IB DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
The course assumes no previous experience in either technology or design. The design cycle is at the heart of the course and is used alongside a scientific approach to practical investigative work.
Design consists of gathering information about a design opportunity, processing that information and planning for some kind of intervention, either by modifying what already exists or by introducing something new. The designer is interested, not just in the material environment, but also in the social, technological, economic and environmental considerations that affect people's priorities.
Technology relies on the laws and properties of nature and the accumulated knowledge of technology to create new products, techniques and systems. Design and Technology sits comfortably in Group 4 of the Diploma Programme experimental sciences, because the design cycle involves inquiry, much like the scientific method is used in Science, and students need to study scientific principles in order to understand advances made in society and to be able to speculate what might be achieved in the future.
The Lower Sixth is spent learning the theoretical aspects of good design and carrying out a number of practical and lab-based investigations to support this. Standard Level candidates study six core topics and Higher Level candidates study a further four topics.
Core Topics:
- Human factors and ergonomics
- Resource management and sustainable production
- Modelling
- Materials
- Raw material to final production
- Classic design
Additional Higher Level Topics:
- User centered design
- Sustainability
- Innovation and markets
- Commercial production
Students undertake a personal Design Project which unifies all aspects of the syllabus. There are no restrictions on material type for the major project and students tend to work in textiles, wood, metal, plastic or a combination of these.
Assessment:
Internal assessment of the Design Project is externally mediated.
External assessment consists of three written papers:
Paper 1 - Students answer multiple-choice questions that test knowledge of the core topics.
Paper 2 - Tests knowledge of the core topics. In section A, data based questions that require students to analyse a given set of data. The remainder of section A is made up of short answer questions. In section B, students answer extended response questions.
Paper 3 - Tests knowledge of the option choice i.e. CAD/CAM at KWC.
Head of Design & Technology - Clwyd Parry - email: clwyd.parry@kwc.im