Traditional Craft or Technology Education: Development of Students’ Technical Abilities in Finnish Comprehensive School

Abstract

Changes in the economy, nature, production and society together with increasing scientific and technological knowledge make demands of transforming school teaching in the field of technology education. The aim of the article is briefly to explore the integration between science, technology and traditional craft education by analyzing the current trends in Finnish technology education. Additionally, the research tried to explore, in a preliminary way, whether or not a curriculum which retains the traditional textile and technical crafts, or new technology education, would enhance technical abilities better? The data of the empirical part suggest that there was a difference between students’ who received education based on the traditional craft or technology education curriculum. The difference was mainly seen in technological knowledge and in attitudes towards technology. Hence, still much of the learning is focused on production skills, and approaches that are now dominant in craft education do not prepare students to meet the challenges of modern technology and working life.