PODCAST · education
Talking D&T
by Dr Alison Hardy
Talking D&T is a podcast about design and technology education. Join me, Dr Alison Hardy, as I share news, views, ideas and opinions about D&T. I also talk about D&T with teachers, researchers and academics from the D&T community. The views on this podcast are my own and of those I am interviewing and are not connected to my institution. Much of the content is work in progress. As well as talking about D&T, I use it to explore new ideas and thoughts related to D&T education and my research, which are still embryonic and may change. Consult my publications for a reliable record of my considered thoughts on the topic featured in this podcast. This podcast is independently produced and funded by Dr Alison Hardy. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of Nottingham Trent University. All views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of the University. Podcast music composed by Chris Corcoran (http:/
Episodes
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Read It, Question It, Respond: Northern Ireland's Consultation
Send me a message. This week I'm digging into curriculum consultations — specifically the one currently open for Northern Ireland's Technology and Design curriculum, which I helped draft and which closes on 30 September. Before getting into the detail, I wanted to clear up something that keeps...
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The Boot, the Book, and the Case for Consultation
Send me a message. I’ve been away for a while, and coming back means being honest about why: an Achilles rupture that never healed properly, surgery at the end of July, and six weeks in a boot that has forced me to slow down. Recovery has been “pretty alright” and also a bit rubbish, but the…
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Stop Saying “Be Creative” And Start Unpicking It
Send me a message. I recently attended an event at Nottingham Trent University that wasn't really aimed at me — but it got me thinking in ways I wasn't expecting. Industry designers were talking to final-year product design students about what it takes to succeed in the profession, and I found...
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Making Confident Design And Technology Curriculum Decisions Without Guesswork
Send me a message. A curriculum can look tidy on paper while the teacher behind it is quietly thinking, “Am I getting this right?” We sit with that reality and treat it seriously, because design and technology education is full of high-frequency decisions that rarely come with neat, usable…
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The Evidence Gap In D&T Curriculum Decisions
Send me a message. D&T curriculum leadership often feels like making consequential calls with half a map. When time is squeezed, pupils disengage, policies shift, and senior leaders want clear rationales, it is easy to end up relying on instinct or borrowed evidence from other subjects. I wanted…
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What Changes When We Design D&T For Access
Send me a message. The best support in Design and Technology rarely looks dramatic. It looks like a calm voice re-reading instructions, a bigger print-out placed quietly on a bench, a checklist that turns panic into progress, and a student realising they can finish what they started. I’m joined…
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Drafting Curricula By Day, Walking Kip By Night
Send me a message. I’ve been quiet on the podcast, and I wanted to be honest about why. The short version is not drama, it’s the reality of design and technology education work right now: drafting curriculum, managing confidentiality, and trying to protect enough headspace to do any of it well. A...
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How A Senior Leader Put D&T At The Heart Of Three SEMH Schools
Send me a message. What happens when a senior leader who grew up in the workshop helps design three SEMH schools from the ground up? In this episoode, I sit down with Paul Quinn to unpack a bold, practical vision for Design and Technology that prioritises access, safety and pride in making.…
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Designing For SEMH: Teaching D&T With Care
Send me a message. A noisy workshop can feel like a storm, but what if the path to learning starts with rhythm, not rush? We sit down with D&T teacher Ailis Brown from a specialist SEMH school in Leeds to unpack how safety, trust, and regulation turn short lessons into meaningful progress. From...
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"You're going to let me use THAT?" - Empowering special needs students in D&T
Send me a message. Nicola Brown shares her experience teaching design and technology at Springwell Leeds North, an SEMH school catering to students aged 7-16 with social, emotional, and mental health needs. She discusses how building relationships, establishing micro-routines, and adapting…
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Beyond Empathy: What the V&A's Design and Disability Exhibition Taught Me
Send me a message. A museum floor changed underfoot and so did my thinking. After a visit to the V&A’s Design and Disability exhibition, I came home energised and unsettled—in the best way—and unpack how inclusive design moves from a nice‑to‑have to the engine of real innovation and dignity. It...
