Industrial arts

Industrial arts, area of general education that includes automobile mechanics, electronics, graphic arts, industrial crafts, industrial drawing, metalworking, plastics, photography, and woodworking. Also known as technology education, industrial arts began as a curriculum area in the U.S. during the late 1800s. Until the 1970s most industrial arts programs enrolled only boys, but today most programs are coeducational. Industrial arts courses may focus on one skill in depth, or several skills in a broader way. Among the goals of industrial arts programs are to teach the use of tools and machines and to encourage creativity.