Goldsmiths - University of London

Professor Kay Stables BAEd (Hons) MA (RCA)

Teaching

BAEd Design and Technology Secondary; PGCE Design and Technology Secondary; MA Design Education (from 2008); MPhil/PhD

Areas of supervision

Kay Stables’ research student supervision is located in the following broadly defined areas: design education; creativity; design capability; designerly thinking; technology education.

Grants & awards

Funded research
2007 -2009: e-scape phase 3, Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator Richard Kimbell), Becta (£1.1 million)

2005-2006: Creativity And Progression In Transition Through Assessment for Learning in Design & Technology, Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator Susan McLaren, University of Strathclyde); Determined to Succeed (£9.2k)

2003 – 2004: Research Assessment Approaches, Principal Investigator; RSA/ECUK (£17k)

2002-2003: Assessing Design Innovation, Co-Investigator (Principal Investigator Richard Kimbell); DfES (£293.3k)

Professional activities

Current external examining: PGCert Design & Technology Education, University of Strathclyde

Editorial Boards

Journal of Technology Education
Design and Technology Education: An International Journal (Guest Editor 2007, Vol 12.2)

External Evaluation: DialConnect – Using Dialogue to Connect Thinking Minds (EU Commenius transnational project)

Research interests

Kay Stables has been researching design and design learning for the last 20 years and was a founder member of the Department of Design’s Technology Education Research Unit – TERU. (www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/teru). The main (but not exclusive) focus of her work is on learners within the primary and secondary schools. Her particular research interests are in the development and assessment of design capability, design thinking, design methodologies, sustainability and design, creativity and research methodologies related to designing and pedagogy. She has been invited to speak about her research in North America, Australasia, India, Taiwan and Europe and has a special interest in international perspectives. She has recently been involved in evaluatory work with two European projects; the first involving 10 and the second involving 7 trans-national partners.

Current research includes developing digital assessment approaches to designing (e-scape) and the links between creativity and sustainable design.

She has recently published (with Richard Kimbell) a major text ‘Researching Design Learning’ drawing on 20 research projects and 20 years of research within TERU.

Selected publications

Kimbell, R.A. & Stables, K., 2007 Researching Design Learning Springer, Dordrecht pp 324 ISBN978-1-4020-5114-2

Stables, K., 2007, ‘Observational techniques for examining student learning activity in Technology Education’ in Middleton, H., ResearchingTechnology Education, Sense Publishers, Rotterdam pp 135-154 ISBN 978-90-8790-260-5

Stables, K, 2007 ‘Developing Design and Technological Capability within a Curriculum Framework: supporting learners and developing Design and Technology Teachers within the English Educational system’ MODULARTE Valorisation Conference, Ankara, Turkey, November 2007 (Invited Speaker)

Stables, K. & Kimbell, R. (2006) Unorthodox methodologies: Approaches to understanding design and technology, in de Vries, M. J. & Mottier, I., (eds) International handbook of technology education: reviewing the past twenty years Sense Publishers, Rotterdam pp. 313-330 ISBN 978-90-8790-260-5

Stables, K, 2006, ‘Design and Technology: the significance of the concept for the development of pupils’ invited paper at the General Technology and Technological Literacy Conference, Halle, Germany October 2006, (Invited Speaker)

Stables, K., 2006, ‘Valuing Creativity: The perceptions of learners and teachers and how these relate to performance’ Values in Technology Education 4th Biennial International Conference on Technology Education Research, Griffith University, Brisbane AU ISBN: 978 1 921291 10 4

Stables, K, 2004, ‘The Elusive Keys of Play and Imaginations: unlocking creativity and innovation in design and technology education’, , The Journal of Design and Technology Education, Vol 9 No. 3 pp. 161-171, DATA, Wellesbourne, UK ISSN 1360-1431

Stables, K., 2004, ‘Evaluating technology curriculum initiatives: insights into teaching, learning and assessing in technology education’ in Finalités et évaluationsEn éducation technologique AEET International Colloquiem, Paris France http://membres.lycos.fr/aeet/

Kimbell, R., Miller, S., Bain, J., Wright, R., Wheeler, T., Stables, K., 2004, Assessing Design Innovation: a research and development project for the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), TERU, Goldsmiths College, London UK pp 70

Stables, K., Bain, J., Rogers, M. & Kimbell, R., 2003, Researching Assessment Approaches: Final Report, pp. 48, Goldsmiths University of London,

Stables, K., 2002, ‘Assessment in Design & Technology: authenticity and management issues’ in (eds. Sayers, S., Barnes, B., & Morley, J), Issues in Design and Technology Teaching, Routledge Falmer, London UK pp 129 - 150 ISBN 0-415-21685-0

Kimbell, R., Stables, K.. & Green, R., 2002, ‘The Nature and Purpose of Design and Technology’ in (ed Owen-Jackson, G.) Teaching Design and Technology in Secondary Schools, Routledge Falmer, London UK pp 19 - 30 ISBN 0-415-26073-6

Stables, K. & Kimbell, R., 2001 “Technology education in South Africa: Evaluating an innovative pilot project’ in (ed McRobbie, C.) Research in Science Education, Vol 31, Issue 1 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands pp 71-90 ISSN 0157-244X

Stables, K., 2001, ‘Global Issues, local actions: some key agenda items for technology education in the new millennium’, TENZ 2001 Proceedings: A celebration, a challenge, and a future pp 11 - 22, TENZ, Wellington, NZ (Key Note Speech)

Stables, K., Rogers, M., Kelly, C. & Fokias, F., 2001 Enriching Literacy Through Design & Technology Evaluation Project: Final Report, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK pp. 42 ISBN 0 902986 88 0