Design and Technology Department

Department DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Design, Technology and Engineering is a process that links creativity and innovation across a range of technologies and contexts. It is an iterative process where all students benefit from learning about, and working with contemporary, emerging and traditional technologies that shape the world in which we live.

ISB

ATTRIBUTES

Computer science at its core is applicable to any fields of study, and I often find myself realizing how useful the things we learn can be in medicine, law, engineering, and even the humanities. I would recommend anyone take the class, no matter what field you are planning to go into.” Bloomy, Gr10

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1

(may be repeated for credit)

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

Students will learn and use creativity, the design cycle, materials, and manufacturing techniques in the Invention Center. Skills include hands-on making, computer-aided-design and manufacturing techniques. Emphasis on creativity, problemsolving, service and empathy techniques is undertaken throughout the class. A final portfolio project will follow the design cycle to create individual and/or collaborative projects covering topics such as industrial design, textile design, engineering, sustainability and architecture.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 2

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Ideally, but not necessary, Design & Technology I or D&T in Middle School

Emphasis is placed on self-directed projects using the design cycle to create projects based on problem solving and design opportunities. Students will continue to apply design and making skills and principles learned in D&T I while engaging with more depth the topics preparing them for further study. In this course you will learn more about ergonomics, sustainable production, CAD/CAM modelling, mass production, innovation, classic design, user-centered design, resource management and innovation & markets. Students will design and build projects, and will appropriately document and evaluate the process and product in a project portfolio.

IB DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

(Higher & Standard Level)

Grades: 11 - 12 | Length: 2 years | Credits: 2

Prerequisite: Ideally, but not necessary, Design & Technology I or II

Students will develop a deep understanding of design, creativity, innovation, materials, and manufacturing techniques in theory and practice. D&T takes thoughts and explores the possibilities and constraints associated with products and/or systems in our world. It is human-centred and focuses on the needs, wants and limitations of the end user. The course is divided into two elements of assessment: a Design Project where students use the design cycle to research, design, make, and evaluate a design opportunity or problem to solve for users or clients. This is 40% of their final Grade. The other 60% of their final mark is from external exams that comprise theory and content. At standard level the course covers, ergonomics, sustainable production, modelling, resource management, innovations and classic design. At higher level, in addition to the standard level topics, the course covers user-centered design, sustainability, markets and commercial production. The class is hands-on activities and content using the Invention Center’s workshop and spaces to understand the course material and enhance learning within the IB framework.

IBDP Design Technology Course Guide

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN - ROBOTICS 1

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

The objective of this course is to use a hands-on approach to introduce the basic concepts in robotics, mechanical design, and programming. The course utilizes the VEX robotics platform to teach concepts including the design cycle, block coding as well as C++ based programming, engineering documentation, and the technical aspects of principles such as gear systems, sensor control, DC motors, transmitters and microprocessors. This course will be an introduction to the basics of the VEX robotics platform, and will include elements of basic programming, use of design software, and some basic mechanical principles. Later units will be project based and require students to follow the engineering design cycle to create a solution to a prescribed challenge.

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN - ROBOTICS 2

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Engineering & Design - Robotics I

More advanced physics and engineering principles relevant to specific project challenges will be introduced in each unit. Students will design and build robots to address the task at hand, and will appropriately document and evaluate the process and product in an engineering portfolio. Students in the robotics club can take this course and work on their competition robot. The grades will be based on the design cycle in their engineering journal.

IB COMPUTER SCIENCE

(Higher & Standard Level)

Grades: 11 – 12 | Length: 2 years | Credit: 2

Prerequisite: Coding Games I or equivalent

Computer Science is the study and management of complex systems. IB Computer Science takes an in depth look at how computers and other IT systems work, as well as the coding with which we can control them. The coding language we use is Java. Half of Year 1 is spent learning Java from scratch, and the other half of Year 1 is the study of more theoretical topics, such as IT systems design, and how computers work. For those in HL, the ramp up of coding skills will be much more compressed, and in addition, several other theoretical topics will be covered. The highlight of Year 2 is the comprehensive IA project, in which almost three months is spent designing and coding an original software application for a real client. IB Computer Science is a perfect opportunity to be introduced to the most powerful set of tools and knowledge the world currently has at its disposal.

IBDP Computer Science Course Guide

CODING GAMES 1

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

This course is a fun introduction into the art, science, and language of coding. As an introductory course in programming, it starts from the very beginning, but by semester’s end it will have removed the “shroud of mystery”surrounding the fundamentals of computer science. Note that NO CODING EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED.

Games production acts as a context for coding, and we’ll start the course by using Autodesk Maya and Unity to look at the basic structure of 3D games production. For actual coding instruction, we will first use CodeHS.com, and Javascript. Then we’ll transition to coding in Java, the language used in IB CS.

***Important Note: This, or an equivalent coding course is the prerequisite for HL IB Computer Science. (There is no prerequisite for SL IB Computer Science.)

CODING GAMES 2

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Coding Games I, or at least one semester of Computer Science here or at a previous school

Whereas Coding Games I is mainly having fun with learning to code, Coding Games II is the actual coding of games. We will focus on 2d games production for phones, and the main coding environment used will be Adobe Animate CC with AIR for Android. The first half of the course is learning the fundamentals of Animate & AIR by recreating classic games such as Pong and Space Invaders. The second half of the course will be the production of original games. The programming language used throughout the course is ActionScript 3.

INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKS AND NETWORK SECURITY

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory course that offers students the chance to experience the technical side of keeping our digital world safe. The course topics cover real-life scenarios and give students the opportunity to engage in problem-solving approaches in order to gain a fuller understanding of the complexities of cybersecurity. Students will investigate computing and network architectures, communications medium and protocols, data storage, cryptography, and ciphers. Students learn about social engineering tactics, phishing and pretexting, and the breadth of malware currently in the digital threat landscape. Students will have the opportunity to map their home networks, review their personal digital security and complete a group audit project on a security target of their choosing.