healthy Society
 Genetically Modified Organisms:

D. SEMI FINALS PERIOD

 Science, Health, and Politics

 The Nano World
 Climate Change

VI. CONTENT DISCUSSION

Module 1. General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society.

Historical Antecedents in which social considerations changed the course of science and
technology.
 IN THE WORLD: ANCIENT. MIDDLE AND MODERN AGES
 IN THE PHILIPPINES

LEARNING OUTCOME: At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
 DISCUSS THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY
 DISCUSS HOW SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS AFFECT SOCIETY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Science is a body of empirical, theoretical, and practical knowledge about the natural world,

produced by scientists who emphasize the observation, explanation, and prediction of real-
world phenomena. Historiography of science, in contrast, studies the methods employed by
historians of science.

How is science used in technology?

 SCIENCE:
- Knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through
experiments and observation.
- is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form
of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
 - It is the pursuit of knowledge about the natural world through systematic observation
and experiments. Through science, we develop new innovation, technologies.

 TECHNOLOGY:
- Science or knowledge put into practical use to solve problems or invent useful tools.
- Is the application of scientifically gained knowledge for practical purpose.
Scientist use technology in all their experiments.

The role of Science and Technology

1. Alter the way people live, connect, communicate, and transact, with profound effects on
economic development.
2. Key drivers to development, because technological and scientific revolutions underpin
economic advances, improvements in health systems, education and infrastructure.
3. The technological revolutions of the 21 st century are emerging from entirely new sectors,
based on micro-processors, tele-communications, bio-technology and nano-technology.
Products are transforming business practices across the economy, as well as the lives of
all who have access to their effects. The most remarkable breakthroughs will come from
the interaction of insights and applications arising when these technologies converge.
4. Have the power to better the lives of poor people in developing countries.
5. Differentiators between countries that are able to tackle poverty effectively by growing
and developing their economies and those that are not.
6. Engine of growth
7. Interventions for cognitive enhancement, proton cancer therapy and genetic engineering.

 Society - is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group
sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and
dominant cultural expectations.
- The sum total of our interactions as humans, including the interactions that we engage in
to figure things out and to make things.
 Science, technology, society and environment (STSE) education, originates from the science
technology and society (STS) movement in science education. This is an outlook on science education
that emphasizes the teaching of scientific and technological developments in their cultural, economic,
social and political contexts.
 In this view of science education, students are encouraged to engage in issues pertaining to the
impact of science on everyday life and make responsible decisions about how to address such issues
(Solomon, 1993 and Aikenhead, 1994).
 The STS movement has a long history in science education reform, and embraces a wide range of
theories about the intersection between science, technology and society (Solomon and Aikenhead,
1994; Pedretti 1997). 

What is the relationship between science and society?

 The impact of science and technology on society is very evident. But society also influences science.
 There are social influences on the direction and emphasis of scientific and technological
development, through pressure groups on specific issues and through generally accepted views,
values and priorities.

How Science can have an effect to the society?

- Science influences society through its knowledge and world view. Scientific knowledge
and the procedures used by scientists influence the way many individuals in society think
about themselves, others, and the environment.
 - The effect of science on society is neither entirely beneficial or entirely detrimental
.
Lesson 1: INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY

Scientific Revolution
How can science be defined?
1. Science as an idea. It includes ideas, theories, and all available systematic explanations and observations
about the natural and physical world.
2. Science as intellectual activity. It encompasses a systematic and practical study of the natural and physical
world. This process of study involves systematic observation and experimentation.
3. Science as a body of knowledge. It is a subject or a discipline, a field of study, of a body of knowledge that
deals with the process of learning about the natural and physical world.
4. Science as a personal and social activity. This explains that science is both knowledge and activities done by
human beings to develop better understanding of the world around them.

Scientific Revolution was the period of enlightenment when the developments in the fields
of mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry transformed the views of society about
nature. It explained the emergence or birth of modern science as a result of these developments
from the disciplines mentioned.
Some Intellectuals and their Revolutionary Ideas
Nicolaus Copernicus
He placed the Sun to be the centerpiece of the universe. The Earth and all the planets are
surrounding or orbiting the Sun each year.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution. He changed our concept of the world’s
creation and its evolution.

