Bridging Schools and Universities: Reshaping D&T's Future

Send me a message. In this episode, I'm sharing some exciting developments in design and technology education, starting with insights from a recent policy event I led at Nottingham Trent University. The day brought together D&T teachers and university lecturers in design education to envision the future of our subject, using an innovative co-navigator approach from Denmark. I discuss the growing collaboration between schools and universities in design education, highlighted by lightning talks from key figures including Tony Ryan from the D&T Association and Michelle Gregson from the National Society for Education in Art and Design. The event demonstrated how breaking down barriers between educational sectors can enrich our understanding of design education's progression from primary through to higher education. Looking ahead, I preview an upcoming series about pedagogy in D&T, where we'll be taking a fresh look at familiar teaching approaches like demonstrations, WAGGOLLs, and frameworks such as ACCESS FM. Working with Sarah Davies and Alice Hellard, we'll be exploring what research tells us about these techniques and how we might enhance their use in our classrooms. For those interested in connecting with other D&T practitioners, I introduce the Archer Exchange Network, a new platform for sharing ideas and research in our field. As you reflect on your own teaching approaches, what aspects of D&T pedagogy would you like to examine more deeply? Whether you're teaching in the UK or internationally, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how we can build stronger connections between research and classroom practice. Subscribe to stay updated on these discussions and join our growing community of design educators. Support the show If you like the podcast, you can always buy me a coffee to say 'thanks!' Please offer your feedback about the show or ideas for future episodes and topics by connecting with me on Threads @hardy_alison or by emailing me. If you listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, please take a moment to rate and/or review the show. If you want to support me by becoming a Patron click here. If you are not able to support me financially, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or sharing a link to my work on social media. Thank you!