Podcast

Talking D&T is a podcast about design and technology education. Join me as I share ideas, news and views about D&T and interviews teachers and researchers from the D&T community. As well as sharing news, views, ideas and opinions about D&T, I use it to explore new ideas and thoughts related to D&T education and my research, which are embryonic and may change.

I enjoy talking to people about D&T, hearing their thoughts about the subject and what they are doing in their D&T lives.

Podcast

Talking D&T is a podcast about design and technology education. Join me as I share ideas, news and views about D&T and interviews teachers and researchers from the D&T community. As well as sharing news, views, ideas and opinions about D&T, I use it to explore new ideas and thoughts related to D&T education and my research, which are embryonic and may change.

I enjoy talking to people about D&T, hearing their thoughts about the subject and what they are doing in their D&T lives.

Read It, Question It, Respond: Northern Ireland’s Consultation 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Read It, Question It, Respond: Northern Ireland’s Consultation

Send me a message. This week I'm digging into curriculum consultations — specifically the one currently open for Northern Ireland's Technology and Design curriculum, which…

The Boot, the Book, and the Case for Consultation 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

The Boot, the Book, and the Case for Consultation

Send me a message. I’ve been away for a while, and coming back means being honest about why: an Achilles rupture that never healed properly,…

Stop Saying “Be Creative” And Start Unpicking It 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Stop Saying “Be Creative” And Start Unpicking It

Send me a message. I recently attended an event at Nottingham Trent University that wasn't really aimed at me — but it got me thinking…

Making Confident Design And Technology Curriculum Decisions Without Guesswork 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Making Confident Design And Technology Curriculum Decisions Without Guesswork

Send me a message. A curriculum can look tidy on paper while the teacher behind it is quietly thinking, “Am I getting this right?” We…

The Evidence Gap In D&T Curriculum Decisions 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

The Evidence Gap In D&T Curriculum Decisions

Send me a message. D&T curriculum leadership often feels like making consequential calls with half a map. When time is squeezed, pupils disengage, policies shift,…

What Changes When We Design D&T For Access 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

What Changes When We Design D&T For Access

Send me a message. The best support in Design and Technology rarely looks dramatic. It looks like a calm voice re-reading instructions, a bigger print-out…

Drafting Curricula By Day, Walking Kip By Night 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Drafting Curricula By Day, Walking Kip By Night

Send me a message. I’ve been quiet on the podcast, and I wanted to be honest about why. The short version is not drama, it’s…

How A Senior Leader Put D&T At The Heart Of Three SEMH Schools 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

How A Senior Leader Put D&T At The Heart Of Three SEMH Schools

Send me a message. What happens when a senior leader who grew up in the workshop helps design three SEMH schools from the ground up?…

Designing For SEMH: Teaching D&T With Care 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Designing For SEMH: Teaching D&T With Care

Send me a message. A noisy workshop can feel like a storm, but what if the path to learning starts with rhythm, not rush? We…

“You’re going to let me use THAT?” – Empowering special needs students in D&T 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

“You’re going to let me use THAT?” – Empowering special needs students in D&T

Send me a message. Nicola Brown shares her experience teaching design and technology at Springwell Leeds North, an SEMH school catering to students aged 7-16…

Beyond Empathy: What the V&A’s Design and Disability Exhibition Taught Me 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Beyond Empathy: What the V&A’s Design and Disability Exhibition Taught Me

Send me a message. A museum floor changed underfoot and so did my thinking. After a visit to the V&A’s Design and Disability exhibition, I…

When outsiders define your field: who decides what counts as value? 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

When outsiders define your field: who decides what counts as value?

