User research
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can undertake research to influence design specifications.
Key learning points
- When a product is being designed, it is important to think about who it is designed for.
- User research includes asking open-ended questions.
- User research helps create a design specification.
Keywords
User - who you are designing for
Needs - the requirements of a person
Research - findings based upon discussions and evidence
Open questions - questions that have many answers
Design specification - describes what a product has to do
Common misconception
Open questions gather the users own personal views and may offer more ideas. Sometimes this leads to the user misunderstanding questions or providing answers which are not as expected.
All questions need to be specific and clear.
Teacher tip
Encouraging children to talk to their friends about their user research questions, answers and design specification will encourage greater understanding and ideas. Work with another class in school who can be the users of the interactive book that will be created by the class.
Equipment
Worksheet, pencils
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What type of linkage is this?
Q2.What type of materials are used to make an interactive book?
Q3.What sort of movements do we not usually find in interactive books?
Q4.Which linkage has two pairs of levers that are opposite each other?
Q5.Which feature will make your book interactive?
Q6.What does appearance of a product mean?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a 'user'?
Q2.Which of these is an open question?
Q3.Match the keywords to their definition
findings based upon discussions and evidence
describes what a product has to do
who you are designing for
the requirements of the user
Q4.Research tells designers what a user ...
Q5.Match the design specification definitions:
What it should do
Who it is for
What it is made from
How to reduce impact
How it will work
What it will look like
Q6.A design specification is ...
To help you plan your 4 design and technology lesson on: User research, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 design and technology lesson on: User research, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 design and technology lessons from the Levers and linkages: interactive books unit, dive into the full primary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.