Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Simone Norman, a D&T teacher at Sutton High School in South London who also leads on equality, diversity and inclusion. Our conversation examines a fascinating paper from the PAT40 conference about conversation analysis and variation theory in technical education, which particularly resonated with Simone's teaching experience. We explore how teachers plan and deliver technical demonstrations, examining the intricate interplay...
Dec 03, 2024•34 min•Ep. 183
Send me a message. In this reflective episode of Talking D&T, I explore the key themes and insights that emerged from my 26-part series on shaping design and technology education. Drawing from my conversations with educators, researchers, and industry experts throughout 2024, I examine the ongoing debate between evolution versus revolution in D&T education. One fascinating thread running through many of my discussions was the crucial role of teacher voice in curriculum development. From ...
Nov 26, 2024•19 min•Ep. 182
Send me a message. In this episode, I'm joined by Michele Gregson, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD). With over 30 years of experience across education, Michele brings valuable insights into the relationship between art & design and design & technology education. We explore the complex interplay between these two subjects, discussing both the common ground and distinctive characteristics that make each unique. Our conver...
Nov 05, 2024•45 min•Ep. 181
Send me a message. In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I describe the recent curriculum and assessment review panel meeting I attended in Cambridgeshire. I explore the ongoing call for evidence and its implications for design and technology education. One key insight from the meeting was the emphasis on evolution, not revolution, in curriculum changes. This approach considers the financial constraints and the current strain on the teaching workforce. Another significant point was the...
Oct 29, 2024•17 min•Ep. 179
Send me a message. In this episode, I chat with Kevin Spurr and Becky Forshaw from Kitronik, a company supplying D&T resources to schools. Kevin, a co-founder with 20 years of experience, and Becky, a former primary teacher, offer unique perspectives on the evolving landscape of D&T education. We explore how Kitronik develops products and resources balancing engagement, affordability, and curriculum relevance. Kevin shares insights into their manufacturing process and adapting to changin...
Oct 21, 2024•39 min•Ep. 178
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I break down the curriculum and assessment review for England . As a researcher in design and technology education, I highlight key sections relevant to D&T teachers and stakeholders. I walk you through the review's nine sections, focusing on areas like social justice, curriculum content, and assessment. You'll learn how to approach your response and understand the importance of providing specific examples. We explore D&T's place in ...
Oct 09, 2024•29 min•Ep. 177
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I'm delighted to chat with Venessa Lourdes Silveira, a PhD student in Educational Theory and Practice with a fascinating background in design and technology education. We dive into Venessa's action research project on promoting creativity in secondary D&T classrooms through biomimicry. Our conversation explores how nature-inspired design methods can spark student engagement and innovative thinking. Venessa shares insights from her collab...
Sep 30, 2024•39 min•Ep. 176
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Alice Hellard, Programme Lead for Design and Technology PGCE at Goldsmiths University, and Derek Jones, senior lecturer in sustainable design at the Open University. We talk about design studios and their potential impact on D&T education. Our conversation explores how studio practices can shape learning experiences, from primary classrooms to higher education. Alice shares insights from her teaching background, while Derek o...
Sep 23, 2024•55 min•Ep. 174
Send me a message. Curious about how exam boards shape design and technology education? In this episode of Talking D&T, I sit down with Louise Attwood, Subject Support Lead for D&T at AQA. With eight years at the exam board and a background in teaching, Louise offers unique insights into the world of D&T qualifications. We explore the intricate process of curriculum development and assessment, uncovering how AQA works with the Department for Education, Ofqual, and teachers to shape D...
Sep 16, 2024•35 min•Ep. 172
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Dawn Foxall, founder of the Textile Skills Centre. Dawn's fascinating journey from knitwear designer to opera singer, and finally to textiles education advocate, sets the stage for our wide-ranging conversation. We delve into the current state of textiles education within D&T, exploring the challenges faced by teachers and the need for a more comprehensive approach. Dawn shares insights from her recent research, revealing sur...
