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In this episode of the Talking D&T podcast, I reflect on the evolution of teaching electronics and systems in design and technology education. I share my experiences from when I started teaching in 1993, highlighting the changes and challenges we’ve faced over the years.

One of the main topics I discuss is the importance of maintaining technical rigour while making electronics accessible to students. I explore how the reduction in subject-specific training for teachers has impacted their confidence and effectiveness, especially when teaching out of their field of expertise. This is a significant issue, as it can lead to stress and affect teacher retention.

I also explore the concept of “tinkering” as a valuable learning approach. This method encourages both teachers and students to experiment and play with electronics, fostering a deeper understanding through hands-on experience. I share insights from my colleagues and former students who have successfully integrated tinkering into their teaching practices.

I encourage you to reflect on the ideas presented and discuss them with your colleagues. How can we better support non-specialist D&T teachers? What are the best ways to build teacher confidence and subject knowledge? 

Acknowledgement:
Some of the supplementary content for this podcast episode was crafted with the assistance of Claude, an AI language model developed by Anthropic. While the core content is based on the actual conversation and my editorial direction, Claude helped in refining and structuring information to best serve listeners. This collaborative approach allows me to provide you with concise, informative, and engaging content to complement each episode.

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