Lesson video

Hello, and welcome to today's design and technology lesson.

My name's Mrs. Fletcher and I'm really pleased that you've chosen to join me for today's lesson.

This lesson is called, "Design Action Plans" and it's part of the, "Combining Fabrics, Accessible Textiles" unit.

In this lesson, we'll get to see how designers must consider the steps they're going to take to turn their design ideas into finished products.

So let's have a look at what we'll be learning about today.

The outcome of today's lesson is, I can create a design action plan, and an action plan is a series of steps that a designer will need to take to turn their design ideas into that finished product and it details the things they'll need to do, as well as the things they'll need to complete those tasks.

There are some keywords and phrases that we're going to be using in today's lesson, so let's have a look at those together.

The first word is the word diagrams. Can you repeat that after me? Diagrams. Well done, and a diagram is simply a drawing that gives us some visual information.

Then we've got the phrase labelled diagrams. Can you repeat that after me? Labelled diagrams. Well done, and labelled diagrams are drawings that show visual and written information.

Then we've got the phrase action plan.

So this is the key learning for today's lesson.

An action plan, can you repeat that after me? Action plan.

Well done, and an action plan is a list of the stages of making a product in the order that they need to happen.

It also might include information about any resources and materials that are needed in each of those stages.

And finally, we've got the word feedback.

Well done, feedback is other people's thoughts and opinions about your work.

Those are the words and phrases that we need.

So let's have a look at the structure of the lesson.

There are three stages to today's lesson.

First of all, we're going to look at those labelled diagrams and we're going to look at why they are needed and what kind of information they give about a product and its design.

Then we'll move on to the second part of the lesson which is all about creating an action plan.

So that's creating the steps in order that they need to happen in order to create the product itself.

And then we'll move on to looking at giving and receiving feedback on an action plan.

So remember the feedback is other people's thoughts and opinions on our work.

So we'll get to look at that in the last part of the lesson.

So let's get started with that first part of the lesson, labelled diagrams. A diagram is a drawing to show what something looks like, how it's made or how it works.

Here you can see a diagram of a utility belt, which is an accessible product that we'll be looking at designing an action plan for in this lesson.

And a diagram is an important part of that design process.

A labelled diagram provides extra information on the materials, the size and the features of a product.

So here we can see additional information added onto that diagram of the utility belt that gives us information about the type of fasteners that are being used, the materials that's being used to create the belt, the sizes of the pockets and details of the features of each of those pockets.

So how they would open and close, what type of fastener they would need.

So this is written information added to that visual image that we already had from the diagram.

A quick check before we move on then.

What do labelled diagrams do? What is their purpose? Do they provide a template for fabric pieces? Do they provide information on a product or do they provide details on a specific technique that you might be using to make that product? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back, so what did you think? What are those labelled diagrams for? Well done if you said they provide information on a product.

So a labelled diagram provides visual and written information on a product's design.

Labelled diagrams can help us order the stages of making for a product, and that's really important to make sure that we know before we start what it is that we need to do and the correct order that we need to complete those tasks in.

The stages of making for a utility belt might include things like gathering the materials that we'll need, making the patent templates for the pockets, cutting out the fabric and other materials to the correct size that we need, joining fabric pieces together, attaching fasteners to the different parts of the pockets or belt, and then testing and adapting the product to make sure it works as our design intended it to.

A quick check then before we move on about ordering the stages of making.

So can you order these stages of making from one to four in the order that they would be done in making a textile product? So we've got joining fabric pieces, gathering materials, making templates and cutting fabric to size.

Can you order those from one to four in the order that they would need to happen? Pause the video and come back when you're done.

Welcome back, what did you think? So if we are thinking through how we need to complete a task.

First of all, we may need to gather our materials, make sure we've got everything we need to complete the task.

Then we would need to make some templates.

So these will tell us the size and shape that we're going to cut out the fabric.

Then we can cut that fabric to the right size and then we can join those fabric pieces together.

So you can see there why it's important that the tasks are completed in the correct order.

Well done if you got that right.

Time for a task now.