Sigmund Freud
Freud is a famous figure in the field of psychology. Rosenfels also described him as towering
figure and a very talented communicator who did his share to raise the consciousness of the civilized
world in psychological matters.
CRADLES OF EARLY SCIENCE
 Meso-American Revolution - it has contributed a lot of ideas or discovery for Archaeology. The temples
and pyramids left a lot about of Architecture that lead us to study more or it.

 Asian Revolution - The Revolution itself taught Asian countries about freedom and independent
nationhood along the improvement brought by it internally.

 Middle East Revolution - The Revolution in the Middle East were a product of the development and
growth of individual nationalism, imperialism, for the efforts to westernize and modernize Middle
Eastern Societies, and to push the declining power of the Ottoman Empire in the Arab Region.

 African Revolution - The fight against colonialism and imperialism in Africa.

Lesson 4. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE NATION BUILDING

BRIEF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES.

 Science and technology in the Philippines - describes scientific and technological progress made by
the Philippines and analyses related policy issues. The main agency responsible for managing science
and technology (S&T) is the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). There are also sectoral
councils for Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture, the Metal Industry, Nuclear Research, Food and
Nutrition, Health, Meteorology, Volcanology and Seismology.
 Among the men and women who have made contributions to science are Fe del Mundo in the field
of pediatrics, Eduardo Quisumbing in plant taxonomy, Gavino Trono in tropical
marine phycology and Maria Orosa in the field of food technology.
 The early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and traditions
- Own belief system and indigenous knowledge
- Keeps them organized and sustained their lives and communities for many years.

- Pre-Colonial Period- embedded in the way of life

Science-
 Planting crops that provide them food
 Taking care of animals
 Food production
 Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates
 Medicinal uses of plants

Technology

 Building houses
 Irrigation
 Developing tools
 Musical instruments
- Spanish Rules
 Brought their own culture and practices
 Established schools and introduced concepts of subjects and disciplines
 Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts related to
the human body, plants, animals and bodies.
 Technology focuses on using and developing house tools.
- Life during the Spanish Era
 Became modernized
- Metal Age Influence
 Gold and Silver Jewelry
- Trading with other countries
- American period
o More influence in the development of Science and Technology
o Public Education system
o Improved Engineering Works and health of the people
o Mineral resources were explored and exploited
o Health and Sanitation
o Infrastructure
o World War II
- The New Republic
 Focusing on using its limited resources in improving science and technology capability
 Human resource development

Influences in the development of Science & Technology in the Philippines

Development of Science and Technology in the Philippines
o Internal Influences
1. Survival
2. Culture
3. Economic Activities
o External Influences
1. Foreign Colonizer
2. Traders with Foreign Countries
 3. International Economic Demands

Government Policies on Science and Technology

 Introduced and implemented programs, projects and policies to boost science and technology.
 Goal: prepare the whole country and capacitate the people to live in a world driven by science.
 DOST-NRCP STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNIZATION
o The NRCP clustered these policies into four.
1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and governance.
2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematics.
3. Medical and Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry

 To improve and strengthen science and technology including research development, it is necessary
that government enacts the laws. Several laws have been enacted by Congress since 1958 to present.
They are as follows:
o R.A. 2067. – “ Science Act of 1958”- An act to Integrate, Coordinate, and Intensify Scientific
and Technological Research and Development and to Foster Invention To Provide Funds
therefor and for other Purposes.
o RA. 3589. – An Act Amending RA 2067 Modifying the National Science Development Board,
National Institute of Science and Technology, and the Grants, Request and Donations for
Scientific Purposes to Private Educational Institutions and For Other Purposes enacted June
22, 1963.
o R.A. 5207. – An Act Providing for the Licensing and Regulation of Atomic Energy Facilities and
Materials, Establishing the Rules of Liability for Nuclear Damage and for other Purposes.

 This Act was approved June 15, 1968 to encourage, promote and assist the development and use of
atomic energy for peaceful purposes as a means to improve the health and prosperity of the
inhabitants of the Philippines and to contribute and accelerate scientific, technological, agricultural,
commercial, and industrial progress.
o Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972 established the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services (PAGASA). Its function was to provide environmental protection and
to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety of the people.
o Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973 created the Philippine National Oil Company to
promote industrial and economic development through effective and efficient use of energy
resources.
o R.A. 8749 – The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 was enacted by Congress on June 23, 1999
to protect and preserve the environment and ensure the sustainable development of its
natural resources.
o R.A. 8792 – An Act Providing for the Recognition and Use of Electronic Commercial and Non-
Commercial Transactions and Documents, Penalties for Unlawful Use Thereof and For Other
Purposes passed in June 15, 2000.

