Sustainability and Design and Technology in Schools: Perspectives on Practice

The research underpinning this chapter arose from the collaboration with Goggin who was leading the Goldsmiths eco-design programme while Lawler was leading the design-education programme. A literature review established the almost total lack of material exploring school-based pedagogic approaches to emerging sustainable design initiatives. The research explored ways to bring together these two related fields. It was conceived as a way to introduce to teachers of Design and Technology some of the concepts and methodologies concerning sustainability and environmental awareness, whilst at the same time exploring new pedagogic strategies to transform their curricula. The approach that was developed and reported in this chapter remains one of the few pieces of work that specifically seeks to address the interconnections of the two fields. The work has been adapted in Open University Readers and is cited particularly in the context of reinterpretations of Design and Technology practice in schools. The work has led to invitations to work with colleagues from countries as dispersed as Chile and New Zealand.