Torben Steeg
Tutor (Design & Technology)
My profile
Biography
After gaining a joint degree in Physics and Computer Science from the University of Manchester, I engaged in detached youth work for some years before entering teaching. I taught D&T, Control Technology, Science, Computing and IT before moving to the University of Manchester, to work with the Technology Enhancement Programme. Since then I have worked with the Nuffield D&T Project and the Electronics in Schools Strategy, led the PGCE in D&T and contributed to Masters programmes in educational ICT at the University of Manchester. I have run a Local Authority Science and Technology Centre specialising in digital designing and making where, among other things, a successful programme of activities introduced teachers and their pupils from 5-18 to the challenges and excitements of technical and scientific subjects, through the use of advanced technologies.
Interests and expertise
I specialise in CPD, Initial Teacher Education, curriculum development and trialling, project management, evaluation and research in Design & Technology, Information Technologies (IT), Science, Computer Science, Mathematics and Engineering.
My research interests include the interactions between D&T, Computing, Science, Engineering and Mathematics, IT use in schools, and, within D&T, I particularly focus on physical computing, systems thinking, electronics and communications technologies, the uses of digital technologies to support learning and designing and making, novel technologies and the implications of the maker and hacker movements for education.
I am a partner in a US/UK collaborative project, working to develop new approaches design, technology and engineering education that will support teachers on both sides of the Atlantic. Trials of the Electronic Sentences, outlined on the above website, are due to take place in 2024.
I am working with an Indian company to develop curriculum materials and hardware for a forthcoming construction kit designed to support the developmentEngineering thinking and skills. We anticipate this will be launched in 2024.
I was a founder and organiser of the the Manchester Maker Faire, and Manchester MakeFest, held annually at the The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester from 2012-2018 and am involved in the maker movement both in the Greater Manchester area and, increasingly, nationally.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a Consultant Member of the D&T Association, a member of the editorial board for the D&T Association’s Design and Technology Education: An International Journal and an owner and editor of the online journal ECT Education. I was a referee for the 2023 PATT40 conference.
Teaching
Subject Lead, PGCE in Design & Technology | School of Education | Manchester Metropolitan University
Research outputs
Recent Publications
For a full list, please see here: https://dandtfordandt.wordpress.com/about/torbens-publications/
Forthcoming book | Design and Technology in your School; Principles for Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
Refereed Chapters in Books
Steeg T.J., Williams J.S. (1993) Units of mathematics in integrated projects with science and technology in T. Breiteig et al (Eds), Teaching and Learning Mathematics in Context, Ellis Horwood, pp127-137
Steeg T., & Hills-Taylor D. (in press) Pedagogy for technical understanding in Barlex D., & Williams J. An international perspective on pedagogy for technology education in secondary schools, Springer
Selected Published Refereed Papers
Barlex, D., Givens, N. & Steeg, T. (2013) Disruptive technologies: engaging teachers and secondary school students in emerging affordances In P. John Williams & Dilani Gedera (Eds) PATT 27 Technology Education for the future, a play on sustainability. New Zealand: University of Waikato; University of Canterbury
Steeg T., Barlex D. (2014) Pupils’ understanding of Robotics as a disruptive Technology in Technology Education: Learning for Life Proceedings of the 8th Biennial International Conference on Technology Education ResearchDesign & Technology Association of Australia
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N., Hardy A. (2016) Modernisation of the school D&T curriculum with special reference to disruptive technologies; a case study of trainee teachers’ responses in Ginner T., Hallström J., Hultén M. (Eds) PATT 26; Technology Education in the 21st CenturyLinköping University, Sweden
Barlex D. & Steeg T. (2018) Teaching young people to respond to a contextual challenge through designing and making – a discussion of possible approaches in Seery N., Buckley J., Canty D., Phelan J PATT 36 Research and Practice in Technology Education; Perspectives on Human capability & DevelopmentTechnology Education Research Group, Athlone, Ireland
Steeg T. & Barlex D. (2018) Maker education in the English context in Seery N., Buckley J., Canty D., Phelan J PATT 36 Research and Practice in Technology Education; Perspectives on Human capability & DevelopmentTechnology Education Research Group, Athlone, Ireland
Chapters in Books
Steeg T.J. (2002) ICT in Design & Technology in Barnes B., Morley J., Sayers S. (Eds) Issues in Teaching Design & TechnologyRoutledge
Steeg T., Owen-Jackson G. (2007) The role of technical knowledge in design & technology in Barlex D (Ed) Design and Technology for the Next Generation: A Collection of Provocative Pieces, Written by Experts in Their Field to Stimulate Reflection and Curriculum Innovation, CliffeCo, Shropshire England
Steeg, T.J., Barlex D., & Givens N. (2015) Developing work with disruptive technologies in Gwyneth Owen-Jackson (Ed) Learning to Teach Design and Technology in the Secondary School, 3rd edition Routledge (2015)
Steeg, T Barlex D (2018) The Maker Movement and Schools in Luckin R. (Ed) Enhancing Learning and Teaching with Technology: What the research saysUCL IOE press, London
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N. (2019) Helping new design & technology teachers get the Big Picture; Understanding the fundamental nature of design & technology in Lawson S., Wood-Griffiths S. (Eds) A practical guide to mentoring Design and Technology teachers, Taylor & Francis, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Steeg, T.J., Barlex D., & Givens N. (2020) Teaching about disruption: a key feature of new and emerging technologies in Alison Hardy (Ed) Learning to Teach Design and Technology in the Secondary School, 4th edition Routledge (2020)
Selected Other Publications
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N. (2017) Re-Building D&T; A working paper David and Torben for D&T
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N. (2017) Big Ideas for D&T; A working paper David and Torben for D&T
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N. (2017) The Curriculum: A design and technology perspective on the Ofsted curriculum Survey; A working paper David and Torben for D&T
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N. (2017) Refocusing Assessment – Design & Technology David and Torben for D&T
Steeg T., Barlex D., Givens N. (2017) Assessment in Design & Technology; A working paper David and Torben for D&T