2134/2247
Howard G. Denton
Howard G.
Denton
Nigel Zanker
Nigel
Zanker
Design and Technology teacher training at Loughborough University: principles and practice
Loughborough University
2006
untagged
Design Practice and Management not elsewhere classified
2006-07-05 16:47:14
Online resource
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/online_resource/Design_and_Technology_teacher_training_at_Loughborough_University_principles_and_practice/9340256
The Department of Design and Technology at Loughborough University has been a centre for
training teachers in technological subjects from 1930. During that time it has developed a
reputation as the premier institution in the field within the United Kingdom, a position it
retains today according to inspection reports from the Office for Standards in Education
(Ofsted).
The paper briefly describes the routes for training teachers of Design and Technology at
Loughborough:
a. the three-year programme in Industrial Design and Technology with Education leading to
the one-year Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course (total 4 years).
b. direct entry to the PGCE course with appropriate degree qualifications and experience
from other degree programmes or, for mature graduate entrants, from industry.
This paper focuses on the PGCE year and sets down the principles which underpin training at
Loughborough. Recruitment and selection procedures are described. The training process at
both University and practice schools and the relationship between the two is shown. Methods
for supporting and extending trainees are described together with methods for assessment and
evaluation.
The paper shows the emphasis made on teaching excellence based on thorough long-term
planning, good classroom management and continual self-analysis to produce a reflective
practitioner. In addition, thorough analysis enables graduates to maintain a lead in the
development of design and technology in society as a whole and to be able to incorporate this
into subject teaching so ‘future proofing’ their work with children.