Send me a message. In this episode, I share some fascinating early findings from our ongoing survey exploring how people value design and technology compared…

Bridging Art & Design and D&T: Values, Overlaps, and Why Differences Matter 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Bridging Art & Design and D&T: Values, Overlaps, and Why Differences Matter

Send me a message. Ever been told art and design and technology are basically the same because they share the word “design”? Let’s test that…

Your Voice, Your Subject: Three Ways to Shape D&T’s Future 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Your Voice, Your Subject: Three Ways to Shape D&T’s Future

Send me a message. In this episode, I'm excited to share three brilliant opportunities for you to get involved in research that's shaping the future…

Not Ready Yet: The Professor Application That Wasn’t 150 150 Dr. Alison Hardy

Not Ready Yet: The Professor Application That Wasn’t

Send me a message. I applied for my professorship at my university and didn't get it despite approval at school level. The feedback indicated I…

Join My Newsletter

D&T education is constantly evolving. Let me help you stay right up to date.

    Free resources

    Achieve more with books and curriculum development.

    Monthly updates

    Receive insights and updates on my current D&T project.

    Access latest research

    Stay aware with links to newly published D&T education research.

    Get involved

    Discover how you can get involved in my research.

    Join My Newsletter

    D&T education is constantly evolving. Let me help you stay right up to date.

      Free resources

      Achieve more with books and curriculum development.

      Monthly updates

      Receive insights and updates on my current D&T project.

      Access latest research

      Stay aware with links to newly published D&T education research.

      Get involved

      Discover how you can get involved in my research.

      What People Say About Me

      The Talking D&T podcast has been excellent for my professional development, it is easy to listen to and incredibly informative. Through Alison’s conversations, she explores the multifaceted world of D&T and has helped me to question and challenge my own practice. I particularly enjoy her guest speakers, discussing the different aspects and opportunities within D&T. If you are someone who has a keen interest in the world of D&T, then I highly recommend listening to this Podcast.

      Drew Wicken - Head of design and technology at Co-op Academy Stoke-on-Trent

      Working with Alison has significantly enhanced my teaching practice and opened up a wealth of opportunities to develop my career. Alison challenges and questions my thinking, especially around teaching pedagogy and the purpose of design and technology, which has had a clear and positive impact on the pupils I teach, improving their attitude and approach towards the subject.

      Polly Alden - The Bemrose School

      Alison provided our Trust-wide D&T subject community with the means to both navigate and engage with the wider Design and Technology education community. The session allowed D&T subject leaders and teachers to reflect on how engaging with their wider community and subject-specific scholarship could have value for their classroom practice. It was incredibly powerful that the session gave teachers the time and space to reflect on their department’s approach to D&T and the notion of D&T capability. 

      Grace Healy - Curriculum Director, David Ross Education Trust

      After listening to Alison’s thought-provoking discussions with her guests, it’s impossible to leave without a head full of ideas.  The podcasts are fascinating, insightful and accessible.  An invaluable part of the D&T teacher’s toolkit!

      Chris Wilson - Head of Design Technology, The King's School Worcester

      Alison provided a thought provoking and well balanced article for the CLEAPSS e-magazine, Futureminds, about what she felt were a number of options for where D&T might go in the next few years. She also gave me the opportunity to talk about CLEAPSS’ work on her podcast – a great conversation. I look forward to working with Alison again in the future.

      Dave Parry - D&T advisor at CLEAPSS

      Alison’s advice to our department helped us make positive changes to our D&T curriculum. She gave us an honest assessment of where our strengths were and how we could develop out planning and day-to-day practice, going that extra mile with follow up support after her visit.

      Liam Anderson - Head of Design and Technology, Trinity School

      Dr. Alison Hardy

      I’m an academic, writer and podcaster. I help shape the practise and future of design and technology education through my research, published resources and lots of conversations with lovely people throughout the D&T education community.

      About

      Research

      Podcast

      Books

      Writing

      Teaching

      Fill out the form to subscribe to my newsletter.

        Website design: PT Digital

        Terms and Conditions  |  Privacy Policy

        Dr. Alison Hardy

        I’m an academic, writer and podcaster. I help shape the practise and future of design and technology education through my research, published resources and lots of conversations with lovely people throughout the D&T education community.

        Fill out the form to subscribe to my newsletter.

          Website design: PT Digital
          Terms and Conditions  |  Privacy Policy

          Enter your
          text here