Moving from Craft to Technology Education in Icelandic Schools

Gisli THORSTEINSSON
University of Iceland

Tom PAGE
Loughborough University

Brynjar OLAFSSON
University of Iceland

Abstract: Craft was established in Iceland in the beginning of 1900 as a specific subject aimed at general education. The pedagogical framework was based on Danish school Sloyd. Different curricula focusing on craft were developed until 1999 when craft was re-established as a new technological subject, based on a rationale for technological literacy, innovation and design. The new subject, Design and Craft was influenced by the national curricula of New Zealand, Canada and England and a specific Icelandic model for Innovation Education. Design and Craft education is compulsory for all grades 1- 8 (ages 6-13), but optional for grades 9-10 (ages 14-15). In the new subject students base their idea generation and design on authentic problems and make their artefacts from resistant materials. The design systems were based on electronic circuits, mechanisms, pneumatics and structures. The article describes the establishment of Craft Education in Iceland, its development from 1918 to the present. Then it illustrates the curriculum change from Craft to Technology Education and the present situation.

Keywords: Technology education, pedagogy, Craft, Sloyd, Iceland, technology, Design and Craft, Innovation Education, national curriculum.

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CITE THIS PAPER AS:
Gisli THORSTEINSSON, Tom PAGE, Brynjar OLAFSSON, Moving from Craft to Technology Education in Icelandic Schools, Studies in Informatics and Control, ISSN 1220-1766, vol. 18 (4), pp. 370-378, 2009.