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[edit] New Concepts for Enhanced Technology Education [Press Release December 2009]

UPDATE Conference in Madrid Presents Latest Research Results

At the final conference of the European UPDATE project held in Madrid from 23rd to 24th November 2009, a new holistic approach to technology education of children and young people was on the agenda. Project partner and interested guests from education, science and economy were invited to the Royal Academy of Pharmacie to communicate results of the three years UPDATE research and to present new learning concepts. Relevant issues were the enhancement of technology curricula, the promotion of girls with regard to technology education and the improvement of in-service and pre-service training for teachers. In addition to modern theoretical concepts and academic studies, practical examples for all ages, especially for girls, were introduced.

Without creating proper conditions no chance for top technology education

The recommendation to integrate technology education as a binding element into curricula is an essential outcome of the UPDATE research. Thus a basis for comprehensive technology education that meet the demands of our everyday life can be created. Particularly didactical concepts for pre-school and elementary school that focus on the needs of girls as well shall be integrated in order to resolve clichés about gender roles. According to the UPDATE findings the support of teachers is necessary, so that they are able to offer modern and creative technology classes.

Pedagogical reforms through collaboration all over Europe

On the way to successful technology education in Europe still numerous obstacles and barriers have to be overcome. Thereby the aim would be a pedagogy that not only conveys application know-how, but that also facilitates conceptional and innovative thinking. For this, the early start of technology education and the farewell to clichés about gender roles that still many have in their minds are inalienable. A variety of publications - research results, handbooks and good examples for pedagogical practise - is the outcome of the European project. The UPDATE website http://update.jyu.fi offers a knowledge portal that facilitates exchange and collaboration for an enhanced European technology education.

UPDATE as an innovative approach involves the complete education chain from pre-school and general education to the choice of vocational training and degree courses. The main objective of research was to analyse why particularly girls drop out from technology education at different stages of their education. New ways and educational methods help to make technology and technological careers appear more attractive for both girls and boys. Especially girls and young women shall be encouraged for engineering and technology both as a career, and as active users of modern technology.

The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Community's Sixth Framework Programme.

For more information check: http://update.jyu.fi

[edit] New Solutions for European Technology Teaching [Press Release November 2009]

Special Edition publishes UPDATE teaching concepts

The European Union insists that young people need to understand technology, but do Europe’s curricula and teachers meet these demands sufficiently? The European project UPDATE has recently published peer reviewed research papers on the current situation of technology and science education in European schools. The International Journal of Technology and Design Education presents noticeable outcomes: perceptions about technology are still strongly aligned with the concept of masculinity. The research also highlights a need for more in-service and pre-service training for teachers. The UPDATE members and their partners recommend holistic, child-centred and creative technology teaching concepts that will satisfy both the needs of girls and boys and claim for technology education as a binding component of curricula. Here, as the UPDATE members state, policy makers need to recognise that technology education is an essential aspect of any modern curriculum. Then the UPDATE recommendations could be realised more efficiently.

Creative child pedagogy guarantees effective technology education, especially for girls

Since stereotypes about gender roles originate in early childhood, teaching concepts need to be integrated into early years’ curricula (3-7). In their paper A Conceptual Framework for Developing the Curriculum and Delivery of Technology Education in Early Childhood Turja et al indicate that teachers attract both genders to technology when they follow child-centred, creative and playful concepts. For this the UPDATE project presents models of play that support the dismantling of gender stereotypes.

Neglected factors: teachers’ competence and the status of technology in curricula

Regarding technology and science classes, most European countries share the same problem: teachers’ do not feel confident about teaching technology education in a modern context. Therefore teachers must be provided with the didactical skills that link to the needs of children, especially to the needs of girls. UPDATE suggests integrating technology and gender education into curricula as a binding component. The paper Different School Systems, Similar Problems and How to Overcome Them by Rasinen et al offers some solutions towards more effective teacher training in the field of technology and science education.

Studies, surveys and self-images

The UPDATE papers contain surveys among elementary and secondary students that reveal different perceptions about technology and science. De-Constructing Technology’s Masculinity: Discovering a Missing Pedagogy in Technology Education by Dakers et al exposes the perceptual image that young women have in relation to the concept of technology: they still regard technology as too difficult and as a generally masculine field. This paper offers some examples of successful case studies in technology education that help to prevent the construction of these negative stereotypes.

Papers by Chatoney, Andreucci, Seiter, Klapwijk and Rommes examine technology education in Austria as well as the career paths chosen by Dutch students. These papers also examine the social and cultural factors that have an impact on female career paths. The hard copy of the UPDATE special edition will be published in December 2009.

