Global contexts for design and technology

The Design and Technology National Curriculum has been in place for an academic year. Having tackled familiar subjects, teachers are now looking at how they present contexts unfamiliar to pupils and themselves. The requirement to look at Design and Technology from 'other cultures' (Global Contexts) provides a particular challenge. The Education Office of the international charity Intermediate Technology has, during the last three years, been working closely with teachers on the development of strategies to present such contexts. The schools involved have included primary, middle and secondary as well as those in the state and independent sectors. The work has proved interesting and highly motivating for pupils and teachers alike.