The Technology Fair: a project-based learning approach for enhancing problem solving skills and interest in design and technology education

This paper presents an innovative way in which university education can help pre-service teachers become better problem-solvers. The central idea is to use the “Technology Fair” as a means for promoting pre-service teachers pedagogical content knowledge about technological problem solving skills. Th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of technology and design education 2008-01, Vol.18 (1), p.79-100
Main Authors: Mettas, Alexandros C., Constantinou, Constantinos C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active Learning
Competency Based Teacher Education
Design Crafts
Education
Educational partnerships
Educational Research
Educational Strategies
Educational Technology
Hands on Science
Information technology
Interviews
Learning and Instruction
Mathematics Education
Original Research Article
Pedagogical Content Knowledge
Preservice Teacher Education
Pretests Posttests
Problem Based Learning
Problem Solving
Science Activities
Science Education
Science Fairs
Student Journals
Student Projects
Student Teacher Attitudes
Teacher education
Teaching Methods
Technology Education
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Summary:This paper presents an innovative way in which university education can help pre-service teachers become better problem-solvers. The central idea is to use the “Technology Fair” as a means for promoting pre-service teachers pedagogical content knowledge about technological problem solving skills. This innovation is supported with results from a study carried out in autumn 2004. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of a procedure of working with primary school children to complete and present a technology fair project, on the educational value and meanings attached to problem solving skills by pre-service teachers. Pre-tests, mid-test and post-tests were administered to the pre-service teachers before, during, and after the preparation of the technology fair, respectively. A number of pre-service teachers were selected and interviewed after the completion of the technology fair. Data were also collected from reflective diaries kept by the pre-service teachers during the preparation phase of the technology fair. Analysis of the results indicates that the technology fair contributes to the development of positive values and attitudes in technology education and has a significant influence on improving pre-service teachers understanding and application of problem solving strategies within the domain of technology.
ISSN:0957-7572
1573-1804
DOI:10.1007/s10798-006-9011-3