The importance of design thinking for technological literacy: a phenomenological perspective

Abstract

“We know that progress depends on discovery, inventions, creativity and design, but we have simply supposed that it happens anyway,” de Bono (1999 p. 43). Technology education is ostensibly a foundation for future designers and creative thinking. However evidence of good design or creative thinking in outcomes displayed in school technology studios is limited. Technology is inextricably linked with applied science, but I argue that scientific method couldn’t be further from creativity and designing as technology education based on this premise can confine problem solving to a set of prescribed components that harness teachers to narrowly defined and deeply focused goals. This paper attempts to analyse the nature of this phenomenom, debate the place of creativity, imagination and personal sensitivities as part of designing and demonstrate that although there are inseperable links between design and technology the structure of a technology curriculum could be a barrier to opportunities for effective design thinking.