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Year 4 - Design and technology

User research

Levers and linkages: interactive books

Unit Summary

This unit develops pupils' knowledge of mechanisms through levers and linkages. They will apply this knowledge by exploring mechanisms and incorporating them into an interactive book with a user-centred focus.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to undertake research to influence design specifications.

Key Notes

  • When a product is being designed, it is important to think about who it is designed for.
  • User research includes asking open-ended questions.
  • User research helps create a design specification.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • user: who you are designing for
  • needs: the requirements of a person
  • research: findings based upon discussions and evidence
  • open questions: questions that have many answers
  • design specification: describes what a product has to do

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Open questions gather the users own personal views and may offer more ideas. Sometimes this leads to the user misunderstanding questions or providing answers which are not as expected.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

When a product is being designed, it is important to think about who it is designed for. User research includes asking open-ended questions.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'user'

who you are designing for.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Open questions gather the users own personal views and may offer more ideas. Sometimes this leads to the user misunderstanding questions or providing answers which are not as expected. Correction: All questions need to be specific and clear.

More Lessons In This Unit

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