Major Science and Technology Development Plans

o Science and Technology Master Plan (STMP). This plan was submitted to the President in
March 1989 by the presidential task force composed of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST). Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
Department of Transportation and Communication(DOTC), as well as the presidential adviser
on public resources and three academic institutions involved in S&T. The development of
fifteen (15) leading edges to steer the country toward industrial development were:
1. Aquaculture
 2. Marine Fisheries
3. Forestry
4. Natural resources
5. Process Industry
6. Food
7. Feed industry
8. Energy
9. Transportation
10. Construction industry
11. Information technology
12. Electronics
13. Instrumentation and control
14. Emerging technologies
15. Pharmaceuticals
 National Science and Technology Plan (NSTP 2002-2020). The Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), with the mandate of formulating S&T policies and programs and projects in
support of national development priorities has remained, driven by these guiding visions stated in the
NSTP mainly:
o By 2004, S&T shall have contributed significantly to the enhancement of national productivity
and competitiveness and to the solution of pressing problems.
o By 2010, the Philippines shall have earned niches and become a world class knowledge
provider and user in selected science and technology areas, and shall have developed a
vibrant S&T culture.
o By 2020, the Philippines shall have developed a wide range of globally competitive products
and services which have a technological content

The 12 priority areas for S&T development are:

a. Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources;

b. Health and Medical Services;
c. Biotechnology;
d. Information and Communication Technology;
e. Microelectronics;
f. Materials, science and engineering;
g. Earth and Marine services;
h. Fisheries and aquaculture;
i. Environment;
j. Natural Disaster mitigation;
k. Energy; and
l. Manufacturing and Services Engineering.

Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science

o School science is filled with names of foreign Scientist; Einstein, Galileo Galilei, Newton,
Faraday, Darwin and many other Western Scientist. We rarely hear of Filipino scientists being
discussed in science classes. Lee Chua (2000) identified 10 outstanding Filipino Scientists who
have made significant contributions in Philippine Science. These scientist are also famous
abroad especially in different science disciplines: agriculture, mathematics, physics, medicine,
marine science, chemistry, engineering and biology.
o These Filipino scientist are:
1. Ramon Cabanos Barba- for his outstanding research on tissue culture in the Philippine
mangoes
 2. Josefino Casas Comiso- for his works on observing the
characteristics of Antartica by using satellite images.

3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr. – known internationally in the

field of electrical engineering; was elected as officer of the famous
Institute of Electrical And Electronic Engineering.

4. Lourdes Jansuy Cruz - notable for her research on sea snail venom

5. Fabian Millar Dayrit - for his research on herbal medicine

6. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III- for his research on tilapia culture

7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr. – for inventing the meconium drug testing

8. Lilian Formalejo Patena - for doing his research on

plant biotechnology

9. Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz- for being an outstanding

educator and graph theorist

10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan - for his research in the field of

communication technology

o There are other outstanding Filipino scientists who are recognized here and abroad for their
outstanding contributions in science:
 Ceasar A. Salona - an internationally renowned physicist.
 Edgardo Gomez - famous scientist in marine science
 William Padolina - chemistry and president of National Academy of Science
and Technology (NAST)-Philippines
 Angela Alcala - marine science

Lesson 3. SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

The Concept of Science and Education
Science education focuses on teaching, learning, and understanding science. It is justified by the
vast amount of scientific knowledge developed in this area that prepares citizens in a scientifically and
technologically driven world.
 Science Education in Basic and Tertiary Education
In basic education, science education helps students learn important concepts and facts that
are related to everyday life including important skills such as process skills, critical thinking skills, and
life skills that are needed in coping up with daily life activities.
SCIENCE SCHOOLS IN THE PHILIPPINES
1. Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS)
2. Special Science Elementary Project
3. Quezon City Regional Science High School
4. Manila Science High School
5. Central Visayan Institute Foundation

Lesson 4. INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES

Indigenous Knowledge System

Indigenous knowledge
is embedded in the daily life experiences of young children as they grow up. They live and
grow in a society where the members of the community prominently practice indigenous knowledge.
Their parents and other older folks served as their first teachers and their methods of teaching are
very effective in transmitting cultural knowledge in their minds. The lessons they learned are
intimately interwoven with their culture and the environment. These lessons comprised of good
values band life stories of people on their daily life struggles. Their views about nature and their
reflections on their experiences in daily life are evident in their stories, poems, and songs.

