Objective - formalized and elaborate documentation as compiled evidence of student's work.
The Design Cycle
Used with permission from Jordi Owens.
Design Folder Workbook November 3, 2010
11:23 AM
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 1
The MYP design cycle is a system that will help you do your work by following certain steps. The system is useful and easy to understand because it guides you through the steps of how to do your project. The Design cycle starts with an INVESTIGATION and follows with PLAN/DESIGN, CREATE and then EVALUATE.
Investigate Stage: The investigation requires a description of the problem and an explanation on why the problem is important. The student must also relate the problem to their own life, to society and to one or more areas of interaction (A.O.I.'s - Approaches to Learning; Community and Service; Health and Social Education; Environments; Human Ingenuity). In addition to this, students will want to generate a couple of questions to guide them through their investigation. Surveys and questionnaires should be conducted and the responses and feedback gathered should be analyzed. A design brief and a design specification are also required. In the design brief, the student explains what he or she is going to do to solve the problem. In the specification, one should write the essential and desirable characteristics they want their end product to have. The student should also have some tests written down (these will test the product against the specification). Research should be conducted and the sources should be documented.
Design Stage: In this stage, the student should include a variety of designs. Each of these designs should be explained with storyboards, sketches, or labeled diagrams. The designs should be evaluated against the design specification. Finally, the student should choose one design and justify their reasoning for choosing that design.
Design Cycle - ExplainedNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 2
Plan Stage: The requirements of the plan stage could include the creation of a time line or a calendar. You will need a step-by-step plan as evidence of planning. The student should critically evaluate their time plans. If the student has made any modifications to their original design, the changes should be justified. Students will need their teacher to “approve” their plan.
Create Stage: While following the time plan and working on the creation of his or her product, the student should keep a process journal in their Design Folder Workbook (this journal will be helpful when writing the evaluation). The tools and techniques utilized in the process of creation should be explained. Any changes made to the final design should be justified. Evidence should also be provided, such as photographs, screen shots, etc.
Evaluate Stage: Finally, the student should include the feedback received from testers in their evaluation. In addition to this, an analysis of the questionnaire results (if used) should also be included. A detailed evaluation of the student's performance at each stage of the design cycle discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each stage is essential, as are observations on how each stage could have been improved. A discussion on the impact of my product on the student, others and/or the environment should be included as well.
Used with permission from Jordi Owens.
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 3
Name -
Unit Title -
Area of Interaction -
Guiding Question -
Instructor -
Assignment Date -
InvestigateNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 4
Design Brief :
Explain the task you have to complete.
Who are you making it for?
How do you plan to complete the task?
What is the importance of the task?
What impact might it have on you and/or your future?
(Be sure to include how the area of interaction you are using will impact your project.)
Finding Information:
What essential questions do I need to think about to help me guide my investigation?
What are the answers to these questions? (Possible tools: concept map such as Inspiration /
Kidspiration / Webspiration / Bubbl.us or other graphic organizers)
Resources Used:
(This includes information and images)
(Knight Cite, Diigo, Microsoft Word inline citations, and bibliograpy, etc.)
Investigate - Design BriefNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 5
What are the different parts to my project / product / design?
What must my project / product /design do?
Which program or materials should I use?
Who is my audience?
What constraints do I need to think about?
Investigate - Design SpecificationNovember 3, 2010
11:36 AM
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 6
Design / Sketches / Ideas:
How can I test that my product matches the design specification?
I. Explain/sketch in detail multiple ways of creating your project / product / design. Either draw your
design directly on this document (expanding it as necessary) or use other tools such as Illustrator,
Photoshop, GIMP, Google Docs Drawing , Google Sketchup to create your product / solution.
II. Evaluations – Check each design against your original design specification. Be sure to include any
constraints (limitations or restrictions).
III. Which design have you chosen to use for this project? Why did you choose this design? Be sure to
justify your decision.
IV. Design Specification - detailed description (colors, fonts, images, etc...) and materials to be used.
Investigate - Test of Design SpecificationNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 7
List the steps you will need to complete the task (this should be done in detail and include equipment
and techniques/software to be used).
Expand or modify chart / photo / sketches as needed.
Create a timeline, Gantt Chart or calendar to show milestones and progress.
Step Description of Step Time/Resources Needed
Teacher Approval: (Sign Here) ________________________Date: _______________
*Did you modify the plan at any point? Explain here.*
PlanNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 8
Choose your sketch for your product / solution.
Plan - SketchesNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 9
Paste your Gantt Chart here.
Plan - Gantt ChartNovember 3, 2010
11:47 AM
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 10
Create your project by following your plan. Remember to modify your plan (steps and sketches) if you
make any changes to your plan. You will want to document the development stage of your creation by
taking pictures if appropriate.
As you create, journal about the following (you could do this as a blog if you like):
What are some of the difficulties you face in creating your product?