UPDATE technology education conference: communicating project outcomes

On November 23rd and 24th 2009 these research outcomes will be presented to the final conference to be held in Madrid. UPDATE members and guest speakers will communicate their findings with respect to the UPDATE activities and research. The conference is open for all people involved in science and technology education. More information and registration at http://update.jyu.fi/index.php/UPDATE_Conference_Madrid

The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Community's Sixth Framework Programme.

For more information check: http://update.jyu.fi

[edit] Europe calls for Top Technology Teaching [Press Release October 2009]

UPDATE conference in Madrid presents enhanced education concepts

European science and technology classes don't respond to the needs of pupils, especially not to the needs of girls. European curricula need to be improved by means of excellent and binding measures that particularly focus on children's early years. According to the results of the UPDATE research, these measures need to be implemented as soon as possible. Progressive and practical solutions to this challenge will be discussed in detail in the final project conference in Madrid on the 23rd and 24th of November 2009. The conference is open to all interested parties involved in science and technology education to share the findings discovered during the three-year project. Conference participants will get a broad update on funded research in the field of science education.

Exploiting the full range of research results

The conference presentations will specifically address the new didactical concepts that aim at establishing top technology teaching for Europe's youth. The UPDATE partners will introduce the project outcomes regarding different educational levels starting with early childhood education. Additionally, the UPDATE research has examined motivating factors and barriers in respect to technology education for students of different ages. Based on these findings, new curricula structures can be suggested. Guest speakers will complete the agenda.

The programme details are available at:

http://update.jyu.fi/index.php/UPDATE_Conference_Madrid

Registration to bcolligr@opt.ucm.es.


UPDATE-Knowledge-Portal and Newsletter-Service

The UPDATE-Website http://update.jyu.fi offers a constantly growing knowledge portal and a newsletter service for teachers, other stakeholders of educational system, and interested parties. In the form of a “Wiki“ on technology education, managed by experts, news, dates, research results, and examples of good practice are presented. UPDATE reports, for example, on new concepts for the youngest visitors in European technology museums, on the successful project “Girls’ Day – Future Prospects for Girls“ in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands, or the Rumanian project „Be a Science Teacher for a Week“. UPDATE as an innovative approach focuses the entire educational chain from (pre-)school up to the choice of field of study or an apprenticeship. One of the core themes is to examine why girls drop out of technology education at the different stages of their formation. New ways and educational methods shall be created to make the image of technology and technological careers more attractive for both girls and boys. Particularly girls and young women shall be promoted, encouraged and mobilised for engineering and technology careers, and as active users of modern technology. The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Community and is part of the European Community’s Sixth Framework Programme.

For more information check: http://update.jyu.fi

Subscribe here for the UPDATE newsletter: http://update.jyu.fi/newsletter/

Download press release as pdf version

[edit] Europe needs more female Graduates in Technology [Press Release December 2008]

UPDATE examines motivators and barriers for students in science and technology

In the latest study of UPDATE (Understanding and Providing a Developmental Approach to Technology Education), 1700 European students were asked in a questionnaire about barriers they encounter during their course of education. This UPDATE study was compiled, summarised and analysed by Prof. Dr. Doina Balahur of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Romania. To make the EU the most dynamic and competitive knowledged-based economy in the world, European decision makers need to find out how young people and especially young women can be motivated to opt for science and technology studies. The study identifies motivators and barriers for students to choose careers in science and technology. Case studies illustrate individual paths. 17 subject areas such as family tradition, role models, education at different stages and career expectations reveal barriers and motivation of students. The questioned students come from Austria, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.

The following motivators encourage students to decide for science and technology:

  • It is advantageous to integrate technology and science in early childhood education
  • Teachers support technical education by using an experimental, intuitive and tolerant teaching style with an equal emphasis on all disciplines taught and no gender bias
  • Parents’ encouragement to choose a non conventional career seems to be a significant factor
  • An important condition for an excellent science career can be a self-confident, creative and independent personality with a high level of self-efficacy, which means for instance that difficulties are regarded as challenges

These factors seem to be obstructive barriers:

  • Early gender biased education, less concern of parents or theoretical teaching prevent young students from studying science or technology
  • The pressure of competition discourages young people, especially girls
  • Young women are afraid of bringing up their children along with mastering scientific studies
  • Other de-motivating reasons for female and male interviewees are weak support from teachers and existing institutional barriers