Some examples of indigenous knowledge that are taught and practiced by the indigenous people are:
 Predicting weather conditions and seasons using knowledge in observing animals’ behavior
and celestial bodies;
 Using herbal medicine;
 Preserving foods;
 Classifying plants and animals into families and groups based on cultural properties;
 Preserving and selecting good seeds for planting;
 Using indigenous technology in daily lives;
 Building local irrigation systems;
 Classifying different types of soil for planting based on cultural properties;
 Producing wines and juices from tropical fruits; and
 Keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables in the yard.
Indigenous Science
o Indigenous Science is part of the indigenous knowledge system practiced by different groups
of people and early civilizations (Gribbin, 2001; Mkapa, 2004; Sibisi, 2004). It includes
complex arrays of knowledge, expertise, practices, and representations that guide human
societies in their enumerable interactions with the natural milieu: agriculture, medicine,
naming and explaining natural phenomena, and strategies for coping with changing
environments ( Pawilen, 2005). Ogowa (1995) claimed that it is collectively lived in and
experienced by the people of a given culture.
o According to Cajete (2004), indigenous science includes everything, from metaphysics to
philosophy and various physical technologies practiced by the indigenous peoples both past
and present. Iaccarino (2003) elaborated this idea by explaining that science is a part of
culture, and how science is done largely depends on the cultural practices of the people.
o Indigenous beliefs also develop desirable values that are relevant or consistent to scientific
attitudes as identified by Johnston (2000), namely:
1. Motivating attitudes;
2. Cooperating attitudes;
3. Practical attitudes;
 4. Reflective attitudes
o These cultural beliefs therefore can be good foundation for developing positive values
towards learning and doing science and bringing science in a personal level.
o Pawilen (2006), developed a simple framework for understanding indigenous science.
Accordingly, indigenous science is composed of traditional knowledge that uses science
process skills and guided by community values and culture.

INDIGENOUS SCIENCE

USES GUIDED BY COMPOSED OF

SCIENCE PROCESS COMMUNITY CULTURE TRADITIONAL
SKILLS AND VALUES KNOWLEDGE

1. Indigenous science uses science process skills such as observing, comparing, classifying, measuring,
problem solving, inferring, communicating, and predicting.
2. Indigenous science is guided by culture and community values such as the following:
 The land is a source of life. It is a precious gift from the creator.
 The Earth is revered as “Mother Earth.” It is the origin of their identity as people.
 All living and nonliving things are interconnected and interdependent with each other.
3. Indigenous Science is composed of traditional knowledge practiced and valued by people and
communities such as ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous farming methods, and folk
astronomy.

Indigenous science is important in the development of science and technology in the Philippines. Like the
ancient civilizations, indigenous science give birth to the development of science and technology as a field
and as discipline. Indigenous science helped the people in understanding Declaration of Science and the use
of Scientific Knowledge (1999) recognized indigenous science as a historical and valuable contribution to
science and technology.

Module 2: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY AND THE HUMAN CONDITION

LESSON 1. THE HUMAN FLOURISHING IN TERMS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

