D&T

Research about D&T

Alison Hardy

Design and Technology (D&T) teachers looking to engage with current research in their field have several excellent resources available. This guide highlights four key journals that publish D&T education research, as well as tips for accessing and reading research articles.

Why Engage with D&T Education Research?

Reading current research can:

Online Communities

Networks and Social Media Groups

Archer Exchange Network: hosted via Mighty networks, connecting D&T teachers in England and beyond.

Jamble D&T – a private group, that is “a place to meet other D&T teachers, find out about jobs, organise courses, set up small networks, collaborate on project ideas and generally share our passion”.

Scottish CDT Teachers

Subject Associations

Editor's Comments

Alison Hardy from Nottingham Trent University has brought together a world wide network of Design and Technology educators to produce this Guide which supports benchmarking of practices between countries. The Guide challenges the reader to consider the role of the subject in the school curriculum for different age groups and the impact of the subject on children’s understanding of the world they interact with. In addition, the reader might like to consider the potential impact of the learning children gain from this subject on the economic well being and development of every country. 

Areas for Further Research

Alison Hardy

Knowledge and Learning

How different types of knowledge develop and integrate in D&T

  • How do conceptual and procedural knowledge build over time?
  • What progression models work best in different contexts?
  • How does design and technology capability emerge?

Teaching Approaches

Evidence-based pedagogical strategies

Transferability

This MESHGuide provides examples from countries around the world- the Global South and the Global North. There are significant differences between countries. Not all countries include the subject in the primary curriculum. In some countries, in secondary education, Design and Technology is a vocational subject in others it is part of general education. Some countries focus on materials, others take a systems approach e.g. learners will look at energy systems or water systems.

Strength of Evidence

The Guide for the most part describes existing practices. Research is needed into the impact of particular types of curricula and pedagogical approaches. Impact case studies are invited to show the outcomes of particular approaches to the subject. 

Links to other useful resources

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Where can teachers find resources to support D&T

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Formative & summative assessment

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Electronics

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