Technology education is a critical shortage teaching area in Virginia for middle school and high school. Technology education is not just learning about computers or other communications devices such as cell phones. Technology education studies the human designed world and is closely tied to science education which studies the natural environment. The technology education program includes the study of technological systems, processes, and artifacts and most major courses contain laboratory activities to help students understand the tools, materials, and principles associated with medical, agricultural, biological, energy and power, communication, transportation, manufacturing, and construction technologies.