TOPIC 1: Human Flourishing
 Introduction:
Every living creature is meant to become what is meant to be. The caterpillar is meant to
become a beautiful butterfly; a small seed into full-grown herb, bush or tree; and a human baby into
a mature person, the person “who is fully alive, the glory of God”, in the words of St. Irenaeus
(Corpuz, 2015).
As we grow and develop there are different factors that affect us, there are different
questions that need to be answered and there are steps and actions that need to be undertaken.
Flourishing is the highest good of human attempt to achieve his/her goal. It is a success as a human
being when he/she achieved it for the betterment of his/her life. The best life is one of excellent
human activity. “ Eudaimonia”, literally “good-spirited” is a term connected by renowned Greek
Philosopher Aristotle (385-323 B.C.) to describe the peak of human’s happiness that can be attained.
The big question is “HOW?’. How will you achieve your flourishing?
 Science, Technology and Human Flourishing
In the previous chapters, contributions of science and technology have been laid down
thoroughly. Every discovery, innovation, and success contributes to our pool knowledge. Perhaps,
one of the most prevalent themes is human’s perpetual need to locate himself in the world by finding
proofs to trace evolution. The business of uncovering the secrets of the universe answers the
 question of our existence and provides us something to look forward to. Having a particular role,
which is uniquely ours, elicits our idea of self-importance. It is in this regard that human flourishing is
deeply intertwined with the goal setting relevant to science and technology. In this case, the latter is
relevant as a tool in achieving the former or echoing Heidegger’s statement, technology is a human
activity that we excel in as a result of achieving science. Suffice to say that the end goals of both
science and technology and human flourishing are related, in that the good is inherently related to
the truth. The following are two concepts about science which ventures its claim on truth.

 Science as Method and Results

For the most part, science’s reputation stems from the objectivity brought upon arbitrary,
rigid methodology whose very character absolves it from any accusation of prejudice. Such infamy
effectively raised science in a pedestal untouchable by other institutions- its sole claim to reason and
empiricism- garnering supporters who want to defend it and its ways.
In school, the scientific method is introduced in the earlier part of discussions. Even though the
number of steps varies, it presents a general idea of how to do science:
1. Observe and determine if there are unexplained occurrences unfolding.
2. Determine the problem and identify factors involved.
3. Through past knowledge of similar instance, formulate hypothesis that could explain the
said phenomenon. Ideally, the goal is to reject the null hypothesis and accept the
alternative hypothesis for the study “to count as significant” (can also be separated into
additional steps such as “to generate prediction” or infer from past experiments”)
4. Conduct experiments by setting up dependent and independent variables and trying to
see how independent ones affect dependent ones.
5. Gather and Analyze results throughout and upon culmination of the experiment.
Examine if the data gathered are significant enough to conclude results.
6. Formulate Conclusion and provide recommendation in case others would want to
broaden the study.
Verification Theory
The idea proposes that a discipline is science if it can be confirmed or interpreted in the event
of an alternative hypothesis being accepted. In the regard, said theory gives premium to empiricism
and only takes into account those results which are measurable and experiments are repeatable.
Falsification Theory
Asserts that as long as an ideology is not proven to be false and can be best explain a
phenomenon over alternative theories, we should accept the said ideology.
 Science and Results
 Science as Education
Lesson 2: WHEN TECHNOLOGY AND HUMANITY CROSS
 Introduction
Technology keeps on progressing due to the changing times and environment and also to the
ever-progressing mind of mankind. It would not be possible for all these technological advancements
to exist if it were not for the brilliance, creativeness and power of the mind. However, it is also
important to note that anything too much is bad. The same problem is face by technology. Although
it has been very helpful to people, it is still not immune to criticism and backlash. Various ethical
dilemmas have been identified throughout time involving the use of different technological devices
and its effects to humanity. Usually, different problems arise when either the technological device
available is misused or if it was invented to produce bad results. People who are aware of the
possible dangers of the use and misuse of technology are not keeping still. They lay dilemmas for the
public to see and realize what they are in for.
A number of technological Devices can be easily found inside the home, the most accessible
place to anyone. Having that said, it can also be easily inferred that these technological devices are
some of the most popular and most commonly used types of devices across all age groups. Almost
households, if not all, own these types of devices. To be more specific, these “celebrities” in the field
 of technology are television sets, mobile phones, and computers. People all over the world use these
technologies every day to accomplish different purposes.
A typical household owns at least four of the following devices: a mobile phone (89%),
smartphone (53%), tablet (14%), desktop(39%), laptop or netbook (37%%), and smart TV (4%)
(Philstar, 2013). These data prove the deep-seated fascination of Filipinos to different technological
devices.
Here are some facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets and the Internet (Rappler, n.d):
 Mobile phone subscriptions is at 119 million.
 Filipinos spend approximately 3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop daily.
 Currently, the Philippines has one of the highest digital populations in the world.
 There are now 47 million active Facebook accounts in the Philippines.
 The Philippines is the fastest-growing application market in South-East Asia.

