Teaching design & technology to students with learning difficulties

Abstract

Teaching pupils with identified and categorized learning difficulties in Design and Technology may be seen as a challenge to the teachers. In recognition of the different learning difficulties students may have, teachers should be able to plan means and ways of overcoming them. It is part of the teachers' role to find different teaching methods and strategies. However since Design and Technology is a relatively new subject in the Maltese Curriculum, teachers may find that any suggestions will be of great help. After a review of literature, Observation sessions were undertaken in order to determine what some teachers, according to their understanding of the learning difficulties are doing at present. Teachers were found to have difficulties in handling the student's behaviour, and often ended up ignoring the students completely in order to continue with the lesson. Suggestions are given on how to deal with the types of behaviour observed, and also reference to documents that are intended as guidelines for teachers teaching Design & Technology is made and discussed.