Contributors

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Host

Alison Hardy

Hi, I’m Dr Alison Hardy, Associate Professor at Nottingham Trent University. I have been an advocate of design and technology education since I began my first degree in 1988. I began my life as a D&T educator at the same time as the National Curriculum for England was beginning, so you could say we grew into D&T together. I've seen and been involved in the ups and downs of D&T's progress and status in secondary schools.

I believe that D&T is a right for all young people, at least to the age of 14 (feel free to disagree with me here!), but its nature, value and form is contested and causes disagreement both in and outside the D&T community.  

Alongside talking, researching and writing about D&T, I support D&T teachers at every stage of their careers. I coach heads of department, teach early career teachers and support teachers in developing their D&T practice. 

https://dralisonhardy.com

Guests

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Guest

Derek Jones

Derek Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Design at The Open University (UK) and part of the OU Design Group. He is a co-lead for the new design degree and has developed online learning technologies in design education. His main research interests are: the pedagogy of design and creativity, embodied cognition in physical and virtual environments, and theories of design knowledge. Derek is the Convenor of the Design Research Society’s Education special interest group and a qualified architect with 15 years of experience in the construction design and procurement industries.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/derek-jones-91288923/

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Dr Bethan Gordon

I am the Dean for Cardiff School of Art & Design and apply Human Centred Design methodology to develop the students and staff experience and I apply design thinking to influence University change.  I have a longstanding design research expertise and working with industry to develop and refine their HCD process. My focus has been on contextual simulation, where my PhD research has informed guidelines for fidelity levels required in user development scenarios. The development of such design-focussed research inevitably develops design thinking expertise. This design thinking expertise has since been applied to a Welsh Government project concerning Primary and Secondary school teachers.  Design Thinking was used to underpin the approaches used in Professional Enquiry projects, and, ultimately, the tools and methods from which teachers were able to develop practical solutions from their enquiries and use as a tools to generate content for the new curriculum for Wales.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bethan-gordon-357a2957/
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Kevin Spurr

Kevin Spurr is never happier than when designing great electronic projects and offering an insight into the world of educational electronics.

Kevin studied Electrical Electronic Engineering at Loughborough University.

Before he started Kitronik he helped design the first Gigabit Ethernet Switch at 3Com and designed long range wireless alarms at Ramtech.



https://kitronik.co.uk/pages/kevin-spurr

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