Module 3. Specific Issues in Science, Technology and Society

 Lesson 1: The Information Age

Introduction: The Information Age is considered a historic period in the 21 st century. Characterized
by the rapid shift from traditional industry, it is also called computer age, digital and the new media
age. It is marked by a very fast growth in communication and information technology. This age holds
a significant influence as educators and learners.

The invention of the computer which gave computer people access to information with the touch of a
button. The internet has turned society into homebodies and individuals who do everything from the
comfort of their homes. People do their tasks only such as shopping, paying bills, working, education,
entertainment and ordering food.

 Historical Development: The information age also referred to as Computer Ages and New Media Age
is a historic period in the 21st century characterized by the rapid shift from traditional industry.

It began around the 1970s and still going on today. This era brought about a time period in which
people could access information and knowledge easily. As in the field of literature, the renaissance
influenced this age by creating the idea inventions that led to modern ones.

 Information Age also referred to people, information and societies that chronicle the birth and
growth of electronic information from ancient times to Samuel Morse’s invention of the telegraph in
the 1890’s through the development of the telephone, radio, television, and computers.
 There are four periods of the Information Age, namely:
o Pre-Mechanical ---3000 BC 1450 A.D.
o Mechanical --- 1450-1840
o Electro-Mechanical- 1840-1940
o Electronic/Information- 1940- present
Living in the Information Age
Effects/ Impact
Technology is increasingly playing a crucial role in the success of organizations particularly in
schools in this Information Age. The impact of IT has been enormous on various domain including
education. Computers and the Information they process and store have transformed every aspect of
the society.
Since we live in the Information Age, IT has become a part of our everyday lives. There have
been tremendous changes in the ways people live, work, and play over the past three decades. IT is
composed of computer, networks, and mobile and wireless devices, satellite communications,
robotics, videotext, cable television, electronic mail (e-mail), electronic gadget and automated office
equipment. Technological innovation and entrepreneurship have been the key players in the changes
that we experience.
 Every day, we use technology in new ways. Computers are becoming increasingly affordable
and they continue to be more powerful as information processing tools. Some of the advantages of
Information Technology are:
1. Globalization – it has brought the world closer together, led to sharing information more
quickly and efficiently and enabled countries to share ideas and information with each
other.
2. Communication – it has made communication cheaper, quicker and more efficient. The
use of the internet opened face-to-face communication from different parts of the world.
3. Cost effectiveness – it has led to computerization of business processes and increased
productivity that gave more profits, better pay and working conditions.
4. Creating of new jobs – it has led to the opening up of opportunity for computer
programmers, system analysts, hardware and software developers and web designers.

The Information Age has introduced changes in the different aspects of people’s lives,
because of the following:

1. Emergence of online companies.

2. Creation of economically and stimulating businesses.
3. More mature and educated people.
4. Reshaping governments with new technologies.
 Lesson 2: Biodiversity and Health Society
Introduction:

Our Planet Earth share trillions of varied species.

The different species of our plants and animals and the places they live is called biodiversity.
All together they give us all our needs in our life like food, clear drinking water, crisp air, medicines
and provide us our homes. Biodiversity is like a safety net.

We take into consideration, the huge variety of animals and plants in our planet Earth as
threads ¡n the net. The more threads that adhere and intertwine, the net gets stronger, and the
better nature can provide for us and less threats for a climate change. Unfortunately, people have
been disregarding the safety and help of the net for decades. The forests were flattened to give way
for farming. We have netted young fishes until their numbers have collapsed. Wetlands were
bulldozed causing floods and wreak havocs. The great impact man has done for the very first time in
human history is full understanding of when to start mending the affected net wherein our natural
world we love and depend upon. There is still the need to reverse the losses of nature, but we need
to move swiftly to avoid any catastrophic change.

The Impact of Biodiversity on Human Life.

