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Linking Knowledge and Activities: How can Classroom Activities in Technology Reflect Professional Technological Knowledge and Practices?

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Handbook of Technology Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

Abstract

This chapter investigates in what ways school technology may reflect professional technological practices. Using the historical development within the aeronautical industry as an example, characteristics of technological practice and knowledge are presented. In particular, it is referred how manufacturing, testing, and operating a technological device produce knowledge that affects the design process and the fundamental design concepts of the artefact. By means of a literature review and a multi-case study, it is found that D&T classrooms may have similarities with how design and engineering takes place in a professional community. The role of heuristics and repetitive testing is important for both cases. Examples from both professional engineering and classroom activity show that utilizing science and mathematics in a fruitful way in developing technology is challenging. However, there are some distinct differences as well. The students’ lack of expertise is an imperative for D&T teachers to provide students with basic understanding of the fundamental design concepts involved in the activity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Alta, Norway

    Bjørn-Tore Esjeholm

  2. Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Department of Teacher Education, NTNU-The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Berit Bungum

Authors
  1. Bjørn-Tore Esjeholm
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  2. Berit Bungum
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bjørn-Tore Esjeholm .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Science Education and Communication, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

    Marc J. de Vries

Section Editor information

  1. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Wendy Fox-Turnbull

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Esjeholm, BT., Bungum, B. (2018). Linking Knowledge and Activities: How can Classroom Activities in Technology Reflect Professional Technological Knowledge and Practices?. In: de Vries, M. (eds) Handbook of Technology Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-44687-5_42

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