Enhancing Decision-Making: The Importance of Technological Literacy for American Citizens

Abstract

Why is it important that American citizens be technologically literate? Introduction Technology is a broad term far beyond the simple assumption of its connection to the computer. The technology incorporates innovation, change, and modification of the natural environment to enhance the satisfaction of the perceived human needs and wants, which defines its relevance. For this reason, technological literacy can be viewed as an individual’s ability to modify nature to meet their need s and wants. Therefore, a technologically literate person expresses four interdependent dimensions: capabilities, knowledge, critical thinking, and decision making. To this effect, technological literacy remains very relevant for all American citizens. It proves to be a strong pillar for enhanced relations, knowledge, and decision-making, among other issues that define harmony and growth within society and human relations. Within this essay, arguments will provide a detailed analysis of the relevance of technological literacy amongst American citizens. Education, workplace, and society serve as the major field that defines the need for technological literacy amongst Americans. For this reason, decision-making, Problem-solving abilities, and enhanced communication/connections will serve as the main reason why Americans must remain technologically literate. Decision making Technological literacy enhances an individual's ability to think critically before coming to a conclusion regarding an issue at hand, which defines the grounds of generating sound decision-making. Decision-making is a challenging exercise that calls for defined knowledge to enhance the realization of the right judgment. Having noted that technology touches most areas of life from education, workplace, and societal relations in general, one cannot ignore the role of sound decision making in such areas, most especially for teachers (Hasse, 2017). For this reason, one can argue that technology literacy allows people to perform their daily tasks by supporting their abilities to make responsible and informed decisions that affect them as individuals, the environment, and society as a whole. With technological literacy, one can argue that the decision-making process is converted from its complexities to a more social process attributed to various information that a literate person considers from different sources before making the final judgment. For instance, Americans need technological literacy application in areas like referendums where their say defines the final position on the issue at hand in most cases on political matters. By understanding technology, such citizens can agree or disagree with an issue that is of relevance or no relevance to them as individuals and society in general. Since technology literacy makes people remain informed and updated, it ensures that they will not be left out on any issue that demands their attention. For American leaders, among other government policymakers and business leaders, having defined technological literacy enables them to understand the notions of trade-offs and unintended consequences and manage technological developments in manners that maximize citizens' benefits and minimize the negative impacts (Yacoubian, 2018). Such achievements define the relevance of technological literacy in the decision-making process, which can be further defined by individuals' abilities to solve problems, thus enhance human relations. Problem Solving Abilities A technologically literate person can analyze a situation, problem, or issue and formulate concrete solutions that enhance peace among individuals and society. It is evident that when a person’s ability to solve any given problem is defined, the chance of enhancing a peaceful environment that is habitable for many also remains defined. Thus, one can argue that technological literacy can help Americans solve their daily problems, making their lives happier and healthy. America is a diversified nation where different races relate to their daily lives, be it in a learning institution, workplaces, and prayer places, among other areas where citizens meet and engage with each other in their daily lives (Hashim, 2018). Therefore, enhancing relationships amongst such a diversified nation, technological literacy is essential since solving emerging problems in such a population is challenging. Having noted that technologically literate people can think critically implies that one can analyze an issue/problem critically and from different points of view and formulate their solutions gradually. For instance, a problem may arise in a workplace due to the introduction of change that workers receive with resistance, leading to their inability to deliver to their set targets. With technological literacy, a leader will be able to view the problem from a different point of view ranging from asking a pertinent question on workers and management regarding the benefits and risks of the introduced changes, especially if it is technologically related. With such an analysis, the leader will be able to come up with defined answers to the noted problem, which will revive the workers' morale and enhance communication and connections between the leader and the workers/organization in general. The workplace is an area where a technologically knowledgeable worker serves as the main target of the employers. It is believed that technology knowledge allows a worker to identify and see issues within a broad context which defines such workers' ability to solve problems greatly. Through such knowledge, a worker remains comfortable with complexities that come along with technology, as attributed to the technological advancements experienced time after time (Farrell and Newman, Corbel, 2020). America proves to be a nation where almost every task is dependent on technological skills. No work,...