Have you made any changes since your design? If so, what and why?
Describe your strengths in creating your product.
What have you learned?
Create November 3, 2010
11:47 AM
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 11
I. Submit a self evaluation using the rubric provided.
Proficient -5 Developing - 3 Emerging - 1 Score
Researches and
gathers
information
Collects a great deal of
information - all related to the
topic
Collects some basic
information - most
related to the topic
Collects very little
information -some
related to the
topic
On Task Always does assigned work -
without having to be reminded
Usually does assigned
work - rarely needs
reminding
Rarely does
assigned work -
often needs
reminding
Organization Met all goals and added extra
components; excellent file
management; complete,
attractive, and innovative
project
Met most goals;
adequate file
management;
complete, but
ordinary project
Met few goals;
poor file
management;
incomplete and
messy project
Attitude Always mediated problems and
eager to work
Usually solved
problems and liked to
work
Usually caused
problems and
didn't want to
work
Total Score /20
II. Evaluate yourself at each phase of the Design Cycle:
Stage of Design Cycle What I did well. What I needed to change/improve.
Investigate
Design
Plan
Create
Evaluate your group using the rubric provided. Place the names of your peers being evaluated at the
top of this page. Place the number of points in the blanks below that best describes how you feel about
a peer’s participation regarding each statement. You will also do a self-evaluation. Total the points and
fill in the score next to the names.
III.
Group member A: _________________________ Score: ______ /21
EvaluateNovember 3, 2010
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MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 12
Group member B: _________________________ Score: ______ /21
Group member C: _________________________ Score: ______ /21
Group member D: _________________________ Score: ______ /21
(A) (B) (C) (D)
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ Total points (place this score by names above)
Category Excellent- 3 Good- 2 Satisfactory-1 Needs
Improvement-0
Contributions
Routinely provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group. A definite
leader who
contributes a lot of
effort.
Usually provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group. A strong
group member who
tries hard.
Sometimes provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group . A
satisfactory group
member who does
what is required.
Rarely provides
useful ideas when
participating in the
group . May
refuse to
participate.
Time
Management
Routinely uses time
well throughout the
project to ensure
things get done on
time. Group does
not have to adjust
deadlines or work
responsibilities
because of this
person's
procrastination.
Usually uses time well
throughout the
project, but may have
procrastinated on
one thing. Group
does not have to
adjust deadlines or
work responsibilities
because of this
person's
procrastination.
Tends to
procrastinate, but
always gets things
done by the
deadlines. Group
does not have to
adjust deadlines or
work responsibilities
because of this
person's
procrastination.
Rarely gets things
done by the
deadlines and
group has to
adjust deadlines or
work
responsibilities
because of this
person's
inadequate time
management.
Focus on the
task
Consistently stays
focused on the task
and what needs to be
done. Very self-
directed.
Focuses on the task
and what needs to be
done most of the
time. Other group
members can count
on this person.
Focuses on the task
and what needs to
be done some of the
time. Other group
members must
sometimes nag,
prod, and remind to
keep this person on-
task.
Rarely focuses on
the task and what
needs to be done.
Lets others do the
work.
Brings needed Almost always brings Almost always Often forgets
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 13
Preparedness
Brings needed
materials to class and
is always ready to
work.
Almost always brings
needed materials to
class and is ready to
work.
Almost always
brings needed
materials but
sometimes needs to
settle down and get
to work
Often forgets
needed materials
or is rarely ready
to get to work.
Pride
Work reflects this
student's best
efforts.
Work reflects a strong
effort from this
student.
Work reflects some
effort from this
student
Work reflects very
little effort on the
part of this
student.
Monitors
Group
Effectiveness
Routinely monitors
the effectiveness of
the group, and makes
suggestions to make
it more effective.
Routinely monitors
the effectiveness of
the group and works
to make the group
more effective.
Occasionally
monitors the
effectiveness of the
group and works to
make the group
more effective.
Rarely monitors
the effectiveness
of the group and
does not work to
make it more
effective.
Working with
others
Almost always listens
to, shares with, and
supports the efforts
of others. Tries to
keep people working
well together.
Usually listens to,
shares, with, and
supports the efforts
of others. Does not
cause "waves" in the
group
Often listens to,
shares with, and
supports the efforts
of others, but
sometimes is not a
good team member.
Rarely listens to,
shares with, and
supports the
efforts of others.
Often is not a good
team player.
IV. What were the results of the tests you made against your design specification?
V. Evaluation of the impact of the product on life/society/environment:
How do you think your product will change the way the people who use it work/play/learn?
Will it lead to an improvement in their daily life/long term life?
Could your product be introduced into the wider community?
What do you think the impact would be?
Will your product have an impact on the environment?
MYP Unit Design Folder Workbook Page 14