Design Units

At Santiago College we teach Design, a mandatory course for the IB Middle Years Program, and an optional Diploma course, Design technology. At the same time, we teach all the learning objectives contained in the technology curriculum of the Chilean curriculum. 

Each year, our students must complete at least two Design Cycles (IB-MYP Design guide), where they are presented with Design Situations that need to be solved. The process that is followed to achieve the solutions is called the design cycle.

Our goal is for students to be able to follow the design cycle process, understand the importance of planning and testing and iteration, and ultimately be able to transfer these skills to any other project, in or out of school.

The MYP design cycle is a way of thinking / organizing that helps to achieve a goal. The goal can be the development of a new recipe, programming an educational video game or 3D printed, laser cutter and CNC (Computerized Numerical Control). Each part of the design cycle requires students to:

• Research and analysis of a problem or issue: what is the problem, why is it a problem? 

• Develop ideas and planning drawings that can lead to the desired outcome. 

• Solution must be created by following the planning drawings and demonstrating technical skills.

• Evaluation is the final stage, where both the final product and the process are measured against success criteria.