Design and Technology Department

Department DESIGN, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING

Design, Technology and Engineering Arts courses at ISB link creativity and innovation across a range of technologies and contexts providing an iterative process where all students benefit from learning about, and working with contemporary, emerging and traditional technologies that shape the world in which we live.

ISB

ATTRIBUTES

Computer science at its core is applicable to any fields of study, and I often find myself realizing how useful the things we learn can be in medicine, law, engineering, and even the humanities. I would recommend anyone take the class, no matter what field you are planning to go into.” Bloomy, Gr10

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 1

(may be repeated for credit)

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

Students will learn and use creativity, the design cycle, materials, and manufacturing techniques in the Invention Center. Skills include hands-on making, computer-aided-design and manufacturing techniques. Emphasis on creativity, problemsolving, service and empathy techniques is undertaken throughout the class. A final portfolio project will follow the design cycle to create individual and/or collaborative projects covering topics such as industrial design, textile design, engineering, sustainability and architecture.

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY 2

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Ideally, but not necessary, Design & Technology I or D&T in Middle School

Emphasis is placed on self-directed projects using the design cycle to create projects based on problem solving and design opportunities. Students will continue to apply design and making skills and principles learned in D&T I while engaging with more depth the topics preparing them for further study. In this course you will learn more about ergonomics, sustainable production, CAD/CAM modelling, mass production, innovation, classic design, user-centered design, resource management and innovation & markets. Students will design and build projects, and will appropriately document and evaluate the process and product in a project portfolio.

IB DESIGN TECHNOLOGY

(Higher & Standard Level)

Grades: 11 - 12 | Length: 2 years | Credits: 2

Prerequisite: for HL ideally, but not necessary, Design & Technology I or II

Students will develop a deep understanding of design, creativity, innovation, materials, and manufacturing techniques in theory and practice. D&T takes thoughts and explores the possibilities and constraints associated with products and/or systems in our world. It is human-centred and focuses on the needs, wants and limitations of the end user. The course is divided into two elements of assessment: a Design Project where students use the design cycle to research, design, make, and evaluate a design opportunity or problem to solve for users or clients. This is 40% of their final Grade. The other 60% of their final mark is from external exams that comprise theory and content. At standard level the course covers, ergonomics, sustainable production, modelling, resource management, innovations and classic design. At higher level, in addition to the standard level topics, the course covers user-centered design, sustainability, markets and commercial production. The class is hands-on activities and content using the Invention Center’s workshop and spaces to understand the course material and enhance learning within the IB framework.

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN - ROBOTICS 1

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

The objective of this course is to use a hands-on approach to introduce the basic concepts in robotics, mechanical design, and programming. The course utilizes the VEX robotics platform to teach concepts including the design cycle, block coding as well as C++ based programming, engineering documentation, and the technical aspects of principles such as gear systems, sensor control, DC motors, transmitters and microprocessors. This course will be an introduction to the basics of the VEX robotics platform, and will include elements of basic programming, use of design software, and some basic mechanical principles. Later units will be project based and require students to follow the engineering design cycle to create a solution to a prescribed challenge.

ENGINEERING AND DESIGN - ROBOTICS 2

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Engineering & Design - Robotics I

More advanced physics and engineering principles relevant to specific project challenges will be introduced in each unit. Students will design and build robots to address the task at hand, and will appropriately document and evaluate the process and product in an engineering portfolio. Students in the robotics club can take this course and work on their competition robot. The grades will be based on the design cycle in their engineering journal.

IB COMPUTER SCIENCE

(Higher & Standard Level)

Grades: 11 – 12 | Length: 2 years | Credit: 2

Prerequisite: Coding Games I or equivalent

Computer Science is the study and management of complex systems. IB Computer Science takes an in depth look at how computers and other IT systems work, as well as the coding with which we can control them. The coding language we use is Java. Half of Year 1 is spent learning Java from scratch, and the other half of Year 1 is the study of more theoretical topics, such as IT systems design, and how computers work. For those in HL, the ramp up of coding skills will be much more compressed, and in addition, several other theoretical topics will be covered. The highlight of Year 2 is the comprehensive IA project, in which almost three months is spent designing and coding an original software application for a real client. IB Computer Science is a perfect opportunity to be introduced to the most powerful set of tools and knowledge the world currently has at its disposal.

IBDP Computer Science Course Guide

INTRO TO COMPUTER SCIENCE

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory course in algorithmic thinking and coding using Java. Students will have the opportunity to use their logical and procedural thinking abilities to solve computational problems. Students will learn about variables, conditional statements, iterative statements, and functions. The culminating project of the module will require students to plan, design, develop and evaluate a software solution for a real-world problem. The course is specifically designed to prepare students for the IB Diploma Computer Science course.

INTRO TO PHYSICAL COMPUTING

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory course that provides an understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, as well as the basics of programming and building circuits. Using a powerful digital prototyping platform like the Arduino, students will undertake tasks such as reading data from a sensor or activating lights based on changes in the environment. They will explore existing prototypes, learn to modify code, and adapt designs. For the final project, students will apply their design thinking skills to design, code and build products that address specific needs within the community.

INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK AND SECURITY

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory course that offers students the chance to experience the technical side of keeping our digital world safe. The

course topics cover real-life scenarios and give students the opportunity to engage in problem-solving approaches in order to gain a fuller understanding of the complexities of cybersecurity. Students will investigate computing and network architectures, communications medium and protocols, data storage, cryptography, and ciphers. Students learn about social engineering tactics, phishing and pretexting, and the breadth of malware currently in the digital threat landscape. Students will have the opportunity to map their home networks, review their personal digital security and complete a group audit project on a security target of their choosing.

NETWORK SECURITY 2

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit:

0.5 Prerequisite: Introduction to Networks and Network Security

This course picks up where the Intro to Networks and Network Security course left off. Students will do a deep dive into the technical aspects of network administration and security. They will also learn how to create and maintain systems that are harder to attack and to recover from cyber attacks. Students will formulate disaster recovery and business continuity plans for their families.

CODING GAMES

Grades: 9 – 12 | Length: 1 semester | Credit: 0.5

Prerequisite: Intro to Computer Science

In this course, students will design and develop games through hands-on practice. They will learn how to use Unity, a professional game development tool and become familiar with the methodologies of constructing a game using such assets as graphics, sounds, and effects, and controlling events and behavior within the game using the C# programming language. The course requires students to independently acquire skills by following tutorials (text and video) while solving problems and creating content. For the final project of the course, students will work in teams to brainstorm and develop new games in response to a theme or challenge. Students will develop their skills in communication, project- and timemanagement, and creative problem-solving.