Explore the context and avoid fixation
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify design opportunities whilst avoiding design fixation.
Key learning points
- Designers use mind maps to explore a context considering the 4Ws.
- To avoid fixation designers identify design opportunities from a context.
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
Design fixation - consider only one possible solution
Mindmap - a visual way to organise ideas around a main topic using connected branches
Common misconception
Pupils may come with an idea or even a solution at this stage and stick with it as they feel they do not need another idea.
Encourage pupils to explore a range of ideas and possibilities to avoid design fixation and prepare them for the NEA.
Teacher tip
This lesson will work well if a lot of conversation and sharing of ideas is allowed. Pupils working in pairs or small groups will enable a collaborative approach. The opportunity to talk to a pupil may need to happen prior to or after the lesson, depending on access and your own planning.
Equipment
Paper and pens or access to computers to write up their exploration and opportunities.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these materials are non-renewable?
Q2.What are the benefits to designing using CAD?
Q3.Why is it important to gather your users' opinions as a designer?
Q4.What is this an example of?
Q5.Looking at and investigating a product similar to what we are making is called ...
Q6.What component is this?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is a context?
Q2.Why is it important to not narrow your ideas too quickly?
Q3.What does the image below show?
Q4.Put these stages of the Double Diamond into the correct order.
To help you plan your 10 design and technology lesson on: Explore the context and avoid fixation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 design and technology lesson on: Explore the context and avoid fixation, 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 Communal areas context unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.