10/13

• Let's talk about DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS!
• Here is what IB said about them in the M2020 Subject Report
• Candidates should prioritize and justify each point in the design specification with explicit references to the research findings where appropriate. There was often limited reference to the research or a limited justification to support the decisions made. Measurable design constraints need to be included as generic terms such as large, big, small, heavy and light only offer superficial detail. When referencing materials, candidates need to recognize the properties that are suitable for their designs, and generic terms such as wood, metal and plastic are to be avoided. Specifications can be presented in a table. However, the best candidates produced additional extended text beneath the table that provided an insight into their decision making. Other extended tables were also used to highlight and cite sources of data that helped to support rationale.
• This is how they want you to format the design specifications: 
• 
• How else should you look?
• https://www.ruthtrumpold.id.au/destech/?page_id=2921
• Check out this example
• And this awesome booklet put together by Mr. Hall --  
• Take your time with this -- I think that this should be at least a week to do correctly.  These are due NEXT Wednesday (10/21).  This is one of those make or break parts of your IA.  Want to do well on the IA?  That starts here....

10/5

• More work on Part A
• You should have Part A started
• The next thing you need to do is collect data from potential users.  Use today to start sending out survey's / questionnaires. 
• The next big thing to work on is the DESIGN BRIEF:
• Here are some resources about writing one:
• https://www.ruthtrumpold.id.au/destech/?page_id=2921
• Also lots of good clarification about the other parts of A 
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z83g8mn/revision/1
• https://www.designoutthebox.com/designbriefs.html
• https://technologystudent.com/designpro/problem1.htm
• https://toggl.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-writing-a-design-brief
• The design brief AND survey results (with interpretations) are due FRIDAY!

10/1

• Let's set some deadlines for Part A
• Interview with your client:
• Due Monday (add it to the appendix) 
• Formal client problem/current situation/why current solution doesn't work written paragraph
• Due Monday -- this is the first part of the IA
•  

9/29

• Test!  
• It will be available on TEAMS
• Good luck!  You have 30 minutes.
• We'll go over the answers after you are done.
• BE HONEST 

9/23

• News from the IB (came out this morning!)
• NO PAPER 1
• NO PARTS D, E, F for the IA
• NO WORKING PROTOTYPE 
• First let's take a look at the May 2020 subject report had to say about Part A:
• Candidate performance against each criterion Criterion A Suitable problems included designing items for the elderly, disabled, children, schools and charities. The best work included evidence of problems by analysing existing products, news articles, health journals and interviews with clients.
• Inappropriate problems were often too narrow offering limited scope for creativity or addressed a personal need where there was a predetermined solution. In many instances, candidates described the product they were going to make, leaving limited scope to present a range of alternatives. Candidates need to be discouraged from following projects where they are set on making a predetermined outcome.
• The design brief should clearly outline the expected outcome and explain any broad requirements that have been identified through the analysis of the research findings.
• Candidates should prioritise and justify each point in the design specification with explicit references to the research findings where appropriate. There was often limited reference to the research or a limited justification to support the decisions made. Measurable design constraints need to be included as generic terms such as large, big, small, heavy and light only offer superficial detail. When referencing materials, candidates need to recognise the properties that are suitable for their designs, and generic terms such as wood, metal and plastic are to be avoided. Specifications can be presented in a table. However, the best candidates produced additional extended text beneath the table that provided an insight into their decision making. Other extended tables were also used to highlight and cite sources of data that helped to support rationale.
• This is how they want you to format the design specifications: 
•  
• Next let's set up your shared document with me:
• In OneDrive
• Create a word document
• Save it as lastname_firstname_M21
• Margins = narrow
• Font = Arial
• Size = 11 
• at the top of the page = PART A
• Include page numbers 
• Share it with Codega
• This way you don't have to keep resubmitting it to me.
• All work on the IA needs to be completed in this file via OneDrive -- NOT saved on your desktop!!!! 
• Let's look some more at Part A:  Research!
• 1st stop is either:
• www.amazon.com
• https://www.aliexpress.com/
• See what already exists for your problem -- you may need to try a variety of search terms to find what you are looking for/exhaust all options!
• Getting an idea of what's around is key -- you need to make sure that your problem is one that actually needs solving.  It's ok if stuff already exists - your focus should be on be why it doesn't work and how that can inform YOUR DESIGN.  This means looking at competing products with a critical eye - this will help you with the Design Specifications!
• Next you need to formally talk about your problem.  Write it out and make sure you hit the following:
• How is the client and what is their problem?
• What is the current situation/how do they deal with the problem?  Why is it ineffective?
• Be sure to refer to the checklist for more details!

9/21

• Let's talk about what IB gave these examples
• Now it's time to talk about the Check list (P. Rai is the man)
• Design Technology IA Checklist.pdf  
• Time to start working on Part A of the IA if your idea was approved by Codega
• This is NOT something you can just put off...like the EE.
• I have to give you 60 hours of class time for this -- you need to use it...or else... 
•  

9/16

• Let's start to look at the Design Tech IAs (yup, the day you feared is upon us!)
• Here are a few examples from IB:
• HL_sensory input.pdf
• HL_tea.pdf
• SL_Info Board.pdf
• SL_Kids cuttlery.pdf  
• Look over PART A from each one
• Use the guide to mark each one (0-9)
• THEN we'll talk about it
• Next we'll start to look at making a schedule for the IA
• Start working on  PART A -- there will be things graded on an ongoing basis!

HOMEWORK

8/31 - 9/14

• REVIEW!
• Time to create some review documents from last years content. 
• Click on this link for your review document assignment and topics
• That's all!  These are due Friday at the start of class (turned in via TEAMS) 
• Here is your assignment for the rest of the week.  Presentations are due on Friday.
• PLEASE do a nice job... 
• Create a 1 page "MUST KNOW" sheet for the topic Codega assigns you.
• The one page document MUST CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
• At least three images that relate to your topic (good ones too -- not the first hit on Google Images)
• Covers all aspects of the topic -- make sure you hit everything that is in the IB DT Guide
• Has a link to at least one video that relates to your topic.
• Has an easy to read, follow and has an aesthetically pleasing layout (remember, this is DESIGN technology after all!)
• Turned in via TEAMS (Codega will make an assignment today of tomorrow)
• A five (5) minute hands on activity that reinforces the content from your project.
•  The activity must demonstrate creativity and analytical thinking (NO WORKSHEETS or anything that is related to a worksheet -- no crosswords, fill in the blank, etc.  THIS IS A HANDS ON ACTIVITY!!!!
•  No longer than 10 minutes but no shorter than 5 minutes
• Helps the class gain a deeper understanding of your topic.
• Each of these will count as a test grade (the first two of the year).
• Topic assignments 
•  Here are the rubrics
• One pager and activity