Technological literacy is the primary goal of technology education. The systems approach promotes the understanding of technology education. Technology education comprises a study of four technical human-adaptive systems: communications, construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Six classes of inputs are required for technology systems: human resources, knowledge, materials, energy, fixed capital, and money. The communications system represents the ways that humans use system inputs to transfer ideas or information outputs. Visual, acoustical, telecommunication, and computer processes can be used to communicate ideas and information in this system. The construction system represents the ways that humans use system inputs to build structures on sites. Structural design and analysis, structural engineering, personnel relations, financial affairs, structural production, and marketing processes are used by humans to build structures of the system. The manufacturing system represents the ways that humans use system inputs to produce goods in a factory. Ownership and organization, research and development, industrial relations, financial affairs, production, and marketing are common process areas. The transportation system represents the ways in which humans transport people and goods from one location to another. These ways include propulsion, suspension, guidance, control, structure, and support. (33 references) (NLA)