Sep 09, 2024•35 min
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Dr Bethan Gordon, Dean of Cardiff School of Art and Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Bethan, a human-centred designer by training, has been deeply involved in developing the new curriculum for Wales. We dive into the fascinating world of curriculum reform, exploring how Wales is revolutionising its approach to education. Bethan shares insights on their focus on developing both the curriculum and the teachers themselves,...
Sep 02, 2024•26 min•Ep. 169
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I had the pleasure of interviewing Scott Bartholemew, a professor of technology and engineering studies at Brigham Young University in Utah, USA. We explored the landscape of design and technology education in America, which is known there as technology and engineering education. Scott provided fascinating insights into the complex structure of technology education in the US, explaining how it varies significantly between states. He describe...
Aug 19, 2024•35 min•Ep. 168
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I dive into the recently announced curriculum review for England and what it means for design and technology education. As someone who's been part of discussions shaping D&T's future, I share my thoughts on how teachers can get involved and influence government policy. I explore the review's terms of reference, highlighting the emphasis on a 'broader curriculum' and what this could mean for D&T. Drawing on my experience, I suggest fo...
Jul 30, 2024•19 min•Ep. 167
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with David Houston, team leader for schools and colleges at the V&A South Kensington. David shares his passion for design education and the pivotal role museums play in inspiring young minds. We delve into the V&A's innovative programmes, including DesignLab Nation and V&A Innovate, which bring design thinking to schools across the UK. David's insights on creating 'eureka moments' for students and the importance of hands-o...
Jul 15, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 166
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I sit down with Amanda Mason and Ciaran Ellis to discuss their involvement in the Redesigning D&T project. We explore their motivations for joining the initiative and the valuable insights they've gained along the way. Amanda, a secondary school teacher in the Northeast of England, shares how the project has deepened her understanding of the subject and its varied interpretations across schools. Ciaran, head of design technology in the N...
Jul 08, 2024•33 min•Ep. 164
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I sat down with Jim Dale, Head of Product Design at Nottingham Trent University, to explore the evolving landscape of design education. Jim shared fascinating insights into how university courses are adapting to prepare students for the diverse world of modern product design. We delved into the transition students face when moving from school to university, discussing how Jim's department helps broaden their understanding of design beyond ph...
Jul 02, 2024•31 min•Ep. 163
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I had the pleasure of interviewing Ryan Ball from the D&T Association. Our conversation centred around the current state of the design and technology teaching workforce in England. Ryan shared his insights from visiting numerous schools across the country, highlighting the enthusiasm of primary school teachers and the challenges faced by secondary school teachers. We discussed the shift in demographics, with younger teachers bringing fre...
Jun 17, 2024•41 min•Ep. 162
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I spoke with Holly Maxwell, a curriculum advisor for the Leigh Academy Trust, and Harkit Janagel, head of design and food at Strood Academy, about the differences between GCSE Design & Technology and GCSE 3D Design. We delved into the challenges teachers face when choosing between these qualifications and the reasons why some schools opt for 3D Design over D&T. Holly and Harkit shared their experiences and insights, discussing the em...
Jun 03, 2024•51 min•Ep. 161
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I interview Milly Kearns, a final year Product Design student at Nottingham Trent University. Milly shares her experiences studying Design and Technology (D&T) in school and how that led her to pursue product design at university. We discuss the differences and similarities between D&T at school versus university, including the focus on collaboration, presentation skills, and the application of theoretical knowledge. Milly offers ins...
May 27, 2024•36 min•Ep. 160
Send me a message. In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I interviewed Janine Pavlis, a lecturer at St Mary's University in Twickenham, London, who specialises in primary design and technology education. We discussed the current state of D&T in primary schools, including the statutory requirements, the typical structure of lessons, and the importance of creativity and problem-solving skills. Janine shared examples of good practice she has observed, such as the integration of comput...
