DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING (DT&E)

Program Area Philosophy Summary

We believe that design permeates every aspect of what we do and is the first signal of human intention. Broadly spoken, design includes mindsets and methods that ask learners to look holistically at their world. We develop a design mindset that embraces empathy as the starting point. Through developing empathy, we improve our relationships, enhance our creativity, rethink our priorities in life, and tackle social problems from everyday prejudice to violent conflicts. We help develop thinkers who want to make the world a better place for both the community and the environment.

Design is as much about your head as your hands and we build these mindsets through the methods of Design Thinking.

Design Thinking is a wholly collaborative and iterative process in which diverse teams work together to identify, choose, research, design and fabricate sustainable solutions to real-world problems in communities. At the heart of Design Thinking is learning through failure, extensive trialing and constant evaluation which builds perseverance and self-efficacy. It is the belief that you can and will come up with creative solutions to big problems and the confidence that all it takes is rolling up your sleeves and diving in. Armed with the mindsets and methods of Design Thinking, students are able to identify situations where they can better the world—and have the personal and collaborative tools and resolve to take action.

Additional Program Information

DT&E courses are available to students in Grade 7 and 8. Students must take at least one DT&E course during their time in Grade 7 or Grade 8.

All Invention Center courses include the building of essential design skills from craft to creative thinking, as well as, learning about contemporary design and lifestyle. These skills help prepare students for high school DT&E classes including IB Design Technology and IB Computer Science courses.

Assessment Strands

Understand

Design

Make

Evaluate

Courses

Essential Questions

• Why do we need to research existing products, when we intend on creating a new one?

• How can I represent the real-world and solutions to its challenges?

• How can I leverage technology to visualize concepts and ideas?

• Design is an iterative process, therefore, when is the best time to evaluate ideas and solutions?

DT&E: 3D COMPUTER MODELLING AND MAKING

This class is all about using the most up-to-date design programs to digitally model solutions to realworld problems. This class is built around the Design Cycle, communication, and creativity. This is student choice on both problem and solutions. In this class students will learn about and how to use the Design Cycle as a process for problem solving. They will learn how to use Fusion 360 to design solutions to the problem they have chosen to work on. They will then fabricate their designs using the appropriate CAM machine.

Additional Course Information

CAD = Computer Aided Design, for example; Fusion 360, Illustrator & Photoshop

CAM = Computer Aided Manufacture, for example; 3D printing and laser cutting

DT&E: CODING

Code is poetry and learning to code creates poetic students able to design, code and build interactive environments for the benefit of themselves and others.

The DT&E: Coding course is a hands-on effort and takes students through a variety of coding experiences. Students learn the fundamentals of coding and game design including: conditional statements, variables, user interface design, mathematical expressions, loops. physics, data structures, art, and sound.

DT&E: PRODUCT DESIGN

Students will work individually and collaboratively to identify a problem, research possible solutions, design their solution, and then fabricate and test it. Students will learn and use the Design Cycle as a process for problem solving. They will also learn about woodworking, metals, plastics and up-cycling or recycling materials to produce eco-friendly solutions to design. (Recycling = converting waste material into new materials, Up-cycling = re-using materials and used products to produce a newer/ higher quality product, for example; using a skateboard for a bookshelf)

In a world more aware of its finite resources many industries are returning to the use of organics, such as wood, as an alternative to plastics and metals for everyday consumer products. In addition to this, the rise of recycling and up-cycling of materials in the design world, makes this course relevant and appropriately creates global thinking designers. In this class students will experience this same process as a designer. This is hands-on authentic learning.

DT&E: ROBOTICS & ENGINEERING 1

This is a hands-on exploration of engineering and design principles using LEGO’s Spike Prime robots. With a challenge-based approach to learning, students will be presented with a variety of open-ended problems to solve. By developing strategic thinking routines, applied math skills, critical reflection, and their own creativity, students will learn the basics of computer programming and design processes.

DT&E: ROBOTICS & ENGINEERING 2

Prerequisite: Robotics Engineering 1

This is a hands-on exploration of engineering and design principles using Spike Prime robots. With a challenge-based approach to learning, students will be presented with a variety of open-ended problems to solve. By developing strategic thinking routines, applied math skills, critical reflection, and their own creativity, students will learn the basics of computer programming and design processes.