The Design Cycle

Why IB requires it?

Guide to preparing research and creative work

Helps us learn to organize

Prepares students for Personal Project

4 Components

The Process Journal

The Product

The Essay

Presentation

Design Cycle Overview

6 Parts

Each is weighted evenly

Guidance

Level I receives teacher guidance

Each year guidance tapers down

Level V responsible for working through cycle on

their own

Criterion A: Investigate

Step 1 – Identify the Problem

What is the teacher asking me to do?

How does it relate to the real world?

(AoI connection)

Criterion A: Investigate

Step 2 – Develop the Design Brief

What do I need to do to make sure I do my best

work?

How can I make sure I’ve included everything the

teacher has asked for?

Develop a Test (checklist)

What research do I need to conduct?

Criterion A: Investigate

Step 3 – Formulate a Design Specification

What resources can I use?

What limitations must I work within?

Criterion B: Design

Brainstorm possible solutions

Check solutions using test (checklist)

Provide pros and cons for each solution

Choose best solution

Criterion C: Plan

Step by step what needs to be done

Examples

Outline, Flowchart, Timeline, Storyboard, etc.

Include in each step

What will be done

Resources needed

Time needed

Criterion D: Create

Step 1 – Use appropriate techniques &

equipment

Are there shortcuts?

Are you using the best application?

Criterion D: Create

Step 2 – Follow the plan

Make notes on your plan of changes made

Do you need to add another step?

Did it take you longer than expected?

Can you skip this step?

Criterion D: Create

Step 3 – Create the product/solution

This is done while following steps 1 & 2

Compare to Test (checklist)

Criterion E: Evaluation

Step 1 – Evaluate the product/solution

Reflection

What would you improve upon?

What did you do best?

Did you meet the teacher’s expectations?

Use the test developed in Criterion A

Criterion E: Evaluate

Step 2 – Evaluate their use of the design cycle

Reflection

What would you improve upon?

What did you do best?

Did you follow each step of the design cycle?

Did you spend enough time on each step?

Did you put enough work into each step?

Criterion F: Attitude in Technology

Takes place the entire time you are working on

the project/solution.

Personal engagement

(motivation, independence, general positive attitude)

Attitude towards safety, cooperation & respect for

others

Our Role in the Personal Project