What do Students in Dutch Technology Teacher Programmes Think of Their Subject?

Abstract

In this article a research study into ideas of students in technology teacher training programmes in The Netherlands about their subject is reported. An adapted version of a questionnaire that had been developed in the international PATT (Pupils’ Attitude Towards Technology) project was used. The study was carried out among 89 students in three places in the country. The questionnaire was answered before the start of the courses. At that time students had not yet had any lessons on technology. From students’ own descriptions of technology and their responses to concept items and a list of more or less technological objects it appeared that they have a broad, but biased concept of technology. Their attitude was positive, but not uncritical. In the teacher training programme these results are used by paying explicit attention to the conceptualisation of technology in order to provide a more balanced idea of what technology implies.