The human species ¡s just one of Earth’s 1.9 million living life forms. It has arisen by the same
mechanisms as other species. It has .the same physical requirements as other, similar species. It is
dependent for its survival on its successful interactions with Earth’s plant and animal species.
Ultimately, it is a subject to the same limitations to growth as any other species.
However, humans are also unlike any other species because of their niche as thinking,
planning, and technological beings. Due to their ability to use technology, the human population is
growing virtually unchecked by the natural factors that limit other species populations. Human
technologies have had significant impacts on the natural world by producing materials that pollute
the air, water, and soil. Its activities are increasingly displacing or destroying natural habitats and their
ecological communities, reducing biodiversity and endangering the survival of many, if not all, Earth’s
living things. As a species, it is essential that we understand the necessity of preserving the natural
environment and its living species and as a means of ensuring our own survival. While some progress
has been made in correcting certain environmental problems, much remains to be done. Education
and environmental awareness on a global level is essential. Governments, industries, and the general
public must come together with the long range impact of human activity that destroys the very fabric
of biological life on Earth.
 Human Population Growth
Unlike all other species, human population growth has risen at a very rapid rate over the past
centuries. The development of medical technology has reduced the incidence of disease in many
parts of the world; modern agriculture had reduced incidence of disease in many parts of the world;
modern agriculture had reduced the likelihood of starvation in developed nations. This rapid increase
in human population and technology that supports that growth has put extreme pressures on the
world, threatening the survival of natural species and habitats.
In many less developed areas of the world, the human population has grown faster than the
food supply, causing widespread famine that threatens to eliminate large portions of the populations.
Poverty and hunger in these areas had led to the resurgence of diseases that have been all but
eradicated in the World’s developed nations. These same conditions have forced some people to
abandon their homes in search of food and to be exposed to the elements, further reducing their
ability to survive. Such occurrences are becoming more frequent and severe. It remains to be seen
when similar collapses will occur in developed countries. Apparently, the human species is rapidly
approaching a point where it will be unable to sustain continued growth.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS:
Science, Health, and Politics
Genetic engineering has been with the human society since selective breeding was
introduced to humankind and when animals were domesticated. Yet, the process of genetic
alterations is all but natural.
The general process of genetic engineering is the deliberate manipulation of the organism’s
genes, where it may involve transfer of genes from other organism.

Genetically Modified Organism

Genetically modified organism (GMO) is the term used for an organism created through
genetic engineering. The Word Health Organization (WHO, 2014) defines GMO as an “organism,
either plant, animal, or microorganism, in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way
that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination.

Genetic Engineering Process on a Plant

GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

1. Pest resistance
2. Virus resistance
3. Herbicide tolerance
4. Fortification
5. Cosmetic preservation
6. Increase growth rate
GMOs in Non-Food Crops and Microorganisms
1. Flower production
2. Paper production
3. Pharmaceutical productions
4. Bio-remediation
5. Enzyme and drug production
6. GMOs in the medical field

Benefits of GMOs
1. Higher efficiency in farming
2. Increase in harvest
3. Control in fertility
4. Increase in food processing
5. Improvement of desirable characteristics
6. Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement
7. Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides

Pollution and Destruction in our Environment

Technological and industrial processes have led to the production of chemicals and by-
products that are harmful (toxic) to living things. Such toxic chemicals have contributed to our global
environment pollution. Examples of pollutants include acidic ions, pesticides. When they are released
into the environment, these pollutants contaminate water, air, and/or soil, and make survival of
natural species difficult or impossible. To that extent, humans are exposed to those pollutants, and
we are also subject to their toxic effects. The industrial by-products such as dioxin pose similar
dangers to many species, including humans the combining of acidic ions with atmospheric water has
resulted in acid precipitation (acid rain), which has acidified lakes and disrupted natural ecosystems.

Destruction of Habitat
Humans have used their technologies to remove trees and other plant life from wide areas of
their natural habitat for the purpose of creating agricultural lands, industrial zones, roadways, or
residential and commercial developments. Humans have drained, filled, or redirected wetlands,
ponds, streams and other natural water habitats for these same purposes. Collectively known as
habitat destruction, these activities have had the effect of displacing plant and animal species
important to the maintenance of a balanced ecosystem. Human agriculture has produced a variety of
negative effects due to inattention to its impact on the natural environment. Failure to use cover
crops (crops that protect soil from erosion) between planting cycles has exposed bare soil to erosion,
resulting ¡n loss of topsoil and sedimentation of water sources. Over cropping is the failure to allow
soil to recover nutrients and organic matter content between plantings. Overgrazing is the practice of
allowing large numbers of domestic animals to graze an area too Small to support them.

