The two historical resources that interest me are the articles “Domestic Science: A New Profession for Women” by Ellen Richards (1897) and “Technology, Learning, and the Human Condition” by David Beer (2001).

Richards’ article adopts a more socially constructivist approach in which she examines how domestic science – or home economics as it is sometimes known – was used as a tool to encourage women to pursue new career paths. She states that this discipline was seen as important since it could help people become more efficient when performing everyday tasks thus allowing them greater autonomy both at home and within their professional lives (Richards 1897). Furthermore, she claims that its popularity was driven not only by its educational value but also because it allowed people to express themselves through creative outlets like cooking thereby demonstrating her belief regarding technology’s role in providing individuals with an opportunity shape their own destiny.

Meanwhile, Beer’s article takes a more technologically deterministic view wherein he argues that technology does not determine our behavior but rather it is shaped by us. He claims that how we interact with these tools is determined by our culture which in turn affects how we learn from them (Beer 2001). For instance, he notes how different communities have different expectations of what a successful online learning experience should be such as whether or not people should take part in discussions or if lectures are mostly one-way conversations. As such this suggests an individual’s perceptions towards technology frameworks depend on their own beliefs about its potential thus demonstrating that any use of technology is based upon socially constructed ideas and values.

Overall, both authors present compelling arguments regarding the relationship between humans and technology although each approaches this topic from slightly different perspectives; Richards emphasizes its role in empowering marginalized groups while Beer suggests our usage of these tools reflects pre-existing cultural norms thereby implying a combination of both technological determinism and social constructivism exists when assessing this issue further.