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Int J Technol Des Educ (2014) 24:118 DOI 10.1007/s10798-013-9240-1
Eva Bjrkholm
Published online: 29 March 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Abstract Within the eld of technology education, evaluating technical solutions is considered as an important topic. Research indicates that pupils have difculties in evaluating technical solutions in terms of tness for purpose, i.e. how effective a technical solution supports its intended function. By using the learning study, which is an iterative and collaborative research approach, the study explores the capability to evaluate technical solutions in terms of tness for purpose, what it takes to know it and how to best enhance its learning in the primary technology classroom. Audio and video recorded interviews, teachers meetings and lessons are the base data for the study. A contribution of the study is the understanding of this specic knowing, and what is critical for learning and thus to an improvement of technology teaching practice.
Keywords Primary technology education Fitness for purpose Function Teaching
Learning Learning study
Introduction
The capability to evaluate technical solutions is highlighted by several authors as an important educational outcome within technology education (Barlex 2011; Coles and Norman 2005). It is considered essential as an analytical tool for making design decisions and for interpreting existing technological objects and systems. This capability is also advocated in technology curriculum documents across the world. According to the Swedish technology curriculum of 2011 (National Agency for Education, Sweden 2011), which forms the background for this study, the teaching of technology should include
E. Bjrkholm
Centre for Teaching and Learning in the Humanities, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
E. Bjrkholm (&)
Department of Learning, School of Education and Communication in Engineering Science, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Osqars backe 31, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden e-mail: [email protected]
Exploring the capability of evaluating technical solutions: a collaborative study into the primary technology classroom
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giving pupils possibilities to develop knowledge about technology in everyday life. This knowledge is described more precisely in terms of the ability to identify and analyse technical solutions based on their function, i.e. what they do, and tness for purpose; in other words, how effectively they support their intended functions. Another example is the New Zealand technology curriculum, which highlights the evaluation of...