Mr John R Dakers

Educational Studies - Lecturer, Adviser of Studies

Academic profile

John has been a member of staff at the University since 1999. His research interests have developed over the years into the philosophy of technology and technology education. John travels extensively around the world and is involved in several international collaborations on issues relating to technology and science education. His particular focus is on the development of technological literacy in technology education curricula around the world.

Career history

Research interests

Addressing gender imbalance issues relating to technology and science education
Developing new forms of pedagogy for the delivery of technology education
Developing a modern and relevant technology education curriculum for the 21st century
Technological and environmental sustainability
Continental philosophy of technology and phenomenology

Selected publications

Edited books

Dakers, J., de Vries, M. J. (2008). International Handbook on Research and Development in Technology Education. (Eds.) Alister Jones and Marc J. de Vries. Perceptions of Technology and Technology Education. (Section Editors John R Dakers and Marc J. de Vries). Sense Publishers. (Forthcoming).

de Vries, M. J., Dakers, J. (2008). International Handbook on Research and Development in Technology Education. (Eds.) Alister Jones and Marc J. de Vries. Defining Technology for Technology Education. (Section Editors Marc J de Vries and John R Dakers). Sense Publishers. The Netherlands. (Forthcoming).

Dakers, J., Dow, W., de Vries, M. J. (Eds). (2008). Applying technological literacy in classroom practice. Sense Publishers. The Netherlands. (Forthcoming).

de Vries, M. J., Custer, R., Dakers, J., Martin, G. (2007). Analyzing Best Practices in Technology Education. Sense Publishers. The Netherlands.

Dakers, J. (Ed). (2006). Defining Technological Literacy: Towards an Epistemological Framework. Palgrave MacMillan. New York.

All publications

Grants and awards

Robertson, P., Dakers, J. (2004). Personal Learning Plans Programme: Evaluation Report. Published by: Scottish Executive Education Department (SEED), Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Learning and Teaching Scotland. £6,000

JDakers book cover Smith C, Dakers J, Dow W, Head G, Sutherland M, Irwin R (2005) A systematic review of what pupils, aged 11–16, believe impacts on their motivation to learn in the classroom. In: Research Evidence in Education Library. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. Funded project £17,000.

Dakers, J., Dow, W. (2007) UPDATE project. Understanding and Providing a Developmental Approach to Technology. FP6-2005-Science-and-society-16, EU funded three year longitudinal contract as part of an international European consortium. There are sixteen partners involved in this project with three lead universities: Jyväskylä, Glasgow and Marseilles. Funded project 922,300 Euros (Glasgow share 200,000 Euros)

Analyzing Best Practices In Technology Education (Sense Publishing,Rotterdam) edited by Marc De Vries (Eindhoven University of Technology), Rodney Custer (Illinois State University), John Dakers (University of Glasgow) and Gene Martin (Technical Foundation of America) has been awarded the Silvius-Wolansky Award for the Outstanding Scholarly Publication in Technology Education. The award was presented in Salt Lake City earlier this year.

Funded Consultancies

Dakers, J. (2002-2004). Principal consultant to the European Commission 2002 to 2003. Implementation of “Education & Training 2010” Work Programme. Working Group D; “Increasing Participation in Math, Science and Technology”. Progress Report 2004. Published by the European Commission. Funded consultancy; fees £24.798.

Dakers, J. (2003-2004). Principal consultant to the European Commission 2003 to 2004. Implementation of “Education & Training 2010” Work Programme. Working Group D; “Increasing Participation in Math, Science and Technology”. Mapping of Policies Supporting the Implementation of the 2003 Recommendations agreed upon by Working Group D: Annex to the progress Report. Published by the European Commission. Funded consultancy; fees £10,561

Research collaborations

University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Teacher Training University Institute of Aix-Marseille, France
"Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Romania
Ovidius University Constanta, Romania
University of Tallinn, Estonia
Dortmund University of Applied Science, Ada-Lovelace-Mentoring-Association, Germany
University of Koblenz, Ada-Lovelace-Project, Germany
Competence Center Technology, Diversity and Equal Chances, Gemany
Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation, Spain
Institute of Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia
State College of Education in Vienna, Austria
Regional Institute for Educational Research, Italy
Aristotle University, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Greece
Central University of Complutense de Madrid, Spain
IDEC Greece
Strathclyde University, Scotland
Edinburgh University, Scotland

Academic and professional body membership

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of Epsilon Pi Tau. The International Honors Society for Professionals in Technology.

Additional information

Series Editor

Sense Publishers. The Netherlands. International Technology Education Studies

Current Editorial Board memberships

Assistant Editor: Scottish Educational Review.
Journal of Technology Studies
International Journal of Technology and Design Education
Journal of Design and Technology Education: An International Journal

Invitations to speak, Keynote presentations and external evaluations

Martin, D. J., Dakers, J., Duvernet, L., Kipperman, D., Kumar, K., Sui, K. W. M., Thorsteinsson, G., Welch, M. (2003). Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An International Overview of the Contribution from Design and Technology Education. Sponsored Overseas Keynote Lecture for the Design and Technology Association (DATA) International Research and UK Education Conference delivered on July 2cd – July 3rd 2003 at Warwick, United Kingdom.

Dakers, J. (2003). The Place of Design and Technology in the Curriculum. International keynote presentation to the Pupil’s Attitude Towards technology (PATT 13) international conference held at the University of Glasgow.

Dakers, J. (2004). Visiting lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. October 2004. Lectures on the Scottish Technology education system and the philosophy of technology.

Dakers, J. (2005). Visiting lecturer at the Centre for School Technology Education, Linköpings University, Sweden. March 2005. Lecture on Learning as solo activity or socially constructed activity,

Dakers, J. (2005). Visiting lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. March 2005. Lecture on the teacher as a researcher and communities of learners.

Dakers, J. (2005). Guest presenter at “Gateway to Learning-Holding the Door Open..”, West Dunbartonshire Head Teacher Conference held in Erskine 18th 19th May 2005. Presentation on Personal Learning Plans.

Dakers, J. (2005). Visiting lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. October 2005. Lecture on developing a philosophy for technology education.

Dakers, J. (2006). International Keynote Presentation to the International Technology Education Association to be held in Baltimore, United States of America. Presented in March 2006.

Dakers, J. (2007). Visiting lecturer at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. January 2007. Lectures on the Scottish Technology education system and the philosophy of technology.

Dakers, J. (2007). Commissioned visiting lecturer at IUFM Aix-Marseille, France from February 5th to February 16th. Lecture series based upon my book: Defining Technological Literacy.

Dakers, J. (2007). The Hale Ethics lecture. Invited keynote presentation at the Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester USA. Delivered on Wednesday 21st March 2007. see: http://www.rit.edu/%7E692dept/Events.htm

Dakers, J. (2007). External adviser to Gazi University, Department of Industrial Technology Education, Ankara, Turkey for the Leonarda da Vinci project entitled; “New Approaches in Technology Training – Developing and Integration of European Modules in Technology Education” (TR/05/B/P/PP/178 009). Valorisation Conference held in Ankara 13th to 15th October 2007.

Dakers, J. (2007/8). External adviser to Aichi University, Kariya-city, Aichai, Japan for the “International Cooperation Initiative” in conjunction with the project named “Model Creation of Core-curriculum Sharing System to Support the Industrial Technology Education for Developing Countries”.

Dakers, J. (2008). Invited as workshop leader on technological literacy at Göteborg University, Sweden. To be held in May 2008.

UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW