Key pedagogies in design and technology

McLain, M ORCID: 0000-0002-8691-3155 and Finnigan, S (2026) Key pedagogies in design and technology. In: Hardy, A and Davies, S, (eds.) Learning to Teach Design and Technology in the Secondary School. Learning to Teach . Routledge, London. ISBN 9781041142706

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Abstract

This chapter explores the distinctive pedagogical landscape of design and technology (D&T) education, highlighting its multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature. It introduces key frameworks—including the expansive–restrictive continuum, the DeCoUPle curriculum model, and the four-fold signature pedagogies (Designing and Making, Mainly Making, Mainly Designing, and Exploring Technology and Society)—to support teachers in planning and managing rich learning experiences. Central to the discussion are the three fundamental activities (ideating, realising, critiquing) and key processes (communicating, researching, satisficing) that underpin D&T practice. The chapter offers practical strategies for whole-class, group, and individual teaching, emphasising the importance of balancing restrictive and expansive approaches to foster creativity, autonomy, and resilience. It also addresses the complexities of project management, assessment, and scaffolding, encouraging reflective practice and ethical decision-making. Designed for beginning teachers, this chapter provides a comprehensive foundation for understanding and applying effective pedagogies in D&T classrooms.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	Deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (Deed - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International - Creative Commons ), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. This is an Accepted Manuscript of a book chapter published by Routledge/CRC Press in Learning to Teach Design and Technology in the Secondary School on 27/07/26 available online: https://www.routledge.com/Learning-to-Teach-Design-and-Technology-in-the-Secondary-School-A-Companion-to-School-Experience/Hardy-Davies/p/book/9781041142706
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Liverpool Institute for Research in Education (LIFE)
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools T Technology > T Technology (General)
Divisions:	Education
Publisher:	Routledge
Date of acceptance:	23 October 2025
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2026 15:09
Last Modified:	03 Aug 2026 15:09
Editors:	Hardy, A and Davies, S
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27611

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