INVESTIGATION:

Investigate objectives

  • outline a simple design brief.
  • consider the importance of the problem for life, society and/or the environment*
  • ask relevant questions at the different stages of the investigation
  • identify appropriate sources of information and acknowledge these using the MLA format (easybib)
  • collect and select information,organize it logically and, with guidance, begin to evaluate it
  • list, with guidance, the specific requirements that must be met by the product/solution (a design specification )

The first stage of our investigation is to think about what we have been asked to do.

Read the Design Brief. If you didn't complete the Design Brief before starting these questions then go back. If you have read the brief and fully understand the challenge, then read on.

The idea of the Investigation is to create a DESIGN SPECIFICATION.

Design specification: A detailed description of the conditions, requirements and restrictions with which a design must comply. This is a precise and accurate list of facts such as conditions, dimensions, materials, process and methods that are important for the designer and for the user. All appropriate solutions will need to comply with the design specification. From MYP documentation 2006

A design specification should include the following:

    1. Who you are designing for
    2. What the design must do
    3. Production -
      • What it should look like (Size/colours/etc)
      • What it should be made from
      • Tools needed to make the product
      • Time needed to complete the product -
    4. Use - How it will be used

Our Research is used to find out this information and to develop this design specification.

1. Look at existing designs.

Evaluating products that already exist will help you understand how and why they have been designed that way.

Find examples of toys designed for 4-6 year olds.
Describe the toys and include pictures.
Evaluate the designs
Get opinions from other students. There views may be different to yours.

You could use a table like this:

Picture
Description
Evaluation
My friend's opinion
Good
Bad
         
         
         

 

 

Add to your bibliography. See here for help.

2. The Audience (community). Who are you designing the toy for?

If you look back at the design brief, you were told that the toy should be for children of about 4-6 years old. That was the easy part.
What else do you know about the community you are designing your toy for?

Toys and Play
Brothers, Sisters, Students and even teachers. Look around you. Use real people and find out from them.


3. Objective - What the successful design must do

Look at your design brief and copy from there

4. Production

You must be careful here. Do not be too specific. You must allow different designs. You should not say the toy must be a car. It is better to say the toy should have a simple shape. You can then design a car if you wish. You could also design a boat. You can choose the best design later.

Look at your design brief again. It said you should make a toy and that it should be educational. So the first thing to do is to find out what kinds of educational toys are suitable for 4-6 year olds. Use a wide range of sources. I have included a few below to help you. Remember you must include a full MLA bibliography.

  1. What it should look like (Size/colours/etc). Use your research to find out suitable colours, sizes and shapes for your toy. The following may help as a start:

    Toys and Play
    Play Safe Toy Safety
    Play Safe Toy Topic
    Play Safe Examples
    Play Safe Toy Statistics

    BATR Toy of the year (UK )

  2. What it should be made from. This very important. There are serious safety issues to think about. You need to read the document below and then make a list of rules for the types of materials that you can use. This should include paints, varnish, wood and anything else that your toy may be made from.
  1. Tools needed to make the toy . Look in the workshop. Make a list of the tools we have.
  2. Time needed to complete the toy. Check the deadlines, ask your teacher.

5. Usage.

This is simple. Your toy will be used every day by many students.

6. Create your final Design Specification

The information should be a bulleted list starting each sentence with, 'The toy will........." see here for help

for example,

  • The toy will be for 4-6 year olds
  • The toy will be for girls and boys
  • .........

7. Include a full MLA bibliography -

see here for help.

8. Reflection: How can I make a difference?

Community and service asks many questions. One is, "How can I make a difference?" Reflect on this and write a short paragraph explaining how your toy can make a difference to the community.

9. Evaluation and Approaches to Learning

We need to evaluate each stage of the design cycle. You need to create a seperate evaluation document. You will add to it during each stage of the design cycle. When we evaluate the investigation stage we should write about the following:

A. The Process / Approaches to learning including:

    organization skills. -

    time management—including using time effectively in class, keeping to deadlines
    self-management—including personal goal setting, organization of learning materials

    • What organizational tools do I have?
    • What aspects of my organization do I need to develop?
    • How can I best organize myself?
     

B. The content of your work -

    what level do you think you have achieved in this section? Explain your answer.

    suggest ways to improve the quality of your work in the future.

 

Check the rubric here. Can you get a 6?

Go to Design

INVESTIGATE:hereDESIGN:herePLAN:hereCREATE:hereEVALUATE:here