ASTER 23. 1996 TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

SUMMARIES

A school subject in search of its identity. Thirty years of technology education in middle schools

Technology education was introduced in France in the early sixties. Its organizing conceptions have varied over the years, laying emphasis on different methods and tools of analysis, on more or less complex technical objects, stressing reference either to manual work or to industrial production. As part of the general education of middle school students, it develops a global approach, and a practical and theoretical introduction to technology, as opposed to a specialisation. But the curriculum development, although undergoing changes almost every five years, is confronted with permanent questions which this historical study seeks to identify. It indicates, among other findings, the essential role played by teachers in the evolution of the curriculum, an element which should be taken into account when decisions are made at every level.

A study of the conceptions of third-year university students in economics and business administration concerning technology

This article presents the findings of an exploratory enquiry aimed at identifying the conceptions of technology and of technology education in the middle-school, held by third-year university students in economics and business administration. We investigated coherences, contradictions, differences observed in their verbalizations between technology in society and technology as a school subject. Some of our findings might prove useful in the development of teacher-training curricula.

Caracterizing different forms of the project approach in technology education

This enquiry into the differents forms taken on by the project approach in technology education is part of an action-research project conducted jointly by a teacher-training centre (Centre National de Montlignon) and a research centre (Institut National de Recherche Pédagogique).

ASTER N° 23. 1996. Enseignement de la technologie, INRP, 29, rue d'Ulm. 75230 Paris Cedex 05