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Technology Comprehension - Combining Computing, Design, and Societal Perspectives as a National Discipline

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  • Ari Tuhkala, University of Jyväskylä
  • ,
  • Marie-Louise Wagner
  • ,
  • Ole Sejer Iversen
  • Tommi Karkkainen , University of Jyväskylä, Finland
This article accounts for the implementation of a new discipline —Technology Comprehension —, which comprises of learning objectives related to computing, design, and societal perspectives. Technology Comprehension was introduced by the Danish Ministry of Education and is targeted for the lower secondary education in Denmark. Technology Comprehension is first experimented as an elective course in 13 schools, to investigate the integration of the discipline into the Danish education system. For this purpose, we carried out interviews, a survey, workshops, and a theme discussion with experienced teachers. We report four major findings. First, the teachers did not perceive Technology Comprehension as a distinct discipline, but rather as a set of skills that can be integrated into other disciplines. Second, the teachers pointed out that Technology Comprehension opens up for interdisciplinary and engaging learning activities, but they need more scaffolding and support. Third, Technology Comprehension challenges teachers’ existing competencies and there is a need for a framework that takes into account computing, design, and societal perspective as a whole. Fourth, Technology Comprehension appealed to various kind of students, not only those who are enthusiastic about technical matters. This study contributes to the previous research on making and digital fabrication by addressing how these endeavours are implemented on a national level through engaging with local teachers. We call for more research on scaffolding and supporting teachers to orchestrate meaningful learning activities to successfully integrate Technology Comprehension into the Danish national education.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Child - Computer Interaction
Volume20
Pages (from-to)54-63
Number of pages10
ISSN2212-8689
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

    Research areas

  • Computational thinking, Computing, Design, Digital fabrication, Education, Making, National, Scaling, Subject, Teachers, Technology comprehension, CCTD

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