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Bridging Art & Design and D&T: Values, Overlaps, and Why Differences Matter
Send me a message. Ever been told art and design and technology are basically the same because they share the word “design”? Let’s test that claim with real data and grounded classroom experience. In this episode I unpack how teachers and stakeholders describe the value of D&T and the value of…
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Your Voice, Your Subject: Three Ways to Shape D&T's Future
Send me a message. In this episode, I'm excited to share three brilliant opportunities for you to get involved in research that's shaping the future of design and technology education. First, I'll tell you about the Redesigning Design and Technology project I'm co-leading with Ciaran, Andrew, and...
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What Gets You Out of Bed to Teach Design & Technology?
Send me a message. Reconnecting with purpose is essential when facing professional challenges. In this reflective episode, I share my experience of an unsuccessful professorial application and how it prompted me to rediscover why I'm passionate about design and technology education in the first...
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[Archive] Talking Design Studio Pedagogy with Alice Hellard and Derek Jones
Send me a message. Recommended read: Studio Properties: A field guide to design education (edited by Derek Jones , Elizabeth Boling, James Benedict Brown , James Corazzo, Colin M. Gray, Nicole Lotz) Derek Jones and Alice Hellard explore the concept of design studio as a transformative educational...
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[Archive] Subject Integrity: When Art Meets Design & Technology
Send me a message. Michelle Gregson, General Secretary and Chief Executive of NSEAD, discusses the relationship between art and design and design and technology education, exploring their distinctiveness while highlighting their shared values and challenges. NSEAD operates as a learned society,...
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[Archive] Shaping the Future: The Evolution and Advocacy of Design and Technology Education with Tony Ryan
Send me a message. If you are interested in helping the Association evaluate their Inspired by Industry programme, sign up here: https://bit.ly/IBIinterest What happens when we look beyond textbook projects and expose 11-14 year olds to real industry design challenges? Tony Ryan, Chief Executive…
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[Archive] Talking about design education in schools and higher ed with Max Pownall
Send me a message. Max Pownall is a product design lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. Find out more about Max and his work: Instagram (NTU Focussed) LinkedIn Uni profile Final Year Degree online degree show Mentioned in this episode Events with Alison Hardy The Design Thinking Toolbox...
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Holistic Evaluation: The True Measure of Design & Technology Capability
Send me a message. Holistic, summative assessment is essential for properly evaluating design and technology capability, drawing on research by Richard Kimball and Kay Stables that predates the National Curriculum and has been tested across multiple countries and age groups. Effective capability...
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Beyond the Design Crit: How Students Learn Through Giving and Receiving Feedback
Send me a message. Formative assessment in Design and Technology requires structured peer feedback approaches to be effective. Research shows a significant gap in assessing technological knowledge, with most studies focusing on design knowledge instead. • Design crits from higher education can be...
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The Research Gap: How to Assess Knowledge Components in Design & Technology
Send me a message. How do we effectively assess knowledge in Design and Technology education? It's a question with surprisingly few research-backed answers, despite its critical importance to teaching practice. I talk about this assessment gap in the second episode of my sub-series on D&T…
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Assessment in D&T: An Overview
Send me a message. How do we measure what truly matters in Design and Technology education? The challenge lies in distinguishing between assessing individual knowledge components and evaluating the holistic capability that emerges when students apply their learning autonomously. In this...
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Deliberate Teaching: The Art of Pedagogical Decision-Making in D&T
Send me a message. What makes for effective teaching in Design & Technology? Returning after a brief hiatus, I delve into the research-backed pedagogical approaches that can transform D&T education. This episode synthesizes my recent exploration of teaching strategies, clarifying the crucial...
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Exploring Product Analysis as Signature Pedagogy in D&T
Send me a message. In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I explore the pedagogical approach of product analysis, often known as IDEAS (Investigation, Disassembly, Evaluation, and Analysis). I examine how this signature pedagogy helps develop learners' understanding of technology in…
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Beyond Design and Make: Exploring Pedagogical Approaches in D&T
Send me a message. In this episode, I delve into the pedagogical approaches that exist beyond the traditional 'design and make' activities in Design and Technology education. Drawing on research literature and classroom practice, I explore how 'mainly designing' and 'mainly making' activities can...