UPDATE-Knowledge-Portal and Newsletter-Service

The UPDATE-Website http://update.jyu.fi offers a constantly growing knowledge portal and a newsletter service for teachers, other stakeholders of educational system, and interested parties. In the form of a “Wiki“ on technology education, managed by experts, news, dates, research results, and examples of good practice are presented. UPDATE reports, for example, on new concepts for the youngest visitors in European technology museums, on the successful project “Girls’ Day – Future Prospects for Girls“ in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands, or the Rumanian project „Be a Science Teacher for a Week“. UPDATE as an innovative approach focuses the entire educational chain from (pre-)school up to the choice of field of study or an apprenticeship. One of the core themes is to examine why girls drop out of technology education at the different stages of their formation. New ways and educational methods shall be created to make the image of technology and technological careers more attractive for both girls and boys. Particularly girls and young women shall be promoted, encouraged and mobilised for engineering and technology careers, and as active users of modern technology. The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Community and is part of the European Community’s Sixth Framework Programme.

For more information check: http://update.jyu.fi

Subscribe here for the UPDATE newsletter: http://update.jyu.fi/newsletter/

Download press release as pdf version

[edit] How’s technological Education in Europe doing? [Press Release August 2008]

Research Project UPDATE examines Curricula in Schools

Is schooling in Europe able to keep up with technical development of the information society? Does education provide pupils with adequate preparation for life? The sixteen partner organizations of the project UPDATE (Understanding and Providing a Developmental Approach to Technology Education) analysed the content of curricula in schools and preschools. In many of the partaking countries curricula currently are being restructured. Above all the scheduled technical education within the single grades of education was examined.

Kindergarten and Preschool: Learning to love Technology
Current results of research show that children already acquire a relation to technique by daily activities in kindergarten and preschool. Mutual experiences possibly could support enthusiasm, creativity and justice of opportunities. Girls at the age of kindergarten show interest in technique and how technique is used in concrete everyday life situations. Governesses, and in some cases instructors too, rate their own insufficient skills in the field of technique, their own prejudices towards technique and the non-existing material as negative.

Primary School: More Resources for Active Technology Education
Striking about the field of primary school is that teachers have a great margin to avoid technique – related topics in class. Because of vague rules without specified topics and examples teachers need sufficient resources, training and appropriate stimulation in order to organize technique-related lessons to an adequate degree and to apply new teaching methods. Few material and inadequate premises often cannot ensure active technological education.

Secondary Schools: Technique - Option or Obligation?
Results show that lessons in technique are rated differently by the single countries. Since 1970 Finland lays claim to all schools to teach girls in handicraft. Technological education is considered more intense because of the absorption of the wide subject area „Human being and Technology“ into the curricula. Those curricula also take into account personality, environment and vocational independence. Technology is not a compulsory subject in secondary schools in Germany. In Austria Technology as an autonomous subject only is taught up to the 8th grade at the best. Estonia schedules in its curricula that the quota of practice in technological education must cover 2/3 of the lesson. After the 9th grade a certain obligating level of technological education must be shown by the pupils. Estonia views an extensive technological education as an essential headstone concerning the further development of the country and is prepared to optimize and upgrade curricula and material time and again because of the rapid technological progress. France offers the opportunity to acquire a technical high school graduation. The a-level in technology is initiated in the 10th grade when pupils are allowed to opt for lessons in technique.

UPDATE-Knowledge-Portal and Newsletter-Service
The UPDATE-Website http://update.jyu.fi offers a constantly growing knowledge portal and a newsletter service for teachers, other stakeholders of educational system, and interested parties. In the form of a “Wiki“ on technology education, managed by experts, news, dates, research results, and examples of good practice are presented. UPDATE reports, for example, on new concepts for the youngest visitors in European technology museums, on the successful project “Girls’ Day – Future Prospects for Girls“ in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands, or the Rumanian project „Be a Science Teacher for a Week“. UPDATE as an innovative approach focuses the entire educational chain from (pre-)school up to the choice of field of study or an apprenticeship. One of the core themes is to examine why girls drop out of technology education at the different stages of their formation. New ways and educational methods shall be created to make the image of technology and technological careers more attractive for both girls and boys. Particularly girls and young women shall be promoted, encouraged and mobilised for engineering and technology careers, and as active users of modern technology. The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Community and is part of the European Community’s Sixth Framework Programme.

For more information check: http://update.jyu.fi

Subscribe here for the UPDATE newsletter: http://update.jyu.fi/newsletter/

Download press release as pdf version

[edit] Improving Technology Education in Europe [Press Release June 2007]

Research Project UPDATE starts Knowledge Portal and Newsletter Service

Technology plays an indispensable role by now in work and everyday life of most of the people living in Europe. However, technology related professions are chosen but rarely, in particular by young women; the existent demand of specialised staff can not be covered by the number of students in the fields of engineering or computer sciences. Moreover women's perspectives are often missing in technology development. The research project UPDATE is therefore scrutinising Europe’s technology education. With a new, developmental approach, the project considers the following questions: Which improvements could be made in technology education that account for girls and boys? Which projects and practical examples worth emulating provide solutions for the actual situation?


