Exam Prep
Understanding the exam and command terms
Strategies
Focus on the command terms
Use the command terms to guide you regarding the type, depth, and quality of answer. Is the question asking you to recall general knowledge about concept or idea; or is it asking you to apply the knowledge to the design context?
Plan your answer
Plan your answers. Look at the command terms and points for the question to guide you. Use this information to plan how you will answer the question (e.g. How many points you will list; How much detail is needed; How you should organize your response)
Pay attention to the marks and the Command Terms: together these will give you information about how to answer the question and how much information to put down.
Put yourself in the user’s perspective
Imagine how a user might use a product. What would their needs, challenges, or requirements be?
Think like a designer
Make connections between the content studied in class and HOW a designer might use that content in the context of the design.
Identify the DT Topic to help guide you
What area or DT topic(s) is the question drawing upon. Remember, for Paper2 and Paper 3 a case study may require you to use your knowledge of several related topics.
Read the question and guidance information carefully
Read the information in the question prompt carefully. Ensure you understand the data, descriptions, and details clearly. Use this information to guide your answer.
Organize your answer into clusters
When answering questions that use command terms such as "Explain," "Describe", "Analyse," or "Outline", organize your answers into clusters. A cluster is like a paragraph. Each cluster should have one idea, which is supported by details and examples.
Command Terms in DP Design Technology
As in MYP design, the command terms for DP Design Technology identify and describe the type of thinking you need to apply to a question.
Understanding the command terms, what they mean, and how they are organized, will help you answer exam questions accurately and in a timely manner.
Several of the more complex command terms are listed below. Read through the definitions, descriptions and strategies.
Each example includes a sample questions, notes for an answer, and a possible answer.
For this type of question, be sure to
Organize your answers into clusters. Use the context of the question and the number of marks to guide you about the number and depth of your clusters
Organize your answers into a logical sequence. If you are outlining a process, describe the steps in sequential order. If you are outlining a concept, describe the key components of the concept.
Support your answer with details that are relevant to the question.
Use specific technical vocabulary
Notes for a possible answer
Eco Design Features:
Long timescale
Greater complexity, radical changes
High risk
Green Design Features:
Short timescale
Incremental changes (small changes over time)
Low risk
Possible answer
Green design focuses on re-engineering a design to reduce it's environmental impact and increase its sustainability. Green design focuses on making incremental changes: switching to a recyclable material, reducing energy in manufacturing or use, increasing durability of the product. Green design is a low risk strategy because it focuses on making incremental changes to an existing product, which can happen relatively easily and quickly.
Eco design considers the entire lifecycle of the product not just an individual element. This a high risk strategy because it requires radical innovation of new ideas. These happen over a longer timescale because of the complexity of the changes. It typically involves creating a totally new product or service, that considers all aspects of the products lifecycle and how they are integrated.
For this type of question, be sure to
Organize your answer into a logical sequence. If you are outlining a process, describe the steps in sequential order. If you are outlining a concept, describe the key components of the concept, most to least important
Support your answer with details that are relevant to the question.
Use specific technical vocabulary
"Describe how designers use percentile ranges to inform the design of a product."
(2 marks)
See here to learn more about percentiles and how they are used in design.
Notes for a possible answer
Define what a percentile range is
Give an application of percentiles to a design context
Notes for a possible answer
A percentile is used in statistics to show the value below which a certain percentage of a group falls. The 25th percentile is the value at which 25% of the population are at or below. When designing a product or service, designers need to determine which percentiles range of the user group their product will serve. From this, they can determine specifications such as the physical size or fit, or how much force is required to operate a button.
For this type of question, be sure to
Organize your answer into clusters. Use the context of the question and the number of marks to guide you about the number and depth of your clusters
Support your answer with details that are relevant to the question.
Use specific technical vocabulary
Conclude with a summary or restatement of the main point
"Discuss why a company might choose to use a JIT production strategy."
(6 marks)
See here for information about JIT production strategies.
Notes for a possible answer
Define JIT
Advantage 1: Low waste; no over production, little idle time; material use is optimized
Advantage 3: Low overhead because there is little to no inventory;
Possible answer
In JIT, manufacturers respond to market needs as the need arises. The primary advantages of this system are reduction in waste and lower operating costs.
There is low waste in a JIT system. This is because the only the required quantity of products is produced. There is no idle time while waiting for materials to arrive. And material use is optimized in order to reduce waste and defects.
