Community and Enterprise Links

The link between schools and the community, including business and industry, tertiary institutions, and local authorities, is important to a well developed, inclusive technology curriculum. Outside experiences enhance, reinforce, and clarify classroom learning. People involved in technology can provide a stimulus for school-based technological activity as well as assisting as expert resources for further activities.

Exploring technology in the community, whether in the environment, in products, or in systems, such as those relating to public safety, gives students an appreciation of the relationship between technology and society, how decisions are made, and future opportunities for technological development.

Having access to people who can fulfil a mentoring role when students are undertaking technological activities can increase enjoyment, participation, and success.

Approaches should be carefully planned. The mutual benefit to schools and outside organisations will be advanced when all considerations, particularly health and safety, are taken into account. Links may be made between students and enterprise, teachers and enterprise, and school management and enterprise management.

For detailed discussion on school-enterprise links, refer to Working Together: Building Partnerships between Schools and Enterprises, Ministry of Education, 1993 (revised edition, 1999).