So we've seen how it is important to order the stages of making a product, but I would like you to discuss how the labelled diagram helps the designers to do that.

So what about the information, think about the information that is included on a labelled diagram, particularly for a utility belt product in this case and think about how that helps the designer put into order the stages of making that they're going to do.

You could start your sentences with things like diagrams help designers to, finish that sentence.

The information on a labelled diagram, can what? What does it do? To order the stages of making a designer can, what? What do they need to do? Have that discussion, pause the video while you do that task and then come back when you're done.

Welcome back, how did you get on? Well, Lucas and Izzy had a go at discussing how labelled diagrams can help designers and this is how their discussion went.

So Izzy said that diagrams can help designers to get all the things they need ready to make their product.

And Lucas added onto that by saying, "To order the stages of making, a designer can look at each part and decide in which order they need to be made." So he's thinking specifically about the different components, the separate parts of the product and thinking about the order that they need to be made.

So both of those are very, very true and very important when it comes to using labelled diagrams to help us order the stages of making.

Well done if you mentioned any of those things or you added your own thoughts to that as well.

Time for the second part of the lesson now where we get to look at how to create an action plan using a labelled diagram.

An action plan is a checklist of the tasks and resources needed to complete a project.

So it's the things you need to do and the things you'll need to complete those tasks as well.

An action plan may include a list of tools and equipment, a list of materials and the stages of making a product in the order that they need to happen.

Quick check before we move on then.

What is an action plan? Is it a list of materials that you need? Is it a diagram or is it a checklist of tasks and resources? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back, what did you think? What is an action plan? Well done if you said it's a checklist of tasks and resources that you'll need to complete a project.

So it's not just the things you need, it's not just the drawings that shows us how the product will be made, but it's all of those things, including a list of the stages of making as well.

Well done if you got that right.

So the information on the action plan can be changed at any stage during the making process.

So it's not set in stone, it's not something that can't be changed once it's been written.

It's something that can be changed as we move on.

Changes could be made to the size and shape of the components.

That's the different parts of the product that we're making.

It could be that we need to change the placement.

So where things are located on the product.

It could be that we need to make changes to the joining method.

So the techniques we're going to use to attach different components to each other.

It could be that we need to make changes to the materials or the equipment that we're going to use to make the product.

So Lucas is wondering why we might need to change those things on our plan.

Well, sometimes we find that things don't work as we planned them to or as we expected them to and sometimes we don't find that until we actually try it out, until we're actually in that part of the making process.

It's good to make changes to our plans to achieve the product outcome that we want.

So if we want to make sure our product turns out as expected, then making changes to the plan is a really good thing to do.

So Lucas is thinking that through.

So he's saying that if we started sewing a fabric piece and we found that it was too stiff to sew by hand, then we might need to change the fabric choice that we've made in our action plan to suit the design, but also to suit the technique that we're using.

So we wouldn't know that necessarily until we got to that stage where we came to sew that part by hand before we might realise that it's too difficult and we need to make changes.

So it would be perfectly fine to make those changes at this stage of the design process.

Another quick check then before we move on.

So these pupils are discussing their action plans and they're thinking about why they need them.

Who do you think is correct? So Izzy is saying that once a plan is made, it can't be changed.

Sam is saying that a plan can be changed at any time and Lucas is saying that a plan can only be changed before you start making.

So who do you agree with there? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back, so what did you think? Who do you think has got the right idea about when we can make changes to action plans? Well done if you said it was Sam.

So she's right in saying that a plan can be changed at any time.

As we said before, it might be that you don't know something needs changing until you actually come to do it, in which case you can't change it until you get to that stage.

So well done if you agreed with Sam.

So an action plan uses the information from your labelled diagram to make a list.

So here's all the information we've got for this utility bell.

We've got the type of fasteners, we've got the size of the different components, we've got the materials that the components are made from and we've got some additional information about how those pockets work as well.

So we need to take all of that information and work out in which order we're going to have to make the different components, the different parts of this utility belt so that they fit together correctly.

So first of all, we might start thinking about the list of materials or the list of things that we will need to use to make this belt, 'cause that's often the simplest thing to think about, is what I need to get together.

