Technology education and research in Australia: A coming of age in the 21st century

Abstract

This chapter provides an analysis of the development of the field of technology education in Australia since 2000. Three lines of argument are advanced. Firstly, that in technology education researchers have become more astute in positioning their research to gain maximum impact, both domestically and internationally, which sometimes means undertaking research with international collaborators; Secondly, that technology education researchers are discovering, through necessity, new ways of researching teaching and learning in technology education, that is contributing to educational research methods generally, and finally, there is a greater level of cooperation between technology education researchers, administrators, schools and teachers, than previously, aimed at improving the quality of technology education in schools. Within this picture, there are however, tensions and contradictions, and these are also examined.