May 20, 2024•43 min•Ep. 159
Send me a message. In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicky Dewar, the Director of Learning and Skills at the Crafts Council. We discussed the importance of craft in design and technology education and the challenges faced by schools in incorporating hands-on making experiences for students. Nicky shared her insights on how the craft element in both art and design and design technology has been slowly eroding over time. She emphasized the significa...
May 13, 2024•27 min•Ep. 158
Send me a message. Early this year I had the pleasure of interviewing Tony Ryan, the Chief Executive of the Design and Technology Association. In this episode, Tony shared exciting updates about the association's initiatives to support and advance design and technology education in the UK. We discussed the "Reimagined" program, which focuses on developing a design-driven, problem-solving approach to the subject at Key Stage 3. The association has created 12 units of work, with plans to release u...
May 06, 2024•43 min•Ep. 156
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I sit down with Dave Parry, Design and Technology Advisor at CLEAPSS, to discuss the current state of D&T education in England and explore potential ways to shape its future. Dave shares his insights from visiting numerous schools and highlights some of the main challenges the subject faces, including a shortage of trained staff, difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers, and limited access to professional development opportuniti...
Apr 29, 2024•38 min•Ep. 154
Send me a message. In this episode, I interview David Spendlove, a professor at the University of Manchester, about his radical thinking on design and technology education. Spendlove reintroduces his concept of "Design and Technology 2.0," which aims to create a new conceptual space for rethinking the subject without the baggage of its current form. David argues that the current model of D&T education, driven by materialistic outcomes and consumerist ideologies, may be doing more harm than g...
Apr 22, 2024•45 min•Ep. 152
Send me a message. This week’s episode is part of the Shaping D&T series, running from April to August 2024, where i interview a variety of people and discuss the current state and future of design and technology (D&T) education. This week it’s just me exploring the current national curriculum for D&T in England, which has undergone several iterations, with the current version established in 2013-2014, making it the longest-standing iteration. The curriculum’s development involved ex...
Apr 15, 2024•22 min•Ep. 150
Send me a message. In this introductory episode of the second series of my Talking D&T podcast for 2024, I discuss the focus of the upcoming series on shaping design and technology education in England. The series, running from April to August 2024, will feature international speakers sharing their perspectives on the subject in their respective countries. I explain the catalysts behind the series, including the decline in the number of pupils studying GCSE design and technology and proposal...
Apr 08, 2024•7 min•Ep. 148
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I interview Phil Jones, a full-time D&T teacher and subject leader at a school in Merseyside, who is also a part-time doctoral student at Liverpool John Moores University. Phil shares his experience as part of the organizing committee for the PATT (Pupils' Attitude Towards Technology) conference and discusses a paper that grabbed his attention during the event. The paper, authored by Remke Klapwijk from the Netherlands, explores secondar...
Mar 26, 2024•27 min•Ep. 146
Send me a message. In this episode, Alice Hellard and I explore the impact of design on our lives and society. Alice's work highlights the importance of design education in navigating modern complexities, emphasising student agency and the dynamic relationship between humans and their environment. We talk about how objects like smartphones influence behaviors and interactions, prompting a shift in educational focus towards process over outcomes. Everyday objects are also examined as a means of e...
Mar 19, 2024•43 min•Ep. 144
Send me a message. This is the first part of a conversation with Alice Hellard from Goldsmiths. We unravel the complexities of agency, design and objects agency in museum settings. Alice's research, presented at PATT40, looks at the often-overlooked emotional and philosophical connections we form with objects, and how these relationships are shaped by historical practices and curatorial decisions. Her research underscores the importance of bridging the gap between students and the items they stu...
Feb 27, 2024•35 min•Ep. 142
Send me a message. Are you a D&T teacher or researcher navigating the complex world of academic writing and conferences? Unlock the mysteries of academic publishing as I sit down with Sarah Davies, the editor-in-chief of the PATT40 conference. This week's episode explores the layers of the paper submission process, offering a comprehensive look at the journey from abstract to publication. We dissect the peer review system, emphasising its crucial role in fostering equality, diversity, and in...
Feb 20, 2024•34 min•Ep. 140