JIT also has lower operating costs because there is little to no inventory to manage. Raw materials are used as soon as they arrive at the factory. Manufactured products are shipped as soon as possible.
In this regard, a company might choose to use a JIT system to control and reduce costs and maintain flexibility to meet changing market demands and remain competitive.
For this type of question, be sure to
Organize your answer into clusters. Use the context of the question and the number of marks to guide you about the number and depth of your clusters
Support each cluster with details and examples that are relevant to the question.
Use specific technical vocabulary
"Explain why injection molding was used to produce the Panton S-Curve chair"
(9 marks)
See this case study for details about the Panton S-Curve Chair
Notes for a possible answer
Complex forms can be produced (example); multi-part molds allow complex shapes to be produced accurately and efficiently (detail); produce forms that are otherwise impossible or difficult to manufacture using other methods (detail).
Mass production (example); a large quantity can be produced (detail); size, shape, and finished texture can be reproduced accurately and consistently (detail); maintain the quality of the product (detail).
Lower labor costs (example): the finished parts are almost complete (detail); require little finishing by hand, reduces labor costs (detail).
Possible answer
One advantage of using injection molding to produce the chair is that the process allows for complex forms to be produced. The multi-part molds allow forms that would be impossible or difficult to manufacture using other methods. In addition, the process produces products with a high level of accuracy and efficiency.
Injection molding also allows the designer to take advantage of the benefits of mass production. A large quantity of chairs can be produced efficiently, reducing costs and taking advantage of economies of scale. In addition, the finished features of the chair, texture, color, and shape, can be reproduced consistently, from chair to chair.
Injection molding can also be highly automated, which reduces labor costs. Because the product that comes out of the mold is almost complete, there is little need for finishing by hand. This reduces the overall labor costs.
For this type of question, be sure to
Organize your answer into strengths and limitations. Describe the strengths and limitations in separate cluster
Support your answer with details that are relevant to the question.
Conclude with a summary or restatement of the main point
Use specific technical vocabulary
"Evaluate the application of rapid prototyping in the production of dental implants"
(6 marks)
See here for examples and discussion about rapid prototyping
Notes for a possible answer
"This example is under construction"
Advantages
short manufacturing time
accuracy
materials
Disadvantages
cost
highly trained technicians
availability
Conclusion
despite the cost, the accuracy and fit make rapid prototyping an ideal tool for producing high quality, safe, and comfortable dental implants.
Possible answer
There are several advantages to using rapid prototyping to create dental implants. One of the major advantages of rapid prototyping is the short manufacturing time. Using CAD/CAM technology, an implant can be manufactured in a few hours, compared to days or weeks using traditional methods. In addition, the process can produce a very accurate implant that fits comfortably and safely in the patient's mouth. Finally, each implant must be customized for the individual patient, which is possible using rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM technologies.
One of the disadvantages of rapid prototyping for dental implants is the cost. CAD/CAM equipment is expensive, and requires highly trained technicians and operators. This cost is usually passed on to the customer. Another drawback is availability. Not all dental clinics have access to this technology, making it difficult to access for even those who can afford it.
Despite these costs, dental implants produced using rapid prototyping technologies are highly accurate, comfortable, and safe. These factors make the technology an ideal choice for this type of product.
For this type of question, be sure to
Organize your answers into a logical sequence. If you are outlining a process, describe the steps in sequential order. If you are outlining a concept, describe the key components of the concept.
Support your answer with details that are relevant to the question.
Use specific technical vocabulary
"Outline the steps of the Human Information Processing System (HIPS)."
(8 marks)
See here for details about the Human Information Processing System.
Notes for a possible answer
Input
input is generated or received
Sensory Processes
human senses take in the information
Central Processes
the brain processes the information and makes a decision
Motor Processes
A physical response is generated by nerves stimulating the muscles
Output
An action is carried out
Possible answer
There are several steps in the Human Information Processing System.
First, input is generated or received. This could be in the form of a sound, texture, or visual stimulus.
Then, the human senses take in this information through touch, sound, smell, sight, or taste. This information is transmitted to the brain.
Next, the brain processes this information and makes a decision about what action to take.
Then, a physical response is generated by nerves stimulating the muscles. This could be either moving a body part, or making a sound or gesture.
The result is the action being carried out, such as pressing a button, avoiding a pedestrian, or making a sound.