The development and implementation of technology education is being pursued worldwide – not only in the industrialized nations but also in developing countries. Understanding of the goals of technology education for general education differentiates national as well as international approaches. This publication seeks to highlight the distinguishing disciplinary and pedagogical theories involved with technology education with the goal of providing direction for the evolving of nationally applicable standards. Furthermore, nationally prominent authors from various countries share their experiences with and insights derived from their respective nations’ development, adaptation, and implementation of technology education. Through this, the book seeks to contribute to the practice of technology education worldwide.

The Editors: Gabriele Graube is a lecturer in the Department for General and Technical Education at the Technical University of Braunschweig. After graduate education and a doctorate in processing technology at the Technical University of Dresden, she addressed the further education of unemployed academicians. Additionally she develops and evaluates occupational information and qualification systems. Currently her focus is on the development of hands-on curricula for technology education for general education in schools. Michael J. Dyrenfurth is Professor and Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies in the School of Technology at Purdue University. He studied at Bowling Green State University (Ph.D.) and at the University of Alberta (M.Ed. & B.Ed.) in Edmonton, Canada. His focus is on the development of technologically capable people, assessment of technological capability, technological literacy and international comparisons in these fields. Walter E. Theuerkauf is head of the Department of Technical Education and Information Technology at the Technical University of Braunschweig. After graduate education he received his doctorate in energy technology at the University of Hannover. After significant industrial experience he was appointed as professor for technical education. His teaching and research focus is on technology education for general education and additionally on systemic learning in occupational education.