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Design and Make: A Critical Look
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I explore the complex nature of design and make activities in design and technology education. Drawing on research from Richard Kimball, David Perry, and Robert McCormick, I unpack the pedagogical approach of design and make that underpins our...
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Pedagogy & Design: Clarifying Teaching Methods in D&T
Send me a message. Drawing a clear line between how we teach and what we teach seems straightforward—until you step into a Design & Technology classroom. In this thought-provoking exploration of pedagogy in D&T education, I unpack why teachers often blur the boundaries between teaching methods…
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D&T knowledge That Sticks: Residual vs Fingertip Learning
Send me a message. Knowledge frameworks matter profoundly in Design and Technology education, yet teachers often struggle to distinguish between what students need to know for a specific project versus what builds lasting capability. This episode tackles that challenge head-on. In this episode, I...
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Values in Design and Technology: More Than Just Technical Decisions
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I explore the complex role of values in design and technology education. Drawing on research from influential scholars like David Layton, Mike Martin and Rhoda Trimingham, I unpack how values aren't merely peripheral to D&T but are, as Layton…
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Mapping D&T Knowledge: Beyond Conceptual and Procedural
Send me a message. In this episode, I delve deeper into the forms of knowledge that underpin design and technology education. Building on McCormick's conceptual and procedural knowledge framework, I propose a more nuanced approach that considers design knowledge and technological knowledge as...
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Knowledge in D&T: More Than Just Skills and Facts
Send me a message. In this episode, I explore what research tells us about knowledge in Design & Technology education. Understanding the nature of knowledge in D&T is crucial for effective teaching and curriculum planning, so I examine both procedural and conceptual knowledge, exploring how they...
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What is D&T Capability? Back to Basics
Send me a message. In this episode, I delve into the fundamental purpose of the design and technology curriculum, focusing on the concept of D&T capability. Drawing from seminal research by Richard Kimball and Kay Stables, I explore how this capability encompasses creative and critical thinking,...
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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...
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Behind the Mic: The Story of Talking D&T 2024
Send me a message. In this reflective end-of-year episode, I take stock of Talking D&T's journey through 2024 and share plans for the future. With 52 episodes published this year - including 27 interviews spanning two major series, PATT40 and Shaping D&T - it's been my most prolific year yet,...
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Beyond Words: Teaching Technical Skills Through Conversation
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Simone Norman, a D&T teacher at Sutton High School in South London who also leads on equality, diversity and inclusion. Our conversation examines a fascinating paper from the PAT40 conference about conversation analysis and variation...
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Shaping D&T: Reflections on Evolution vs Revolution
Send me a message. In this reflective episode of Talking D&T, I explore the key themes and insights that emerged from my 26-part series on shaping design and technology education. Drawing from my conversations with educators, researchers, and industry experts throughout 2024, I examine the…
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Subject Integrity: When Art & Design Meets Design & Technology
Send me a message. In this episode, I'm joined by Michele Gregson, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the National Society for Education in Art and Design (NSEAD). With over 30 years of experience across education, Michele brings valuable insights into the relationship between art & design...
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Shaping D&T: Evolution, Not Revolution
Send me a message. In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I describe the recent curriculum and assessment review panel meeting I attended in Cambridgeshire. I explore the ongoing call for evidence and its implications for design and technology education. One key insight from the meeting was...
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From Circuits to Creativity: Reimagining D&T Resources
Send me a message. In this episode, I chat with Kevin Spurr and Becky Forshaw from Kitronik, a company supplying D&T resources to schools. Kevin, a co-founder with 20 years of experience, and Becky, a former primary teacher, offer unique perspectives on the evolving landscape of D&T education. We...
