"The technologies" curriculum area as is manifested within Australian curriculum, assessment and reporting authority

This paper will critically examine the Australian states position during the development and implementation of an Australian national curriculum within “The Technologies” learning area. An overview of the background, where political forces, provided a rationale for and agreed to the introduction of a national is provided. An academically-informed knowledge of the tensions involved including the status of Technology based subjects in schools, keeping the Technology subjects contemporary and relevant in the 21st century, funding its introduction nationally, resourcing the Technologies learning areas with facilities, tools, equipment and consumables and training teachers to teach a problem based curriculum that uses critical thinking to promote lifelong learning is discussed. Concrete examples are included to illustrate how a particular tension may impact upon policy and practice within “The Technologies” area of the national curriculum