Integration of learning environments for technology and sustainability education

The complete name of the project is “A model for practice-based cooperation between Halmstad University and KomTek to develop the pedagogical competence of pre-service teachers in teaching the technology subject”.

The project involves teachers and researchers at Halmstad University, pre-service teachers, and staff at KomTek Halmstad. We will work together to create a new and sustainable model of cooperation that will develop and strengthen education in technology and sustainable development. We will combine existing educational environments in a new way. The new design will pay special attention to sustainable development perspectives, where technological knowledge plays an important role.

The general perception is that technology is something you do with some kind of tool, but teaching technology is more than that. National reports show that gaps in technology education are common. Teachers also feel that they lack the necessary skills and demand further training.

KomTek Halmstad offers training programmes for in-service teachers and also supports the teaching of technology in other ways, for example by providing opportunities for students to learn more about technology. KomTek Halmstad has been involved in teacher training programmes for several years, mainly offering carefully tested practical elements for pre-service teachers. However, it is unclear what real contribution this makes to the students’ learning or their ability to teach. The new collaborative model expands the possibilities for linking theoretical perspectives to the design of practical elements, so that more scientifically based arguments can be used. These are also expected to be useful in working with in-service teachers.

The teacher training programme at Halmstad University works with theoretical perspectives on teaching technology and sustainable development. There is a desire to clarify the links to both the practical elements that already take place with the help of KomTek Halmstad and the didactic competence of the pre-service teachers. This requires a new form of organisation and content for the pre-service teachers’ education. Halmstad University needs arguments to shape the programme in such a way that it best meets the reality that awaits pre-service teachers.

Pre-service teachers often ask what to do in practice with all the new knowledge they have acquired. The practical (VFU) and activity-integrated (VI) days of the programme are not enough. These days are rarely synchronised with the current subject content. Through the new collaborative model, pre-service teachers will meet pupils and teachers from schools during their technology teacher training. This will provide opportunities to practice both theoretical and practical perspectives on teaching technology. This should give them greater opportunities to familiarise themselves with the professional role from both a theoretical and practical perspective.