Russia adopts York technology curriculum
Posted on 18 March 1998
A design approach to technology pioneered in York has been formally endorsed by the Russian Education Ministry. James Pitt, a Visiting Fellow in Educational Studies at the University of York, has recently returned from a three week tour of seminars on technology teaching in St Petersburg, Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod and Bryansk. During his visit the Russian Education Ministry praised the British approach.
The department of Educational Studies at York has been supporting Russian educators in curriculum development for technology teaching for over 18 months. Together with a team of Russian educationalists, James Pitt has established pilot projects for design-based technology teaching in four Russian cities. Initial results show increased pupil motivation and teacher satisfaction, together with more creative work without any loss of the high standards in making.
A circular issued in January by Dr Margarita Leontsieva, the senior civil servant in charge of schools education in Russia, recommended that the York approach should form 'the heart' of the way that technology is taught.
The effect of the circular is that teachers from all over Russia are looking to see what they can learn from the British experience. Despite the critical shortage of money in education, lecturers from all over Russia attended the seminars by James Pitt and his Russian counterpart Dr Margarita Pavlova in January and February this year.
A recent book by Pitt and Pavlova - the educational area Technology - theoretical approaches and teaching methods - published by the University of York in Russian, is being reprinted for use in three Russian cities. "There is suddenly a massive demand for teaching materials to be used in the classrooms," said James Pitt. "We are now planning a second book on teaching the basic principles of design."
Notes to editors:
- James Pitt and Dr Margarita Pavlova are now Executive Directors of Technology and Enterprise Education in Russia.
- In the Soviet Union much importance was attached to 'labour training' - woodwork and metalwork for boys, cooking and sewing for girls. The Russian Law of Education in 1992 called for a radical renewal of the whole school curriculum. Subjects were to be reworked to develop creative, proactive children, capable of life-long learning. A new subject, 'technology', was introduced to the Russian curriculum in 1993.
- Thirty-two Russian educationlists visited York in June 1997 to follow up on pilot projects established by James Pitt in St Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Novgorod and Nizhny Novgorod. As well as seminars at the University of York and trips to British schools, the party were received at the Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of York.