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Curriculum Review Call to Action: Your Voice in Shaping D&T's Future
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I break down the curriculum and assessment review for England. As a researcher in design and technology education, I highlight key sections relevant to D&T teachers and stakeholders. I walk you through the review's nine sections, focusing on…
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Cultivating Creativity: Biomimicry in the D&T Classroom
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I'm delighted to chat with Venessa Lourdes Silveira, a PhD student in Educational Theory and Practice with a fascinating background in design and technology education. We dive into Venessa's action research project on promoting creativity in...
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Talking Design Studio Pedagogy with Alice Hellard and Derek Jones
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Alice Hellard, Programme Lead for Design and Technology PGCE at Goldsmiths University, and Derek Jones, senior lecturer in sustainable design at the Open University. We talk about design studios and their potential impact on D&T...
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Shaping the Future of Design and Technology Education: An In-depth Conversation with Louise Attwood from AQA
Send me a message. Curious about how exam boards shape design and technology education? In this episode of Talking D&T, I sit down with Louise Attwood, Subject Support Lead for D&T at AQA. With eight years at the exam board and a background in teaching, Louise offers unique insights into the…
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Threading the Future: Dawn Foxall on Textiles Education in D&T
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Dawn Foxall, founder of the Textile Skills Centre. Dawn's fascinating journey from knitwear designer to opera singer, and finally to textiles education advocate, sets the stage for our wide-ranging conversation. We delve into the...
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Empowering D&T Teachers: Inside Wales' Curriculum Reform
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with Dr Bethan Gordon, Dean of Cardiff School of Art and Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Bethan, a human-centred designer by training, has been deeply involved in developing the new curriculum for Wales. We dive into the...
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Engineering a Curriculum: Exploring Technology Education in the USA
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I had the pleasure of interviewing Scott Bartholemew, a professor of technology and engineering studies at Brigham Young University in Utah, USA. We explored the landscape of design and technology education in America, which is known there as...
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Shaping D&T: Your Voice in the Curriculum Review
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I dive into the recently announced curriculum review for England and what it means for design and technology education. As someone who's been part of discussions shaping D&T's future, I share my thoughts on how teachers can get involved and...
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Design Education Reimagined: A Conversation with David Houston from the V&A
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I chat with David Houston, team leader for schools and colleges at the V&A South Kensington. David shares his passion for design education and the pivotal role museums play in inspiring young minds. We delve into the V&A's innovative programmes,...
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Why Teachers Should Shape the D&T Curriculum: A Conversation with Amanda Mason and Ciaran Ellis
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I sit down with Amanda Mason and Ciaran Ellis to discuss their involvement in the Redesigning D&T project. We explore their motivations for joining the initiative and the valuable insights they've gained along the way. Amanda, a secondary school...
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From School to Studio: Exploring Product Design Education with Jim Dale
Send me a message. In this episode of Talking D&T, I sat down with Jim Dale, Head of Product Design at Nottingham Trent University, to explore the evolving landscape of design education. Jim shared fascinating insights into how university courses are adapting to prepare students for the diverse...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Talking D&T is a podcast about design and technology education. Join me, Dr Alison Hardy, as I share news, views, ideas and opinions about D&T. I also talk about D&T with teachers, researchers and academics from the D&T community. The views on this podcast are my own and of those I am interviewing and are not connected to my institution. Much of the content is work in progress. As well as talking about D&T, I use it to explore new ideas and thoughts related to D&T education and my research, which are still embryonic and may change. Consult my publications for a reliable record of my considered thoughts on the topic featured in this podcast.
This podcast is independently produced and funded by Dr Alison Hardy. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of Nottingham Trent University. All views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not reflect the views of the University.
Podcast music composed by Chris Corcoran (http:/
HOSTED BY
Dr Alison Hardy
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Talking D&T have?
Talking D&T currently has 199 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Talking D&T about?
Talking D&T is a podcast about design and technology education. Join me, Dr Alison Hardy, as I share news, views, ideas and opinions about D&T. I also talk about D&T with teachers, researchers and academics from the D&T community. The views on this podcast are my own and of those I am interviewing...
How often does Talking D&T release new episodes?
Talking D&T publishes regularly with 199 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Talking D&T?
You can listen to Talking D&T on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Talking D&T?
Talking D&T is created and hosted by Dr Alison Hardy.
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