Year 10 - Design and technology
Investigating contexts
The circular economy: developing countries
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit develops pupils' knowledge of technology in the world around us. The pupils consider a case study 'The Washing Machine Project' to empathise with issues faced by people in developing countries. Pupils develop knowledge of moral and social issues alongside empathy.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify a broad range of design opportunities when investigating a context.
Key Notes
- A context is the situation within which something exists or happens.
- Context investigations can identify a range of design opportunities or problems to solve.
- Contexts can be explored using a variety of methods.
Vocabulary To Learn
- context: the situation within which something exists or happens
- design opportunity: a gap, or a need where a new or improved product would be beneficial
- iterative: refining and improving
- design fixation: consider only one possible solution
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students often 'think' they understand a context without having fully explored it.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
A context is the situation within which something exists or happens. Context investigations can identify a range of design opportunities or problems to solve.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'context'
the situation within which something exists or happens.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Students often 'think' they understand a context without having fully explored it. Correction: Students need to be encouraged to fully explore a context so to understand it fully before moving onto designing. This is great practice for the NEA.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Circular economy and LCA Study Guide
- Design: Spider boot and Jaipur foot Study Guide
- Distribution: Better Shelter and wind-up radio Study Guide
- Manufacture and materials processing: Fairtrade Study Guide
- Product in use: S H E uniform and Hippo Roller Study Guide
- Redesign: The Washing Machine Project Study Guide
- Repair, maintenance and recycling: Energee Saw Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 Design and technology guide library.