Abstract
This paper reports on the needs identified by three teachers during an investigation into their first experiences of implementing technology in their primary classrooms. One part of one teacher's case is presented in detail to illustrate that the meanings the teachers made of their experiences were related very closely to their beliefs about teaching and learning, to their understanding of technology as a phenomenon and to the place they saw technology having within the whole curriculum. One particular outcome of the investigation was that the teachers experienced a lack of knowledge of the scope and breadth of the technology learning area, and as a consequence, faced challenges in planning for the successful implementation of activities. In response to this particular need and to the many issues emanating from current research literature in technology education, the paper then presents two models for conceptualizing and planning units of work in technology in primary classrooms. The models form frameworks that may be useful to help structure thinking for authentic classroom planning and sequencing of lessons or learning experiences.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Barnett, M.: 1995, 'Literacy, Technology and “Technological Literacy”’, International Journal of Technology and Design Education 5, 119-137.
Curriculum Corporation: 1994, A Statement on Technology for Australian Schools, Curriculum Corporation, Carlton, Victoria.
Department of Education: 1994, English Syllabus for Years 1-10, Department of Education, Brisbane, Queensland.
Erickson, F.: 1998. 'Qualitative Research Methods for Science Education’, in B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (eds.), International Handbook of Science Education, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands, 1155-1173.
Glaser, R.: 1992, 'Expert Knowledge and Processes of Thinking’, in D. F. Halpern (ed.), Enhancing Thinking Skills in the Sciences and Mathematics, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 63-75.
Guba, E. G. & Lincoln, Y. S.: 1994, 'Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research’, in N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, California, 105-117.
Hattie, J., Biggs, J., & Purdie, N.: 1996, 'Effects of Learning Skills Interventions on Student Learning: A Meta-analysis’, Review of Educational Research 66(2), 99-136.
Hennessy, S. & McCormick, R.: 1994, 'The General Problem-Solving Process in Technology Education: Myth or Reality?’, in F. Banks (ed.), Teaching Technology, Routledge, London, 94-108.
Jarvis, T. & Rennie, L. J.: 1996, 'Perceptions About Technology Held by Primary Teachers in England’, Research in Science and Technological Education 14(1), 43-54.
Johnsey, R.: 1995a, 'Criteria for Success’, Design and Technology Teaching 27(2), 37-39.
Johnsey, R.: 1995b, 'The Design Process-Does it Exist? A Critical Review of Published Models for the Design Process in England and Wales’, International Journal of Technology and Design Education 5, 199-217.
Johnson, S. D.: 1994, 'Implications of Cognitive Science for Technological Problem Solving’, in D. Blandow & M. Dyrenfurth (eds.), Technology Education in School and Industry. Emerging Didactics for Human Resource Development, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 157-177.
Jones, A. & Carr, M.: 1992a, 'Teachers' Perceptions of Technology Education: Implications for Curriculum Innovation’, Research in Science Education 22, 230-239.
Jones, A. & Carr, M.: 1992b. Teachers' Perceptions of Technology. Learning in Technology Project [Working paper 502], Centre for Science and Mathematics Education Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Jones, A. & Carr, M.: 1993, Towards Technology Education (Vol. 1): Working Papers From the First Phase of the Learning in Technology Project, Centre for Science and Mathematics Education Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.
Juniper, D. F.: 1989. Successful Problem Solving, W. Foulsham, Slough.
Kimbell, R., Stables, K., & Green, R.: 1996, Understanding Practice in Design and Technology, Open University Press, Buckingham.
Lave, J.: 1988, Cognition in Practice: Mind, Mathematics and Culture in Everyday Life, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Lewis, T. & Gagel, C.: 1992, 'Technological Literacy: A Critical Analysis’, Journal of Curriculum Studies 24(2), 117-138.
McCarthy, A. C. & Moss, G. D.: 1994, 'A Comparison of Male and Female Pupil Perceptions of Technology in the Curriculum’, Research in Science and Technological Education 12(1), 5-13.
McCormick, R.: 1994, 'Learning Through Apprenticeship’, in D. Blandow & M. J. Dyrenfurth (eds.), Technology Education in School and Industry. Emerging Didactics for Human Resource Development, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 16-36.
McCormick, R.: 1997, 'Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge’, International Journal of Technology and Design Education 7, 141-159.
McCormick, R. & Davidson, M.: 1996, 'Problem Solving and the Tyranny of Product Outcomes’, The Journal of Design and Technology Education 1(3), 230-241.
McCormick, R., Murphy, P., & Hennessy, S.: 1994, 'Problem-Solving Processes in Technology: A Pilot Study’, International Journal of Technology and Design Education 4, 5-34.
McCormick, R., Murphy, P., Hennessy, S., & Davidson, M.: 1996, April, 'Research on Student Learning of Designing and Problem Solving in Technology Activity in Schools in England’, paper presented to the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New York, NY.
McGinn, M. K. & Roth, W.-M.: 1995, 'The Transformation of Individual and Collective Knowledge in Elementary Science Classrooms that are Organised as Knowledge-Building Communities’, Research in Science Education 25(2), 163-189.
McRobbie, C. J., Ginns, I., & Stein, S.: 2000, 'Preservice Primary Teachers' Thinking about Technology and Technology Education’, International Journal of Technology and Design Education 10(1), 81-101.
Murphy, P. & McCormick, R.: 1997, 'Problem Solving in Science and Technology Education’, Research in Science Education 27(3), 461-481.
Prime, G. M.: 1993, 'Values in Technology: Approaches to Learning’, Design and Technology Teaching 26(1), 30-36.
Queensland School Curriculum Council: 1999, Technology: Years 1 to 10 Syllabus-In-Development, Trial Draft, Queensland School Curriculum Council, Brisbane, Queensland.
Rennie, L. J. & Jarvis, T.: 1995, 'English and Australian Children's Perceptions about Technology’, Research in Science and Technological Education 13(1), 57-67.
Rennie, L. J. & Sillitto, F.: 1988, 'The Meaning of Technology: Perceptions From the Essays of Year 8 Students’, The Australian Science Teachers Journal 34(4), 68-76.
Resnick, L. B.: 1987, 'Learning in School and Out’, Educational Researcher 16(12), 13-20.
Rogoff, B.: 1990, Apprenticeship in Thinking: Cognitive Development in Social Context, New York: Oxford University Press.
Roth, W.-M.: 1995, 'From “Wiggly Structures” to “Unshaky Towers”: Problem Framing, Solution Finding, and Negotiation of Courses of Actions During a Civil Engineering Unit for Elementary Students’, Research in Science Education 25(4), 365-381.
Roth, W.-M.: 1996, 'Art and Artifact of Children's Designing: A Situated Cognition Perspective’, The Journal of the Learning Sciences 5(2), 129-166.
Roth, W.-M.: 1998, Designing Communities, Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Roth, W.-M. & Bowen, G. M.: 1993, 'An Investigation of Problem Framing and Solving in a Grade 8 Open-Inquiry Science Program’, The Journal of the Learning Sciences 3(2), 165-204.
Sfard, A.: 1998, 'On Two Metaphors for Learning and the Dangers of Choosing Just One’, Educational Researcher 27(2), 4-13.
Symington, D. J.: 1987, 'Technology in the Primary School Curriculum: Teacher Ideas’, Research in Science and Technological Education 5(2), 167-172.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stein, S.J., McRobbie, C.J. & Ginns, I.S. Authentic Program Planning in Technology Education. International Journal of Technology and Design Education 11, 239–261 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011252719407
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011252719407