Exploitation of Animals and Plants

Humans who have great desire to possess exotic animals and plants or their products have
been enabled by modern transportation, communication and economic technologies. This resulted in
the exploitation for exotic species of primates such as monkey, cats, birds such as parrots and other
pets. Some animals are killed for their horns, elephants for their tusks, tigers and other species for
their pelts. Each species loss has impacted its ecosystem ¡n a negative way. Each exploited species ¡s
to one degree or another, in danger of extinction because of this exploitation.
In an activity known as direct harvesting, humans have removed plants from the ecosystem
for their economic value without regard for the effect of its removal on the natural ecosystem. This
removal has negatively impacted the ecosystem by decreasing biodiversity (variety of life) ¡n these
habitats. Forest trees were directly harvested from our mountains to provide lumber for building
purposes, and denuded in the process, allowing fragile soils to be washed away. This activity resulted
in the destruction of entire mountain habitats. Worldwide, direct harvesting activities for exotic
hardwoods in tropical rain forests has resulted in similar habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity.

Signs of Environmental Contamination.

Many warning signs exist indicate that a dangerous disequilibrium is being created in our
ecosystems. Some researchers suspect that toxic chemicals by-products, heavy metals, pesticides,
hormones, pharmaceuticals and other contaminants are responsible for an increased frequency in
deformation of illnesses, death of natural populations worldwide. An example is the dramatic decline
and deformation in frog population which have been observed in aquatic ecosystems around the
world. The culprits suspected by some scientists are hormone-disrupting chemicals in agricultural
runoff. Other examples include:
  Reproductive cycle disruption in birds as a result of high concentrations of DDT and
other pesticides.
 Deaths and population declines of birds and fish linked to contamination from oil spills.
 Deaths and disorientation of marine mammals (tortoise and whales) possible due to
coastal pollutant runoff.
 Contaminated waters.

In our own species, adverse health effects linked to chemical exposure are increasingly
prevalent among infancy and early childhood. These are the periods of vulnerability to environmental
pollution, because they spend more energy require more food, water, and oxygen per unit of mass
than adults, hence young children are likely to take in and store more toxic chemicals per pound than
adults. Recently, the incidence of birth defects and diseases linked to environmental pollution has
risen among children living in environmentally-contaminated areas of the world. Childhood cancer
has become the second leading cause of childhood deaths. Other health problems being experienced
today by children living in contaminated communities include chronic lung disease and childhood
asthma.

Consumption of Energy
Worldwide, industrialization has brought an increased demand for use of energy resources. It
brought both the positive and negative effects on human and ecosystems. The world industrialized
nations have used tremendous quantity of energy to fuel their business. Countries like the United
States and England have long been the major consumers of energy. China, formerly a light user of
energy resources, lately became a major consumer of petroleum as a source of energy to operate its
growing economy.
For some time, the source of energy has changed, with traditional water, wood, coal, and oil
gradually being replaced with natural gas, wind, wave/tidal, nuclear, solar, geothermal and fuel cell
technologies. The development of these energy sources often uses valuable agricultural land for the
construction, storage and transport of energy they produce.

Fossils for Fuels

Fossil fuels are commonly used as an energy source in industrial processes for the past 200
years, including naturally occurring materials such as oil, coal, and natural gas. These fuels are
obtained from underground deposits formed million years ago by biological and geological processes,
and these fossil fuels are not being replenished. The chemical by-products of fossil fuel combustion
are released into the atmosphere and contribute to the worldwide air pollution as well as a
phenomenon known as acid precipitation or acid rain. Acid precipitation results from combining of
sulfur and nitrogen oxide ions with atmospheric water to produce sulfuric and nitric acids. When rain
snow and sleet containing these acids fall on aquatic ecosystems they can significantly alter the
acid/base chemistry. Any alteration often leads to elimination of acid/base sensitive species of fish
and amphibians in the ecosystem. The burning of fossil fuels has also been linked to the phenomenon
known as global warming.

I. REFERENCES:

Serafica, Janice Patricia, Pawilen, Greg tabios, Caslib, Beranrdo Nicolas, Alata, Eden Joy.
Science, Technology and Scociety. Manila: Rex Books Store, 2018
Reference: (https.//www.tcf.va.edu/az/thistory.outline.htm)