hamilton2003.pdf (306.22 kB)
Interaction, dialogue and a creative spirit of inquiry
online resource
posted on 2007-05-23, 10:34 authored by J.W. HamiltonThe aim of technology and design is ‘to enable all pupils to
become confident and responsible in solving real life
problems, striving for creative solutions, independent
learning, product excellence and social consciousness’
(NICC 1991: 15). A main aim of the present study was to
create an environment and climate for learning that would
enhance design capability and problem solving. To achieve
this, pupils from two Year 7 classes (mean age 11 years-old)
were organised into groups of four as creative learning
communities. Working collaboratively and co-operatively
pupils were able to discuss, clarify, brainstorm, think
through their ideas, negotiate and arrive at a shared
contextual understanding for their talking, thinking,
planning and making. A local story was used as a stimulus
for critical and creative thinking and as the platform for
design and technology activity.
Methodology included digital video and audio recordings,
picture capture, classroom observation, pupil and teacher
semi-structured interviews, teacher logs, researcher field
notes, project evaluation.
Findings, from the transcripts of classroom-based
discussions, showed that active participation and careful
scaffolding of the learning by the teachers, enabled pupils to
achieve at a higher level than they would have done if left
unassisted. Individual creativity and problem solving was
enhanced, as evidenced by the high levels of pupil
engagement in the process and diversity of pupil outcomes.
Dialogue, interaction and a creative spirit of inquiry were
significant in the teaching-learning process. As
technologists, pupils were learning how to learn and
thinking how to think within a context that was real and of
interest to them.
History
School
- Design
Research Unit
- D&T Association Conference Series
Publisher
© DATAPublication date
2003Notes
This is a conference paperLanguage
- en