Technologies: Early years and primary

Since the introduction of Technology Education to the Scottish school curriculum twenty-five years ago, there have been various editions of national guidelines. The timeline includes
• ‘Guidelines for 5-14 Environmental Studies’ (SOED, 1993) providing a shared rationale for Science, Social Studies, Health Education, ICT and Technology Education;
• ‘Technology Education for Scottish Schools’ (SCCC, 1996) introducing the concept of Technological Capability; four mutually supportive aspects of Technological Sensitivity, Technological Creativity, Technological Perspective and Technological Confidence;
• ‘National Guidelines for 5-14 Environmental Studies: Society, Science and Technology Education’ (LTS, 2000);
• ‘Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Technologies’ (Scottish Government, 2009) encompassing Technological Developments for Society, ICT to enhance learning, Business; Computing Science, Food and Textiles, and Craft, Design, Engineering and Graphics contexts for developing technological knowledge and skills;
and currently
• ‘CfE Technologies’ (Education Scotland, 2017) encompassing Technological Developments for Society and Business , Digital literacy, Computing Science, Food and Textiles, and Craft, Design, Engineering and Graphics.

Throughout the various iterations and reconfigurations, there has been some consistency regarding the kinds of technological experiences to which young people are entitled i.e. practical designing, making and appraising; exploration of technologies in the world as it is now, investigation of technologies past and future; and education for sustainability.