The UPDATE website http://update.jyu.fi offers a constantly growing knowledge portal and a newsletter service for teachers, other stakeholders of the educational system, and interested parties. In the form of a “Wiki“ on technology education, managed by experts, news, dates, research results, and examples of good practice are presented. UPDATE reports, for example, on new concepts for the youngest visitors in European technology museums, on the amazingly successful project “Girls’Day – Future Prospects for Girls“ in Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands, or the Romanian project „Be a Science Teacher for a Week“.


UPDATE (Understanding and Providing a Developmental Approach to Technology Education) as an innovative approach focuses the entire educational chain from (pre-)school up to the choice of field of study or an apprenticeship. One of the core themes is to examine why girls drop out of technology education at the different stages of their formation. New ways and educational methods shall be created to make the image of technology and technological careers more attractive for both girls and boys. Particularly girls and young women shall be promoted, encouraged and mobilised for engineering and technology careers, and as active users of modern technology. The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Commission and is part of the European Community’s Sixth Framework Programme.


For more information check: http://update.jyu.fi

Subscribe here for the UPDATE newsletter: http://update.jyu.fi/newsletter/

Download press release as pdf version

[edit] UPDATE for Technology Education [Press Release March 2007]

Innovative European Research Project starts with 16 Partners in eleven Countries

The research programme UPDATE wants to improve science and technology teaching in Europe. In future it will provide best practises and new learning material to attract more young people, especially girls, to technology.

UPDATE stands for „Understanding and Providing a Developmental Approach to Technology Education“. The innovative aspect of UPDATE is that the approach includes a strong focus on early childhood and primary education, phases in which the attitudes are often formed. From this understanding, it might be too late to start raising interest only at secondary or later stages

The UPDATE project’s aim is threefold: 1) to examine why girls drop out from technology education at different stages of their education 2) to create new ways and educational methods to make the image of technology and technological careers more attractive for both girls and boys 3) to promote, encourage and mobilise especially girls and young women for engineering and technology both as a career, and as active users of modern technology

The multinational European project consortium of UPDATE consists of members from Finland, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Austria, Slovakia, Estonia and Romania. The research project UPDATE is funded by the European Commision with € 922,300 for the next three years. The project will be part of the Sixth Framework Programme of the EC.

[edit] Project Partners and Contact Persons

  • University of Jyväskylä, Finland, http://www.jyu.fi/ Dr. Aki Rasinen, Dr. Marja Kankaanranta, Dr. Leena Turja, Päivi Fadjukoff
  • IUFM University Institute for Teacher Training of Aix-Marseille, France, http://www.aix-mrs.iufm.fr/ Prof. Jacques Ginestié, Pascale Brandt-Pomares, p.brandt@aix-mrs.iufm.fr
  • "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Romania, http://www.uaic.ro/ Prof. Dr. Doina Balahur
  • Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, Ada-Lovelace-Mentoring-Association, Germany, http://www.fh-dortmund.de/ Prof. Dr. Sylvia Neuhäuser-Metternich, neumett@fh-dortmund.de
  • FCRI Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, Spain, http://www.fcri.es/ Dr. Jordi Mas, Dr. Dolors Grillo, dolors.grillo@fcri.cat and Marc Martínez marc.martinez@fcri.cat
  • Competence Center Technology-Diversity-Equal Chances, Germany, http://www.kompetenzz.de/ Sabine Mellies, Carmen Ruffer, update@kompetenzz.de
  • University of Education, Vienna, Austria, http://www.phwien.ac.at Prof. Dr. Josef Seiter, josef.seiter@phwien.ac.at
  • Technical Institute for Social Activities Galileo Galilei, Italy, http://www.itasgalileijesi.it Prof. Cristina Pavisic cristina.pavisic@itasgalileijesi.it
  • University Complutense de Madrid, Spain, http://www.ucm.es/ Dr. Jesus Pintor, jpintor@vet.ucm.es, Mr Basilio Colligris bcolligr@opt.ucm.es, Prof. Maria Asuncion Peral Cerda


For further information please contact the above mentioned project partners.


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   The project UPDATE is funded by the European Community's Sixth Framework Programme.     Image:EU_logo.gif      Image:FP6_logo.jpg

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