Dasgupta, S. (1996) Technology and creativity. Oxford. I just bought this
one, and it looks *really* interesting, with chapter titles like
"technologist as a cognitive agent" and "portrait of the technologist as a
creative being." It also uses evolutionary (phylogeny and ontogeny)
metaphors (?) for tech change.
Depending on the breadth of your course, the following might be useful for
gender issues:
Cockburn, C. & Ormond, S. (1993) Gender and technology in the making.
London: Pluto. I believe chapters 2 & 3 cover the difference between the way
men and women's conceived of the relevant dimensions of the design task
(microwave oven).
I also wrote on this topic, but I think the article is too long and
difficult (rambling, even?) for students, although it might be worth a look
as background. The main question was, why don't women enter engineering. The
primary analytic strategy was to consider women's access to situated
knowing.
Caporael, L. R., et al. (1993) Tinkjering with gender. In J. Rothschild
(Ed.) Research in Philosophy and Technology. vol 13. Technology and
feminism. 13, 73-99) JAI Press.
Good luck with the course!
Linnda
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dori Ravotas [mailto:dravotas@mtu.edu]
> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 1998 3:20 PM
> To: xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu
> Subject: cognition and engineers
>
>
>
> I was curious if anyone on this list knew of work done on the thinking
> processes of electrical, mechanical, chemical or civil engineers. I teach
> a class called the Psychology of Science and Technology that looks at the
> working cognition of scientists and technologist. I have been using
> John-Steiner's Notebooks of the Mind, Explorations in Thinking, (thank you
> Vera) and Wallace and Gruber's Creative People at Work. Both of which I
> will continue to use, but most of my students will be engineers and I
> would like a specific text if I can find one.
> Thank you.
>
> Doris Ravotas
>
> "To speak for others is to first silence whose in whose name we
> speak." (Calloon 1986:216)
>
> Doris Ravotas dravotas 906-487-3571
> Dept. of Education
> Michigan Technological University
> 1400 Townsend Dr.
> Houghton, Mi 499131
>
>
>