Mastering Primary Design and Technology by Gill Hope [Review]

Abstract

It is refreshing to read a book devoted to teaching Design and Technology in the primary classroom. I was hooked as soon as I read in the introduction when author Gill Hope stated that she was using the full term ‘Design and Technology’ throughout the book and not abbreviated to ‘D&T’ or ‘dt’. Her reasons “the danger of using such abbreviations is in forgetting what they stand for” (p2). I agree with this whole heartedly as I think it is very important to emphasise the design component of Design and Technology Education as this distinguishes this curriculum area from classes that involve “just making stuff”.