Technology is a compulsory subject for all school years in Sweden. The curriculum states that teaching should contribute to the students' understanding of technological development (LGr11, syllabus in technology). Interdisciplinary teaching is encouraged in the curriculum, however, the relationship between subject-matter in technology and history is not well documented. It this study, five primary school teachers’ experiences and attitudes of interdisciplinary teaching are investigated through open-ended interviews. A thematic analysis of the data identified three preliminary themes. The first theme confirms that interdisciplinary teaching occurs. The teachers say that through interdisciplinary teaching, they build meaningfulness and coherence for students. In the second theme, teaching on technological development often emerges as spontaneous and unplanned. Here, teachers became aware in the interview that their teaching may also be described as technological. The third theme suggested that teachers used artefacts as an entrance to the past, for student’s immersion and understanding. The interdisciplinary teaching between technology and history is largely unexplored, especially for the younger ages. Through identifying that in teaching practice technology is integrated with history, although not always planned or consciously, the technology subject can gain more awareness and a stronger position in the curriculum and wider contexts.
QC 20180628