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In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I interviewed Janine Pavlis, a lecturer at St Mary's University in Twickenham, London, who specialises in primary design and technology education. We discussed the current state of D&T in primary schools, including the statutory requirements, the typical structure of lessons, and the importance of creativity and problem-solving skills.

Janine shared examples of good practice she has observed, such as the integration of computing skills and the use of real-world problems. However, she also highlighted the challenges faced by primary school teachers, including the need for ongoing professional development, the lack of resources, and the pressure to buy into pre-made schemes of work.

We explored the importance of considering primary education when shaping the future of D&T and the need for more research on inclusive practices within the subject. Janine expressed her concern that primary school teachers are not being consulted enough when it comes to making decisions about the D&T curriculum.

Throughout our conversation, we emphasised the significance of aligning teaching with the values and aims of the subject, ensuring that children understand the purpose behind their learning. We also discussed the potential for further research into teachers' motivations and experiences in teaching D&T at the primary level.

(Text generated by AI, edited by Alison Hardy)

Ciaran Ellis posted a thought-provoking question on LinkedIn recently: Do design decisions involve value judgements?

What do you think? Join the conversation over on LinkedIn and let us know what you think.

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