posted on 2008-06-26, 08:54authored byDavid Barlex, Malcolm Welch
Educational research has been criticized for being inaccessible to practising
teachers and both removed from and irrelevant to their needs. Seldom does the research
inform curriculum development, the production of learning materials, or their effective
use in the classroom.
Earlier research by the authors revealed limitations in pupils’ constructional skills,
technical knowledge and aesthetic appreciation as they develop a solution to a design and
make task. Knowledge of these limitations and the design procedures adopted by the
pupils informed the development of a Capability Task and a suite of Resource Tasks so
that the same design and make task could be used in a classroom setting. Current
research is providing insights into ways in which teachers can be introduced to a
pedagogy and the development of curriculum materials. The results of this work are, in
turn, providing the basis for the development of more general model for using research
findings to inform the design of curriculum materials and associated pedagogy.
History
School
Design
Research Unit
D&T Association Conference Series
Citation
BARLEX, D. and WELCH, M., 2000. Educational research as a foundation for curriculum development in D&T. IN: Kimbell, R. (ed.). Design and Technology International Millennium Conference. Wellesbourne : The D&T Association, pp. 1-7.