- Year 10
Investigating contexts
I can identify a broad range of design opportunities when investigating a context.
- Year 10
Investigating contexts
I can identify a broad range of design opportunities when investigating a context.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- A context is the situation within which something exists or happens.
- Context investigations can identify a range of design opportunities or problems to solve.
- Contexts can be explored using a variety of methods.
Keywords
Context - the situation within which something exists or happens
Design opportunity - a gap, or a need where a new or improved product would be beneficial
Iterative - refining and improving
Design fixation - consider only one possible solution
Common misconception
Students often 'think' they understand a context without having fully explored it.
Students need to be encouraged to fully explore a context so to understand it fully before moving onto designing. This is great practice for the NEA.
To help you plan your year 10 design and technology lesson on: Investigating contexts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 design and technology lesson on: Investigating contexts, 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 4 design and technology lessons from the The circular economy: developing countries unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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