BurgmannScholarship ResearchProposal

PatrickLanger

Innovation and subsequent uses of new technology have greatly impacted the way we think about designing, constructing and manufacture in todays society. This notion has also carried through to schools and education where innovation is a highly valued within curricula and teaching and learning strategies (Moyle, 2010). The challenge for schools and teachers is to find ways to develop students innovative capabilities in a way that is meaningful and authentic. The subject of Design and Technology can play a vital part in the development of these 21st Century skills needed by students in our school. The subject is based around design thinking and allows students to create, explore and problem-solving while taking advantage of this new technologies. Not only are these skills thoroughly developed is this subject, but the potential for application in other subject areas is well established. The following questions must then be asked: How is a school best advised to nurture this notion of innovation in education? How do we prepare students in Design and Technology which will allow them to be creative with new and evolving technologies? Design and Technology has long been driven by teacher directed skills focus. There has been a recent shift away from this dated approach, to the teacher who facilitates creative thinking (Turner & Seemann, 2004). This role change within the classroom allows students to design for real-world problems, be creative with technology and further their ability to be independent learners. Approaching learning in this way takes advantage of students search for relevance in their education and is an integral part of maintaining willingness to learn both inside and outside the classroom (Ofsted, 2011; Moyle, 2010). To instill innovation in the classroom, significant focus must be placed on teacher professional learning (Moyle, 2010). Among other things, visiting both national and international schools are seen as crucial in broadening ones understanding of innovation and technology in a school setting (Moyle, 2010). In order to answer the aforementioned questions, further research in this area must be undertaken. The scholarship grant would allow me to investigate how successful schools, particularly within the Design and Technology area, successfully implement ever evolving technologies and innovative teaching and learning practices. The focus would be driven along these two paths, that of technology and supportive pedagogy. The initial stages of the research would involve selecting appropriate schools where innovation and technology is a key focus in the Design and Technology curriculum and has been successfully implemented. The results from the research would dictate any further investigation into specifics of communication and travel.

Staff Implications

The implications for this research on staff both within the Design and Technology Faculty and school wide are vast. The potential for a dramatic shift towards design thinking as a basis for learning strategies is clearly evident. Furthermore, there is a possibility the teachers role in the classroom may evolve into something relevant for 21 st century education.

StudentBenefits Development of learning strategies which are molded to the interest of the students while maintaining academic integrity will be invaluable. It will increase a students imagination, creativity, problem-solving, while exposing them to real-world contexts (Ofsted, 2011). The integration of new technologies will also expose them to skills and technical solutions that will prepare them for the future.

Staff Member Patrick Langer Employed by Burgmann Anglican School since 2011 Bachelor of Education Masters in Exercise Science

Timeof Project The research project would be carried out in the October school holidays.

References Moyle, K (2010). Building innovation: Learning with technologies, Australian Educational Review; 5 . !"sted (2011). The Design and Technology Curriculum needs modernising. #ccessed 10$%$201%, availa&le "ro': htt(:$$www.o"sted.gov.u)$news$design* and*technology*curriculu'*needs*'odernising*o"sted. +urner, # , -ee'ann, K. (200 ). /0nnovation education in 1-. design and technology curriculu'/, Learning for innovation in technology education: Proceedings of the rd !iennial "nternational Conference on Technology Education Research, -ur"ers 2aradise, 3ld.