Models of design and technology and their significance for research and curriculum development

Mo dellin g i s the a cti v it y th a t i s central t o de s i g nin g, a nd is th e r e f o r e central in th e de s i g nin g o f a sc ho o l curri c ulum . Th e model s o f d es i g nin g a nd o f th e c ur r iculum th a t are f orm e d shap e both the ev oluti o n o f th e c ur ric ulu m a nd i t s s ub se q ue n t eva lu a ti on . A bri ef intr o duction ch a rt s s o m e of th e re as on s f o r t h e evo lu t i o n o f s im p li s ti c m o d e l s o f de s ignin g an d n o te s s om e o f the ir dan ge r s. Th e n a tu re o f pr o bl e m s in de s i g n and t ec hn o lo gy i s di sc u sse d. So m e th e or e ti ca l diffi c ulti es in e x pr ess in g id e a s a b o ut d es i g n a nd t ec h no l ogy a r e n o t e d a nd h e n ce th e c o n se qu e nti a l m e rit s o f a n e mpirical appro a ch a r e m a d e ev i d ent . The ri go r o u s a n a l ys i s o f good pr ac tic e s h o uld pla y a n import a nt p a rt in researc h a nd c u rr i c ulu m d eve l o pm e nt i n d es i g n a nd t ec hn o l ogy , but it i s c ru c i a l t o re cog ni se th at s u c h a n