The Technological Practice Explanatory Papers

The explanatory papers have been developed to support teacher understandings of the components of the three strands of the revised technology curriculum in The New Zealand Curriculum (2007). They provide explanations of the knowledge and/or practices underpinning each of the eight components from which the technology achievement objectives have been derived.

The Technological Practice explanatory papers provide illustrative examples of each of the three components, from a range of Technological Practices outside of education. They also provide illustrative examples of what each of the achievement objectives might look like at different levels within New Zealand based technology learning experiences, and provide a link to the pedagogical practices that have supported students in achieving them.

The explanatory papers for the Nature of Technology and Technological Knowledge are still under development. At this stage they only provide suggestions for possible learning experiences that might support student achievement at different levels. As illustrative examples become available they will be added to these papers.


Written by Dr Vicki Compton under contract to the Ministry of Education to support Technology in The New Zealand Curriculum. These are based on the work of Compton and France. For details of the research underpinning the components please refer to Compton V.J and France B.J. (2007). Towards a New Technological Literacy: Curriculum Development with a Difference. In Curriculum Matters 3: 2007158-175.