A case study of the teaching of design and technology in a secondary school

Abstract

Design and Technology is a relatively new subject in the Singapore's secondary school curriculum. This subject calls for a very different approach to teaching and learning by both the teacher and the pupil so as to realise Design and Technology's fullest potential. Factors influencing the teaching of Design and Technology are many. A disciplined inquiry using the naturalistic inquiry method revealed the importance of teacher's design background, teacher's design knowledge base, teacher's expertise in designing, pupil's attitude and innate abilities in designing in the implementation of a Design and Technology programme. This paper will present a `double learning loop process' model of both teacher and pupil in an intense learning relationship. A comparison is made between the pupil's folio after going through the learning process with the teacher and that of a pupil's folio taught in the conventional approach in a school. The fundamental role of drawing/sketching in pupil's design abilities, the understanding of the concept of `design process-in-action' by both teacher and pupil, and the marking system of Design and Technology affecting both teaching methodology and pupil's performance will be discussed.