Valuing products and applications

As part of the development of teaching strategies and identification of key educational issues surrounding product evaluation, a conference was held in February 1995 which has subsequently led to the publication of the booklet Looking at Values through Products and Applications. The booklet has now been distributed along with a number of short questionnaires to determine the current level of product evaluation activities undertaken in schools. Responses indicate that teachers have explored a variety of ways of enabling pupils, across the entire age range, to evaluate products. This paper highlights some of the issues raised, through the questionnaire, by teachers who already have, or are planning to, undertake product evaluation activities with pupils. These issues, both practical and pedagogic, focus attention on the need for further research, development of teaching strategies and in-service training. To further understand the process pupils go through when evaluating products, a notion of product evaluation capability is put forward where the development of capability is dependent on attitudinal as well as practical factors. In addition, the use of product evaluation to expose and uncover value judgements is explored. Finally suggestions to develop research and share experiences are outlined.