LiU Electronic Press

An important part of my in-service work however is with Dutch teachers and this paper gives particular emphasis to my links with two Dutch primary teachers’ colleges. One of these institutions (in Tilburg), has been sending teachers to the University of Greenwich for four consecutive years for a week of Primary Design and Technology. I also visit their institution. The main vehicle for my teaching Dutch (and UK) teachers has been Roald Dahl’s story ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ as stimulus for a design and technology centred thematic project. This project allowed me to combine my two of my main areas of responsibility at the University of Greenwich namely: Design and Technology overseas liaison and Primary in-service training in DT. The story was chosen because it was familiar and provides such a good vehicle for a wide range of technology.

The teachers came with a good understanding of the context. The practical outcome was to be ’a new machine for Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory’. Teachers also spent the day in a primary school close to the University to see good practice with children. A good variety of machines were produced. Finally each group demonstrated their machine for the benefit of the others.