Big Ideas
Big Ideas
The design cycle
includes updating content, tools, and delivery. The design process can be non-linear.
is an ongoing reflective process.
Personal design choices require self-exploration, collaboration, and evaluation and refinement of skills.
Tools and technologies can be adapted for specific purposes.
Content
Learning Standards
Content
design opportunities
design cycle
problem decomposition
subdivide a problem into manageable, self-contained tasks
structures
for example, key elements such as variables, functions, use of Whitespace
within existing code
ways to modify
for example, altering values of variables, parameters of a function or loop
existing code to meet a particular purpose
strategies
hand tracing code, guess and test (experimentation)
to predict effects of code modification
pair programming
two programmers work together at one workstation. One, the driver, writes code while the other, the observer or navigator, reviews each line of code as it is typed in. The two programmers switch roles frequently.
programming language constructs to support input/output, logic, decision structure, and loops
requirements
a complete set of requirements that will support the rest of the software development cycle without the need to revisit the problem statement in the future
of a problem statement
ways
for example, pseudocode, iterative refinement, flowcharts, UML, other design entities
to transform requirements into algorithms
translation of design specifications
for example, pseudocode, algorithms, flow charts, unified modeling language (UML)
into source code
tools
for example, integrated development environment (IDE), computer language appropriate for problem/project
to aid in the development process
pre-built libraries
for example, external libraries for graphical user interfaces or gaming, sensor libraries for hardware such as coding devices
and their documentation interpretation of library documentation/application programming interface (API)
inline commenting to document source code
use of test cases
for example, running test cases to compare expected versus actual output and printing the value of variables to aid in the debugging process
to detect logical or semantic errors
computational thinking
formulating problems and their solutions so they are represented in a form that can be solved through an algorithmic process. Key components are decomposition, patterns and generalizations, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking.
processes
appropriate use of technology, including digital citizenship, etiquette, and literacy
Curricular Competency
Learning Standards
Curricular Competency
Applied Design
Understanding context
- Conduct user-centred researchresearch done directly with potential users to understand needs and requirementsto understand design opportunities and barriers
Defining
- Establish a point of view for a chosen design opportunity
- Identify potential users, intended impact, and possible unintended negative consequences
- Make inferences about premises and constraintslimiting factors, such as available technology, expense, environmental impact, copyrightthat define the design space
Ideating
- Identify gaps to explore a design space
- Generate ideas and add to others’ ideas to create possibilities, and prioritize them for prototyping
- Critically analyze how competing social, ethical, and sustainability considerations impact designed solutions to meet global needs for preferred futures
- Work with users throughout the design process
Prototyping
- Identify and apply sources of inspirationmay include experiences, users, experts, and thought leadersand informationmay include professionals as experts, secondary sources, collective pools of knowledge in communities and collaborative atmospheres both online and offline
- Choose an appropriate form, scale, and level of detail for prototyping, and plan procedures for prototyping multiple ideas
- Analyze the design for the life cycle and evaluate its impactsincluding the social and environmental impacts of extraction and transportation of raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, transportation to markets, servicing or providing replacement parts, expected usable lifetime, and reuse or recycling of component materials
- Construct prototypes, making changes to tools, materials, and procedures as needed
- Record iterationsrepetitions of a process with the aim of approaching a desired resultof prototyping
Testing
- Identify feedback most needed and possible sources of feedbackmay include peers; users; First Nations, Métis, or Inuit community experts; other experts and professionals both online and offline
- Develop an appropriate testincludes evaluating the degree of authenticity required for the setting of the test, deciding on an appropriate type and number of trials, and collecting and compiling dataof the prototype
- Collect feedback to critically evaluate design and make changes to product design or processes
- Iterate the prototype or abandon the design idea
Making
- Identify appropriate tools, technologies, materials, processes, and time needed for production
- Use project management processessetting goals, planning, organizing, constructing, monitoring, and leading during executionwhen working individually or collaboratively to coordinate production
Sharing
- Sharemay include showing to others, use by others, giving away, or marketing and sellingprogress while creating to increase opportunities for feedback
- Decide on how and with whom to share or promote their product, creativity, and, if applicable, intellectual propertycreations of the intellect such as works of art, invention, discoveries, design ideas to which one has the legal rights of ownership
- Consider how others might build upon the design concept
- Critically reflect on their design thinking and processes, and identify new design goals
- Assess ability to work effectively both as individuals and collaboratively while implementing project management processes
Applied Skills
Apply safety procedures for themselves, co-workers, and users in both physical and digital environments
Identify and assess skills needed for design interests, and develop specific plans to learn or refine them over time
Applied Technologies
Explore existing, new, and emerging tools, technologies
things that extend human capabilities
, and systems to evaluate their suitability for their design interests
Evaluate impacts, including unintended negative consequences, of choices made about technology use
Analyze the role technologies play in societal change
Examine how cultural beliefs, values, and ethical positions affect the development and use of technologies