Design Technology SL/HL

Design Technology SL/HL   

The Diploma Programme Design Technology course aims to develop internationally minded people whose enhanced understanding of design and the technological world can facilitate our shared guardianship of the planet and create a better world.

Inquiry and problem-solving are at the heart of the subject. DP design technology requires the use of the design cycle as a tool, which provides the methodology used to structure the inquiry and analysis of problems, the development of feasible solutions, and the testing and evaluation of the solution. A solution can be defined as a model, prototype, product or system that students have developed independently.

DP design technology achieves a high level of design literacy by enabling students to develop critical-thinking and design skills, which they can apply in a practical context. While designing may take various forms, it will involve the selective application of knowledge within an ethical framework.

The IB DP Design Technology standard level (DT SL) course contains six core topics (Duration 90 Hours) and practical work (40 Hours for Design Project, 10 Hours for Group 4 Project and 10 Hours for Teacher-directed activities).

The assessment model of Design Technology SL consists of two external papers. Paper 1 is a 45 minutes exam which contains multiple-choice on core material weighing 30% of the final grade. Paper 2 is a 1.5 hours exam which contains data-based, short-answer and extended-response questions on core material, weighing 30% of the final grade. The internal exam weighs 40% of the final grade.

The IB DP Design Technology higher level (DT HL) course contains six core topics (Duration 90 Hours), four additional higher level (AHL) topics (Duration 54 Hours) and practical work (Design Project of 60 Hours duration, Group 4 Project of 10 Hours duration and Teacher-directed activities of 26 Hours duration).

The assessment model of Design Technology HL consists of three external papers. Paper 1 is a one hour exam which contains multiple-choice question on core and HL extension material, weighing 20% of the final grade. Paper 2 is a 1.5 hours exam which contains data-based, short-answer and extended-response questions based on core material, weighing 20% of the final grade. Paper 3 is a 1.5 hours exam which contains structured questions on HL extension material weighing 20% of the final grade. The internal exam (Design Project) weighs 40% of the final grade.