St. Cecelia Interparochial school is very privileged to have a separate MYP IB Design/Technology class for grades 6-8. This allows us to teach technology skills and the IB Design Cycle with a project-based approach.
Design is a required course for the IB MYP. There is a great deal of critical thinking, reading, and writing involved in this course. My goal is to have students enjoy class; however, it will require hard work and a professional attitude.
What is the "Design Cycle"?
The Design Cycle is a way of thinking that helps to accomplish an end goal or to create a product. It begins with an inquiry and analysis of an issue or topic; What do you want to do? What problem do you want to solve?
The next step is to develop ideas that will produce the desired outcome. When developing ideas, sometimes the initial plans change.
Creating the product/solution comes next, where the plan is carried out (activated). A variety of technological skills will be applied during the process.
The final step involves evaluating both the end product as well as the process to determine whether or not they were successful. This stage gives the student the opportunity to reflect on what they (he/she) could have done differently to obtain a better outcome.
The aims of MYP Design are to encourage and enable students to:
enjoy the design process, develop an appreciation of its elegance and power.
develop knowledge, understanding and skills from a different disciplines to design and create solutions to problems using the design cycle.
use and apply technology effectively as a means to access, process and communicate information, model and create solutions, and to solve problems.
develop an appreciation of the impact design innovations for life, global society and environments.
appreciate past, present and emerging design within cultural, political, social, historical and environmental contexts.
develop respect for others' viewpoints and appreciate alternative solutions to problems.act with integrity and honesty, and take responsibility for their own actions developing effective working practices.
"The best ideas lose their owners and take on lives of their own." --N. Bushnell