By Ana Yao, Design Teacher
The IDO project day had three parts.
Evaluating
In Criterion A, evaluating, students researched how various subjects contribute to understanding global issues, such as reducing carbon footprints through different types of transportation systems, with a focus on wind-powered transports.
Synthesising
In criterion B, synthesising students merged knowledge from various subjects to tackle real-world problems. Students combined their knowledge from science (forces & motions) and design to generate ideas and prototypes using materials such as balloons, plastic bottles, bottle caps, BBQ skewers, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, string, hot glue, and corrugated card. Students came up with different designs from balloon-powered to winded up cars.
Testing Prototypes
In criterion C students tested the prototypes and created a presentation demonstrating the mechanism and principle of the car prototype.
We finished the day with a car race with prizes for the winners.
Interdisciplinary learning
Interdisciplinary learning in the MYP is when the students make connections between different subjects to explore complex issues from multiple perspectives. This way they develop the Approaches to Learning (ATL) transferable skills. These are important lifelong skills which we hope students can gain at an early stage of their lives.