Primary School Technology: Where is it going?

Abstract

The intention of this article is to share some thoughts and experiences of primary school technology so that teachers may analyse their own ideas and practice. It is not to provide answers, for I believe those answers, ultimately, must come from primary teachers themselves when they have thought more deeply and had more experience of technology and related activities.

The encouragement of the development of technology in the primary school has led to confusion about what is expected and a feeling of inadequacy in many a conscientious teacher, who is, more often than not, female with a limited backgound in CDT or science. This has come about, I believe, because the term technology is linked to secondary school subjects (CDT) usually taught by a male teacher, specifically trained for the job, employing specialist knowledge, skills, tools and materials.