So for this particular utility belt, we need some seat belt webbing that's 800 millimetres long.

We need a hook and loop, a piece of hook and loop that's 60 millimetres long.

We need some blue polyester fabric, which is what the material that's been chosen for this design.

We need two toggle fasteners, two shoe laces and two snap button fasteners and they need to be white as well.

And we need some blue cotton thread to sew the components together as well.

So those are the materials, but it's also a good idea to think about the equipment that we need at the same time, 'cause some of that equipment will be used with those materials or to apply those materials.

So we're going to need some paper to make the templates.

I'm going to need a ruler and pencil to help me make those templates as well.

I'm going to need scissors and pins to help me cut out those templates from the fabric.

I'm going to need a needle and thread to help me sew those components together.

And very specifically for this project, I'm going to need the snap button pliers to help me apply those snap button fasteners to my pockets.

So the equipment and the materials go hand-in-hand.

Those are the things that we need to use to make this product.

Once we have the information about the materials and the equipment that we're going to use, then we can start to think about the stages of making.

So let's look at the stages of making for the utility belt product that we saw in the labelled diagram earlier.

So first of all, step number one, I'm going to need to measure and cut out paper templates for the pockets.

Now, the information that I need to make those templates is on the labelled diagram.

So the sizes or the dimensions of each of those pockets is on that labelled diagram and that can be used to make the paper template.

So pocket number one for example here needs to be 140 millimetres tall, plus another 40 millimetres for the flap that will fold over to close the pocket and it needs to be 90 millimetres wide.

So I can use those dimensions to make the pieces I need for the back and front of my pocket.

Pocket number two has slightly different dimensions, so I make slightly different templates for that one and pocket number three has different as well.

So I'll make a third set of templates to make the third pocket at the size that that needs to be.

I need to also make sure I add a 15 millimetre seam allowance to all those measurements so that when I come to join those pieces, I won't change the shape of the pocket that I've designed.

When I've done that, step number two, I need to pin those templates into place onto that blue polyester fabric that I've listed in my materials list and cut out those fabric pieces that I will need.

Once I've done that, I can join those pieces together.

I'm going to use a reverse or hidden seam backstitch so that the sewing that I do can be hidden inside the pocket and won't be visible on the outside.

So I'm thinking about that now so that when I come to make it, I know exactly how I need to pin and join those pieces together in order to use that method to join the pieces.

Then I can move on to thinking about the fasteners.

So step number four, I need to attach a toggle to pocket number one and now we need to use thread to do that.

So the toggle is labelled on my diagram as the fastener for that pocket.

So that's the type of fastener I'm going to attach to that pocket now.

For pocket number two, I need to make holes in the opening.

So this is the next thing I'm going to do, is make those holes to thread the shoelace and the toggle through for the fastener for pocket number two.

Then I can move on to pocket number three and here's where I need those pliers from my tools list, because I need to use the snap button pliers to attach the snap buttons to pocket number three.

Step number seven, I need to sew a hook and loop section to each end of the webbing that I've used to make the belt and that's going to make the belt able to fasten, join together around my waist or shoulder, wherever it's going to be worn.

And then finally, once I've attached that fastener to the belt, I can put the pockets onto the belt.

So I'm going to first need to make a loop, because pocket number two is attached by a loop I can see from the diagram.

So I need to make a loop that's 150 millimetres long and then fold it in half and I need to attach that to the pocket using the thread and then I can attach the pockets to the belt.

Pockets one and three use slots, so they just need to be cut into the back of the pocket before it's threaded on to the belt.

So those are my stages of making for the utility belt.

Once I've got that clear in my head, I can then get started making my product.

So that's what you're going to do for your task.

You are going to create an action plan for your utility belt design.

So first of all, you're going to make a list of all the materials that you're going to need to make your product.

So that's the materials you need for the belt, the materials you need to make the pockets and the fasteners you're going to use for the belt and the pockets as well.

So all that information should be on your labelled diagram, but you're going to transfer it into a list so you have a very clear list of the materials you need to get together before you start.

Once you've done that, you're going to do that same thing, but with the list of tools and equipment you're going to need.

