The development of a design and technology website for primary teachers

This paper describes the development of a design and technology website specifically for primary teachers. The website is one of the resources being developed by the Nuffield Primary Design and Technology Project. The aim of this project is to provide the resources that will enable primary school teachers to become more effective at teaching design and technology. Within this overall aim, the object of the website is to develop and support an on-line community of primary design and technology teachers. This will also develop primary teachers' ICT skills within the current national training initiative. The paper describes the following: the development of an initial website (working with an innovative multimedia company and utilising small focus groups) the features within the initial website its positioning in the National Grid for Learning the use made of the website (through website statistics) the further development of the website within the suite of websites belonging to the Nuffield Curriculum Projects Centre the features within this developed website the potential of the site for ICT in service training the use made of this developed website (through website statistics) The paper then discusses whether, in the light of the above, the website is meeting its required functions.