ABSTRACT
This chapter considers five issues that are, at the time of writing, of great significance for those teaching and learning design & technology: decolonising design & technology, gender in design & technology, disruption, global warming, and pollution and waste. The section on decolonising gives prominence to providing role models to inspire learners from diverse backgrounds. The section on gender emphasises the challenging of stereotypes and includes a Thought Piece from Ulrika Sultan. The section on disruption identifies nine disruptive technologies to be taught in secondary school and includes a Stop Press piece concerning the recent availability of the Chatbot ChatGPT. The section on global warming presents the evidence for and effects of the impact of human activity giving rise to greenhouse gases, and national and international attempts to both adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change and includes a Thought Piece by Dominic Nolan plus a Stop Press piece concerning the recent pronouncements of the UK's Climate Change Committee which are critical of the way the government is putting in place the means to adapt to the impact of climate change. The section on pollution and waste considers the nature of circular economies, including case studies and identifying relevant key ideas for inclusion in the design & technology curriculum.
