Talking D&T Dr Alison Hardy

Send me a message.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 compu...

Send me a message.In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nicky Dewar, the Director of Learning and Skills at the Crafts Council. We discussed the importance of craft in design and technology education and the challenges faced by schools in incorporating hands-on making experiences for students.Nicky shared her insights on how the craft element in both art and design and design technology has been slowly eroding over time. She emphasized the signific...

Subscriber-only episodeSend me a message.In this episode of Talking D&T, I reflect on the conversation published earlier this week with Tony Ryan about the various industry contexts developed by the Design and Technology Association for Key Stage 3 pupils in England. I explore the complexities that teachers face when designing a unit of work, particularly in the realm of design and technology.Drawing from the "Inspired by Industry" work discussed by Tony, I emphasise the importance ...

Send me a message.Early this year I had the pleasure of interviewing Tony Ryan, the Chief Executive of the Design and Technology Association. In this episode, Tony shared exciting updates about the association's initiatives to support and advance design and technology education in the UK.We discussed the "Reimagined" program, which focuses on developing a design-driven, problem-solving approach to the subject at Key Stage 3. The association has created 12 units of work, with plans to release ...

Subscriber-only episodeSend me a message.In this episode of Talking D&T, I wanted to delve into the topic of collaboration, support, and networks for design and technology teachers. Drawing inspiration from the successful model of the Food Teachers Centre, I discussed the importance of creating spaces where teachers can collaborate and share ideas while maintaining clear standards and boundaries around the subject.I reflected on how the shift from local authorities to multi-academy trusts...

Send me a message.In this episode of Talking D&T, I sit down with Dave Parry, Design and Technology Advisor at CLEAPSS, to discuss the current state of D&T education in England and explore potential ways to shape its future. Dave shares his insights from visiting numerous schools and highlights some of the main challenges the subject faces, including a shortage of trained staff, difficulties in recruiting and retaining teachers, and limited access to professional development opportuni...