Big Ideas

Big Ideas

User needs and interests drive the design process.
Social, ethical, and sustainability considerations impact design.
Complex tasks require different technologies and tools at different stages.

Content

Learning Standards

Content

design opportunities
proper storage and organization of tools and equipment
selection of metal for size, shape, and finish
common gauges of metal
identification of ferrous and non-ferrous materials and carbon content
for example, spark and file test
start-up, shutdown, and handling procedures for compressed gas cylinders
precision measurement
for example, units, standards, conversions, tolerances
cutting threads
for example, tap, die, turning
mechanical fasteners and fastening methods
methods for laying out, forming, and joining metal
precision grinding
computer numerical control (CNC) applications
reading and preparing drawings, plans, and cutting lists
ethics of cultural appropriation
use of a cultural motif, theme, “voice”, image, knowledge, story, song, or drama, shared without permission or without appropriate context or in a way that may misrepresent the real experience of the people from whose culture it is drawn
in design process

Curricular Competency

Learning Standards

Curricular Competency

Applied Design

Understanding context
  • Engage in a period of research and empathetic observation
    may include experiences; traditional cultural knowledge and approaches of First Peoples and those of other cultures; places, including the land and its natural resources and analogous settings; people, including users, experts, and thought leaders
Defining
  • Identify potential users and relevant contextual factors for a chosen design opportunity
  • Identify criteria for success, intended impact, and any constraints
    limiting factors such as task or user requirements, materials, expense, environmental impact
  • Determine whether activity is collaborative or self-directed
Ideating
  • Take creative risks in generating ideas and add to others’ ideas in ways that enhance them
  • Identify and use sources of inspiration
    may include personal experiences, exploration of First Peoples perspectives and knowledge, the natural environment, places, cultural influences, and people
  • Screen ideas against criteria and constraints
  • Critically analyze and prioritize competing factors
    including social, ethical, and sustainability
    to meet community needs for preferred futures
  • Maintain an open mind about potentially viable ideas
Prototyping
  • Choose a form for prototyping and develop a plan
    for example, pictorial drawings, sketches, flow charts
    that includes key stages and resources
  • Evaluate a variety of materials for effective use and potential for reuse, recycling, and biodegradability
  • Prototype, making changes to tools, materials, and procedures as needed
  • Record iterations
    repetitions of a process with the aim of approaching a desired result
    of prototyping
Testing
  • Identify sources of feedback
    may include First Nations, Métis, or Inuit community experts; keepers of other traditional cultural knowledge and approaches; peers, users, and other experts
  • Develop an appropriate test
  • Conduct the test, collect and compile data, evaluate data, and decide on changes
Making
  • Identify and use appropriate tools, technologies
    tools that extend human capabilities
    , materials, and processes
  • Make a step-by-step plan and carry it out, making changes as needed
  • Use materials in ways that minimize waste
Sharing
  • Decide on how and with whom to share
    may include showing to others or use by others, giving away, or marketing and selling
    product and processes
  • Demonstrate product to users and critically evaluate its success
  • Identify new design goals

Applied Skills

Demonstrate and document an awareness of precautionary and emergency safety procedures
Develop competency and proficiency in skills at various levels involving manual dexterity and metalwork techniques
Identify the skills needed, individually or collaboratively, in relation to specific projects, and develop and refine them

Applied Technologies

Choose, adapt, and if necessary learn more about appropriate tools and technologies to use for tasks
Evaluate impacts
personal, social, and environmental
, including unintended negative consequences, of choices made about technology use
Evaluate the influences of land, natural resources, and culture on the development and use of tools and technologies