Year: 2003
Type: other
Abstract: The aim of technology and design is ‘to enable all pupils to\nbecome confident and responsible in solving real life\nproblems, striving for creative solutions, independent\nlearning, product excellence and social consciousness’\n(NICC 1991: 15). A main aim of the present study was to\ncreate an environment and climate for learning that would\nenhance design capability and problem solving. To achieve\nthis, pupils from two Year 7 classes (mean age 11 years-old)\nwere organised into groups of four as creative learning\ncommunities. Working collaboratively and co-operatively\npupils were able to discuss, clarify, brainstorm, think\nthrough their ideas, negotiate and arrive at a shared\ncontextual understanding for their talking, thinking,\nplanning and making. A local story was used as a stimulus\nfor critical and creative thinking and as the platform for\ndesign and technology activity.\nMethodology included digital video and audio recordings,\npicture capture, classroom observation, pupil and teacher\nsemi-structured interviews, teacher logs, researcher field\nnotes, project evaluation.\nFindings, from the transcripts of classroom-based\ndiscussions, showed that active participation and careful\nscaffolding of the learning by the teachers, enabled pupils to\nachieve at a higher level than they would have done if left\nunassisted. Individual creativity and problem solving was\nenhanced, as evidenced by the high levels of pupil\nengagement in the process and diversity of pupil outcomes.\nDialogue, interaction and a creative spirit of inquiry were\nsignificant in the teaching-learning process. As\ntechnologists, pupils were learning how to learn and\nthinking how to think within a context that was real and of\ninterest to them.
Author: Johanna Hamilton
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1478037303