So you're going to again look at your labelled diagram, think about how you're going to make each part and each component and think about the tools you'll need to do that.

So think about the tools and equipment you'll need to make the templates.

Think about the tools and equipment you'll need to cut out and join those fabric pattern pieces for the pockets and think about the tools or equipment you will need to attach the fasteners that you've chosen for your design, 'cause it's slightly different methods of joining for each of those fasteners.

So that's the first two things you need to do.

Pause the video while you make those lists, then come back when you're done.

Welcome back, how did you get on? So it should be just a simple case of transferring the information from your labelled diagram into a list ready to start.

So once you've got that information, you can now move on to the third task.

So this is where you're going to order the stages of making for your utility belt.

So you're going to need to think about the number and size of pieces you need to make.

So that includes the dimensions of each of the pieces, especially for the pockets.

You're going to need to think about the type of joining method you're going to use.

So which type of stitch are you going to use to join those fabric pieces and what will you need to do that? And the any other tools that you might need.

So as with my example, I was using a snap button fastener, so I needed a snap button plier to apply that.

So you might need to think about any additional tools you will need for any different components on your utility belt.

So again, pause the video while you do that, think about those stages that you're going to need to make that product and come back when you are done.

Welcome back, how did you get on? So your action plan then should have a list of the materials that you're going to need to make your utility belt.

You should have a list of the equipment that you're going to need and then you should have a numbered set of instructions and orders, the stages of making for how you're going to make your product, starting with those templates and moving through to the completed product.

Well done if you managed to get that done.

So you are ready to think about making your product.

So that leads us to the last part of the lesson.

So in this part of the lesson, we're going to get some feedback before we start on our action plans to make sure that everything's in order, ready to get started.

Feedback is where we get somebody else's opinion and their thoughts about something that you have done.

Feedback can be very useful to help us see things that might not work or that didn't work or that need to be changed.

So feedback can help us see those things we might not see ourselves.

It's useful to get feedback on our action plans before we start the making stage, because it's much easier to make those changes now.

So if somebody else points out something that's not going to work or something that we've missed, maybe some tools or equipment that we've missed out, it's much easier to sort that out now before we start than to discover that you're missing something when you're right in the middle of making your product.

When you are giving feedback about somebody else's plan, it should be constructive.

So what do we mean by constructive? Well, constructive feedback should be positive.

So it should point out mostly what works really well about the product or the design or the idea that the person's action plan is setting out.

It should be specific.

So if there are things that need changing, then you need to be very specific about what it is that needs changing.

We don't need to be negative about why it needs changing, we just need to point out why it needs changing or what specifically is missing or what specifically will not work.

So we need to be very specific so they can change that exact thing about their action plan.

It also needs to be helpful.

So can you offer any suggestions about how they could make the changes or what they might have missed off or how they can make it work? So by being positive, specific and helpful, they can change their action plan to make it work before they start.

And that's the important thing.

They need to be able to make those changes.

So it needs to be actionable.

That means it's something that they can change.

So a quick check before we move on to giving our feedback then.

Which word could be used instead of constructive? So we've just learned about giving constructive feedback.

What does constructive mean? Is it negative, useless or helpful? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back, what did you think? Well done if you said it's helpful.

So constructive feedback should be helpful to the person you're feeding back to so that they can make those changes that they need to.

Well done if you said that.

Okay, so these pupils, Sam and Izzy, have been having a go at giving some feedback to each other.

So let's have a look if they have managed to be constructive.

So Sam is saying to Izzy, "I don't like it, it won't work.

You should change it." So she's talking about her opinion, she's giving her opinion.

She's saying something won't work and she's telling Izzy to change something, but is she being constructive? Pause the video, have a chat with your partner.

What do you think, is she being constructive? What did you think? Well, no, really she's not being very constructive, because her feedback is very negative.

It doesn't give any specific examples of the things that won't work or that Izzy should change and she doesn't offer any suggestions about how she could change it or things she could include.

So she's not been very constructive there with her feedback.

Let's see if Izzy can do any better.

