Bridge Building Podcast Episode 88: Datta Podcast: Growing the Future: Design Students as Technicians with Peter Murphy (RMIT)
Release Date: 11/19/2025
Bridge Building Podcast Episode 91: Datta Podcast: Design Thinking Starts with the Problems That Annoy You – with Dominique Falla
DattaQueensland's podcast
What if you’re already teaching design… but just don’t realise it? In this episode, Stephen Anderson is joined by Dominique Falla from Griffith University’s Queensland College of Art and Design to explore a powerful reframe for Design and Technology education. Dominique shares why design isn’t about being “creative,” but about structured problem solving—and why every teacher is already doing this every day in their classroom. The conversation explores the importance of studio-based learning, the role of hands-on experimentation, and why students need opportunities to tinker,...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 90: Datta Podcast: Caroline Blackley on behaviour, engagement, and the 4 Dimensions framework
DattaQueensland's podcast
What if behaviour management isn’t really about managing behaviour at all? In Episode 90 of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen Anderson speaks with Caroline Blackley about a different way of understanding classroom behaviour — one grounded in human decision-making, cognitive load, and the relationships that shape learning spaces. Caroline brings a wealth of experience from education, disability support, autism advisory work, prisons, youth detention, and years of professional learning with teachers. In this conversation, she explains her 4 Dimensions framework, which focuses on...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 89: Datta Podcast: Emil Zankov: Building Community and Transforming Students Through VEX Robotics
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast, Stephen chats with Emil Zankov, President of DATTA South Australia and a driving force behind the explosive growth of VEX Robotics competitions across the state. Emil shares his journey from an early-career teacher discovering the power of robotics to leading a statewide movement that now involves more than 20 schools and over 100 teams. He discusses how robotics competitions provide belonging, motivation, and purpose for students who might otherwise disengage — often transforming attendance, confidence, and learning habits. We also look at...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 88: Datta Podcast: Growing the Future: Design Students as Technicians with Peter Murphy (RMIT)
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode, we explore a powerful idea emerging from Victoria: placing industrial design students into school workshops as paid technicians to support teachers, enrich student learning, and build a new pipeline of future Design & Technologies educators. Stephen Anderson, QCHDF, speaks with Peter Murphy from RMIT about how the program works, why design students are so eager to participate, and what this model could mean for addressing the national teacher shortage. Peter also discusses his long-term vision for the learning area — including university partnerships, teacher training...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 87: Datta Podcast: Teaching Beyond the Boxes with Primrose Kombanie
DattaQueensland's podcast
Join Stephen Anderson in conversation with Primrose Kombanie, an inspiring design educator at Glasshouse Christian College on the Sunshine Coast. Primrose shares her remarkable story — from her upbringing in Zimbabwe and studies in textile sciences, to her transition into design teaching in New Zealand and Australia. She speaks passionately about changing classroom culture, connecting with industry partners, and helping students see design as a way of thinking, not just making. It’s a warm, engaging, and thought-provoking episode about education, creativity, and courage in teaching. 🎧...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 86: Datta Podcast: Bringing Design Thinking into Primary Classrooms with Danielle Ruddock
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this conversation, host Stephen Anderson speaks with Danielle Ruddock, Design and Technology Teacher at Beenleigh State High School, about her work bringing design thinking into the primary classroom. Danielle shares strategies for integrating design thinking into HASS and Science, drawing on the Eight Ways of Learning and principles of Universal Design for Learning. She reflects on how introducing students to creative problem-solving early helps them transition into secondary design subjects with greater confidence and flexibility. As part of DATTA QLD’s Professional Learning Series,...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 85: Datta Podcast: Structuring Design Education with Andrew Scott
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson sits down with Andrew Scott, co-author of the Design for QCE textbooks and an experienced industrial design educator. Andrew unpacks the challenge of helping students use their time productively in design projects—whether in high school or university. Drawing on years of teaching first-year design, he explains why structure, constraints, and collaboration are key to unlocking creativity and progress. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to structure design projects to keep students moving...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 84: Datta Podcast: From the Tools to the Classroom – Mark Agnew on the Trade to Teach Journey
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, Stephen Anderson chats with Mark Agnew, a former industrial plumber now teaching Industrial Technology and Design at Mabel Park State High School through Queensland’s Trade to Teach program. Mark explains how the program helps experienced tradespeople transition into teaching, the challenges and rewards of working in a diverse school community, and the importance of building relationships with students. He also shares an extraordinary story about creating adaptive tools for a legally blind...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 83: Datta Podcast: Celebrating a Legacy of Hands-On Innovation with Terry Grieger
DattaQueensland's podcast
Episode Overview In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we celebrate the extraordinary career of DATTA QLD’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, Terry Grieger. With over three decades of service to Design and Technologies education, Terry has turned classrooms into creative workshops where theory meets real-world problem-solving. Terry shares how he brought CNC milling to Far North Queensland in the 80s, built working printing presses with his students, and even ran radio-controlled yacht regattas—all while nurturing critical thinking and ingenuity. As he...
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Bridge Building Podcast Episode 82: Datta Podcast: Reimagining Education for an AI-Driven Future with Tracy Sheen
DattaQueensland's podcast
In this episode of the Bridge Building Podcast: From Technology to the Trades, we sit down with Tracy Sheen, a digital innovator and author of AI and You: Reimagine Business. Tracy shares her incredible journey from tinkering with electronics as a child in rural Queensland to becoming a mentor for businesses navigating the AI revolution. With AI transforming industries from hospitality to education, Tracy offers insights into how teachers can equip students with the skills needed for a workforce where roles are rapidly evolving. She challenges us to rethink traditional education, emphasizing...
info_outlineIn this episode, we explore a powerful idea emerging from Victoria: placing industrial design students into school workshops as paid technicians to support teachers, enrich student learning, and build a new pipeline of future Design & Technologies educators.
Stephen Anderson, QCHDF, speaks with Peter Murphy from RMIT about how the program works, why design students are so eager to participate, and what this model could mean for addressing the national teacher shortage. Peter also discusses his long-term vision for the learning area — including university partnerships, teacher training pathways, the need for more research in Design & Technologies, and what it will take to build a sustainable future workforce.
This episode is essential listening for school leaders, teachers, and anyone passionate about strengthening our subject.
Key topics:
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How university design students are supporting school workshops
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Speed-dating for schools: matching students with schools
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Why young designers are seeking stability and meaningful work
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The changing nature of the design profession
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Teacher shortages and long-term workforce solutions
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The role of Masters programs and PhD pathways
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Building intergenerational change within Design & Technologies
Listen now and explore how your school could start a similar partnership.