Explorations in Technology Education Research: Helping Teachers Develop Research Informed Practice

This volume brings together significant international research in technology education by focusing on contemporary postgraduate research, elaborating on the findings with the aim of making the content relevant to researchers, teachers and other potential researchers in the field. The book shares with readers what the research means for classroom teachers through understanding different motivations for teaching technology in schools and observing the model of learning supported by the research. Each chapter in the book includes references to the digital edition of the respective full thesis, allowing readers to consult the research in detail if necessary.

This book continues the work done by 2017’s Contemporary Research in Technology Education by the same editors.

Dr David Barlex is an acknowledged leader in design & technology education, curriculum design and curriculum materials development. He taught at comprehensive schools for 15 years, achieving head of faculty positions in Science and Design & Technology before taking university positions in teacher education. He directed the Nuffield Design & Technology Project and was Educational Manager for Young Foresight. David is well known for his interest and expertise in developing curriculum materials that support pupil learning from a constructivist perspective. He uses this approach to develop young peoples’ ability to understand and critique the design decisions made by professional designers and those they make themselves in design & technology lessons. This informed the Nuffield Design & Technology publications, which have been widely used in the UK and since emulated abroad - in Russia, Sweden, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Professor P John Williams is a Professor of Education and the Director of Graduate Research at the School of Education, Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia, where he teaches and supervises research students in STEM and technology education. Apart from Australia, he has worked and studied in a number of African and Indian Ocean countries, as well as New Zealand and the United States. His current research interests include STEM, mentoring beginning teachers, PCK and electronic assessment of performance. He regularly presents at international and national conferences, consults on Technology Education in a number of countries, and is a longstanding member of eight professional associations. He is the series editor of Springer’s Contemporary Issues in Technology Education and serves on the editorial board of six professional journals. He has authored or contributed to over 240 publications, and was elected to the International Technology and Engineering Education Association’s Academy of Fellows for his contributions to the profession.