Creativity in practice… What not to do…

This paper describes research carried out in two UK primary training providers as part of the ‘Creative Teachers for Creative Learners’ project, funded by a Research and Development Award from the Teacher Training Agency. Over the past two years a study of trainees has been undertaken at Manchester Metropolitan University and Goldsmiths College, University of London, as part of a larger collaboration with Bath Spa University College. During the first year this looked at undergraduates who were training to teach in primary schools. They expressed their own notion of the ‘creative person’ using cartoons and further data was collected using a questionnaire. This year, a task that had originally been piloted by Bath Spa to gain an insight into where postgraduate trainees located creativity within their practice, was used to further explore the undergraduates’ understanding of creativity while they were on school experience placements. This paper draws on data collected from two cohorts of undergraduate trainees in each institution. Comparisons will be drawn between the two sets of data collected to establish how one varies from the other and possible reasons for this will be mooted. Initial findings indicate that the Goldsmiths and MMU trainees expect to find opportunities for creativity in most areas of the curriculum with assumptions that certain subjects offer more opportunities than others. However, as the Goldsmiths and MMU trainees reflected on the reality of teaching on their school experience placements the data gathered offered some interesting insights, which are particularly pertinent in this time of further curriculum change in primary education, including inhibitors of creativity

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Planning Primary Design and Technology - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoThe Food Story - reviewed by Ali FarrellMechanisms Projects - reviewed by Ian WilfordElectronic Building Blocks - reviewed by Ian WilfordProducts and Packages: A Partnership Investigated - reviewed by Ali FarrellWorking with Materials - Wood Metal Plastic - reviewed by David FosterEngineers in School - reviewed by Richard Foulge

Technology insight: virtual visits to industry using the Web

The paper describes the philosophy and structure of a new Web service for technology education that is being developed by the authors. The fundamental concept is that the site allows pupils and teachers to ‘visit’ industry and to learn how products are designed and made. Each ‘visit’ focuses on a particular product and tells its story through the people involved in its production. The ‘visit’ is complemented by ideas for follow-up activities in schools and hotlinks to other relevant resources on the Web

How do trainee primary teachers understand creativity?

This paper draws upon preliminary findings from research undertaken in three UK primary training providers as part of the Creative Teachers for Creative Learners project, funded by a Research and Development Award from the Teacher Training Agency. The project aims to support the development of primary trainee teachers’ understanding of, and teaching for, children’s creativity in design & technology (D&T) and other curriculum areas by producing an interactive bank of teaching and learning materials set within a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). As an initial stage in the development of these materials, the project team has been exploring trainees’ current understandings and perceptions of creativity, both as a personal attribute and as fostered by the primary curriculum in England. This paper will focus upon two sets of data generated as part of this process and the extent to which Harrington’s (1990) ‘creative ecosystem’ is a useful theoretical and evaluative framework for trainee teachers. At Bath Spa University College, primary PGCE trainees have been set a directed task in schools during which they select lessons from two curriculum areas to observe: one which they expect to offer scope for creativity and another which they judge to lack creative potential. They have evaluated the support offered for children’s creativity in each subject area using the framework drawn from Harrington (1990) and have frequently found their preconceptions challenged. At Manchester Metropolitan University and Goldsmiths’ College, undergraduate trainees have produced cartoons to express their own notion of the ‘creative person’. This has produced some interesting outcomes with regard to where opportunities for creativity can be found

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Plastics and the Environment - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoBuild a Clock - reviewed by John DurrellFood: The Manufacturing Process - reviewed by Julia JonesNuffield Design and Technology 11-14 - reviewed by Alison HardyTechnology in Practice - reviewed by Chris SnellA Strateg for Differentiation - reviewed by Mark HudsonStandards for Technological Literacy: Content for the Study of Technology - reviewed by Eddie NormanStaying on at School - reviewed by Melanie Fasciat

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;The Story of the Can - reviewed by Marion RutlandExploring Food Cans - reviewed by Marion RutlandJames Dyson: Against the Odds - reviewed by David SpendloveDesign and Make It! Key Stage 3 Assessment Resources: Product Design and Food and Textiles - reviewed by Ali FarrellIn Target Design and Technology Key Stage 3 - reviewed by Ali FarrellThe Chocolate Challenge - reviewed by Anne RiggsFocus on Design Technology: Resistant Materials - reviewed by Chris SnellThe Food File - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoThe Usbourne Complete Book of the Internet and the World Wide Web - reviewed by Alan CrossTechno Designers - reviewed by Jenny JupeBasic Food Hygiene Interactive CD-ROM - reviewed by Jenny JupeThe University of Greenwich D&T Resource Materials - reviewed by Michael Lawranc

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Design and Technology Frames - reviewed by Mark HudsonDiscoveries - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoProgressio in Primary Design and Technology - reviewed by Rob BowenPrimary Design and Technology: Introducing Birds and Conservation to the Curriculum - reviewed by Bridget A. EganFood Tables and Labelling - reviewed by Jonty KinsellaExploring Materials CD-ROM Education Pack - reviewed by Chris SnellSkills in Resistant Materials Technology - reviewed by Mark HudsonDo3D - reviewed by Les PorterDesign and Technology Textiles Foundation Course - reviewed by Helen WilsonFocus on Plastics - reviewed by Chris SnellUnderstanding Industrial Practices in Textiles Technology - reviewed by Jenny JupeDyson Education Box - reviewed by Jenny JupeEdison 3.0 - reviewed by Jean Allma

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Technology Education - A World Wide Concern - reviewed by Dr Thomas GinnerLiving Materials - Practical Activities in Science and Technology - reviewed by David FosterSTEP Design and Technology: Resistant Materials - reviewed by Les PorterSTEP Design and Technology: Food - reviewed by Jenny JupeTERU Diagnostic Tests in Design and Technology - reviewed by Bill GoddardUnderstanding Practice in Design and Technology - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoTeaching Design and Technology - reviewed by John HillD&T Alive at Alton Towers Key Stage 3 - reviewed by John DurrellSucceeding with Autocad - reviewed by P WhittakerTIckle the Senses! - reviewed by Ali FarrellThe Fast Food Diner - reviewed by Margaret Jepso

Reviews

The following publications have been reviewed by the mentioned authors;Let's Go Bananas with Fyffes - reviewed by Melanie FasciatoLiquids Mean Life - reviewed by Jonty KinsellaDesign and Make It! Food Technology for KS3 - reviewed by Dawn WilliamsFidget - reviewed by George AsquithFinding out about Managing Waste - reviewed by Ann MacGarryHands on! - reviewed by Les PorterSkills in Graphic Products and Teacher's Resource Pack - reviewed by Michael LawranceResistant Materials to GCSE - reviewed by Roman M. GawelInventing the Modern World - reviewed by David SpendloveC for PICmicro Microcontrollers - reviewed by David FosterHow Things Work Today - reviewed by Mark HudsonMachi-work: Education for Participation - reviewed by Maggie RogersOne Good Turn - reviewed by John Egglesto