So Izzy's feedback to Sam says, "I like the design, it's accessible, but the fastener on pocket one may be tricky to open.

You could use a hook and loop instead." Pause the video, chat to your partner.

Do you think Izzy has done a better job at giving constructive feedback? Welcome back, what did you think? Well, I think Izzy has been much more successful at giving constructive feedback here.

So she's been very positive with her feedback and she's pointed out a very specific problem with the fastener on pocket one that Sam needs to look at.

And she's even offered a suggestion as to how she can improve it by suggesting that she uses a different type of fastener, the hook and loop fastener.

So she's been very specific, very positive and she's also given some helpful advice on how she could change it as well.

So a much better job at giving constructive feedback there.

So let's have a look at these three pupils' ideas about giving constructive feedback.

Who do you agree with here? So we've got Izzy saying that constructive feedback should be negative.

We've got Sam saying that constructive feedback should list everything that is wrong with the product or the design or your action plan.

And we've got Lucas who is saying that constructive feedback should offer helpful suggestions.

Who do you agree with? Pause the video and have a think.

Welcome back, what did you think? Who did you agree with? Well done if you said Lucas.

So exactly, Lucas is right in saying that constructive feedback should offer helpful suggestions.

It shouldn't be negative and it shouldn't just list everything that's wrong with the thing that you are reviewing.

Well done if you said that.

So time for your final task now.

So now that you've written your action plan in the middle part of the lesson, you're now going to swap that action plan with your partner and you're going to read through your partner's action plan.

So you're reading somebody else's action plan now.

First of all, you're going to write down at least one positive thing about their plan.

So something good that you think about it, could be something that you think works well about their action plan, something that you like about it, something that they've done a really good of on their action plan.

Then you're going to think about, is there something in their action plan that could be improved or something that you think might not work? So if we think about Izzy giving her feedback earlier, she was very specific to Sam, saying that the fastener on pocket one might be tricky to open.

So is there something very specific on your partner's action plan that you think could be a problem or might not work? Tell them about that problem specifically.

And then finally, I want you to make a suggestion to them about how they could adapt their plan to solve that problem or to prevent them from coming across that problem when they come to make their product.

So you're giving that constructive feedback that's positive, that's specific, so it tells them exactly what you think could be changed and it's actionable and helpful.

So it's something that they can actually do.

You can offer them a suggestion as to how to do that as well.

Pause the video while you complete that task and come back when you're done.

Welcome back, how did you get on? Well, Lucas has been giving some constructive feedback to his partner and this is what he said to his partner.

"I like the pockets on your design." So he's being positive there.

"They are accessible and they're large enough to give easy access." So he gives some very specific things that he likes about his partner's action plan and the product that he's designing.

"I think you should just have two pockets, because they might get in the way when the user sits or bends." So he's seen a problem with how many pockets that his partner has on his design and he suggested that he limits that to two and he is even told him why.

And then he is also saying that he thinks it would be easier to attach the fasteners before he joins the fabric pieces together.

So he is given him some very specific advice about what he thinks he should do to make it easier to attach those fasteners, and that is something that's actionable.

His partner can do that before they start.

They can think about that so that they don't run into those problems when they come to make it.

So Lucas has been very successful there in giving some positive constructive feedback to his partner.

Hopefully you were able to give some constructive feedback to your partner and you were able to get some constructive feedback back from your partner as well about your action plan.

And then now you'll be ready to take that action plan to make your product design.

So we've come to the end of today's lesson where we have designed our own action plans, ready to get started on another day on our making our product.

We have learned today that labelled diagrams can help designers think about how they make their products, particularly the order they are going to make the different components.

We've learned that design action plans can provide on the materials you'll need to make a product, the tools and equipment you will need, as well as those ordered stages of making so that we know exactly how to go about making the product.

And we've also learned that discussing our action plans with other people, with our peers, can help us to make changes very early on to those stages so that we don't run into those problems when we're in the middle of making the product.

So getting that feedback early on is really vital to help us make this making stage of our product really successful.

Thank you for joining me for our learning today.

Hopefully I'll get to see you in another lesson and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.

Thank you, goodbye.