Design opportunities
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can identify a broad range of design opportunities when investigating a context.
Key learning points
- Contexts can be investigated using keywords, mind maps or user journeys.
- Context keywords can be further explored to give a personal perspective.
- Context investigations can identify a range of design opportunities or problems to solve.
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
Pupils often think they need to know what they are designing and making straight away.
Pupils need to explore the context fully first to identify lots of possible design problems to solve before narrowing it down.
Teacher tip
Pupils can be actively encouraged to collaborate with each other/families/friends to explore contexts together as long as presenting/analysing their findings is done individually.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Risk assessment required - outdoor learning
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.One approach to investigate a context is to create a user journey map. A user journey map is ...
Q2.An approach to investigate a context is to use the four Ws. The four Ws are who, what, where and ...
Q3.Match the word to the definition:
the situation within which something exists or happens
a gap, or a need where a new or improved product would be beneficial
refining and improving
consider only one possible solution
Q4.Design fixation is when you only consider possibility and then sometimes miss an even better solution.
Q5.Mind maps can include ...
Q6.News articles provide ...
Assessment exit quiz
5 Questions
Q1.One approach to investigate a context is for designers to use the three Ps. The three Ps are purpose, place and ...
Q2.A great way to show the results of questions asked by text message are ...
Q3.When stating a fact found in a news article, it is good to ...
Q4.At the exploration of contexts stage, which statements are false?
Q5.When exploring the contexts initially, you are allowed to ...
To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Design opportunities, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 design and technology lesson on: Design opportunities, 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 Iterative Design Principles unit, dive into the full secondary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.