Engineering and design approach to teaching technological design to future technology teachers

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the need to modernize the training system for future technology teachers to align with the requirements of innovative education, the digital economy, and the STEM/STEAM paradigm. In the context of rapid technological progress and the spread of digital design tools, traditional models of professional training no longer ensure sufficient integration of technical, design, and pedagogical knowledge. Therefore, the introduction of an engineering and design approach is viewed as a comprehensive educational model that unites engineering reasoning, aesthetic culture, and pedagogical appropriateness. The purpose of the article is to clarify the theoretical foundations, structural components, and methodological features of applying the engineering and design approach in teaching technological design to future technology teachers, to develop their professional competence, creativity, and project-constructive skills within an educational environment. The research methodology is based on systemic, competency-based, activity-oriented, and interdisciplinary approaches. The study employed theoretical analysis, synthesis, comparison, pedagogical modeling, and structural-functional analysis of educational processes. Research resultsconsist of defining the structural elements of the engineering and design approach and revealing its influence on the content and methods of teaching technological design. It has been substantiated that this approach promotes the transition from reproductive learning to research-creative activity and contributes to students’ development of technical, creative, and pedagogical thinking. The main barriers to its implementation have been identified: curricular organizational inertia, insufficient material and technical infrastructure, and a shortage of teaching staff with integrated engineering-pedagogical competencies. Conclusions emphasize that the approach's effectiveness is ensured by integrating digital technologies (CAD/CAE, 3D modeling, AR/VR), project-research methods, and facilitation-based teaching models. The use of the engineering and design approach fosters future teachers' readiness to create pedagogically grounded technological solutions. Prospects for further research include the development of diagnostic tools to assess levels of engineering and design thinking, the creation of digital platforms to support project-based learning, and the implementation of innovative educational hubs, such as Design Factory, within Ukraine’s teacher education system.