Creating a better world: can we relate this to students from the post-modern generation?

This paper relates the conference theme to a topic that was introduced at the 2001 E&PDE conference and developed at the 2005 ICED conference, and to papers at the 2006 and 2007 E&PDE conferences. It starts by investigating ideologies of improvement, asking whether we may allow ourselves of a utopian view of the future. It then describes modernist and post-modernist views, giving product histories from transport and computers. The relevance of these views to teaching is investigated, particularly to the teaching of design subjects where students are actively being asked to become agents of the change process. Teaching and learning processes are investigated, particularly coaching processes, where students are being asked to consider their personal development plans and the visions that they have for creating their personal futures as part of a larger vision for the future as a whole. Conclusions: we need to hold both philosophical views at the same time to achieve effective designers and to reach students who work with both viewpoints - no matter which view we ultimately hold on to personally.