The critical need for creative: technologies education

This chapter explains the crucial need for teachers to advance the technological creativity of students, based on the accelerating influence of technology upon almost every facet of society, the need for digital design capabilities in the workplace, the importance placed on technology and creativity in the curriculum, and the intrinsic satisfaction of being creative with technologies. After defining what is meant by technology and digital design, the rapid advancements of technologies over the last century are highlighted, including the recent exponential development of Artificial Intelligence. The importance of creative design and technological innovation across a range of fields is showcased, including in health care, finance, business, agriculture, the automotive industry, and, of course, the information technology sector itself. The heightened need for skills that enable people to work creatively with technology is emphasised along with the notion that creative use of technology is an intrinsically rewarding goal in itself. The corresponding importance placed upon creativity in school curricula is discussed, including how pressures to ‘standardise’ the curriculum may hinder creativity initiatives. The chapter highlights the pivotal role that the teacher plays in enabling creative Technologies education in schools.