Design and Craft Education in Icelandic Schools

Abstract

This paper reports research undertakings that looked at the background, position, understanding of and attitude to Design and Craft (Hönnun og smíði) in Icelandic elementary schools. The main findings showed that certain views of Design and Craft need to be better defined to make stronger its standpoint isiden the school system. Terms and concepts were not enough defined and research on Design and Craft education was wanting. The participants’ attitudes to Design and Craft were positive and the Design and Craft was popular amongst students. Nevertheless, findings showed a little understanding of the dissimilarity between basic concepts such as Art, Design and Craft. Every of the interviewees thought Design and Craft were significant subjects for individualized education and wanted to give them a more prominent role in general education. Design and Craft in the Icelandic National Curriculum has not been fully realised. The research acknowledged that schools have not allocated additional hours for the subjects, yet though local authorities were helpful and flexibility existed in the time timetable. Lack of capital was, in addition, not a obstacle to enlarged Design and Craft education.