Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua
NgΔ WhΔinga Ako | Learning Intentions
Students will know
- That the purpose of prototyping is to make design assumptions testable, not to produce a finished commercial product.
- How material choices (embodied energy, local sourcing, end-of-life recovery) determine whether a design brief is satisfied.
- Why a simple, well-reasoned prototype beats a polished, unexplained model.
Students will demonstrate
- By building a low-to-medium fidelity prototype (cardboard, bio-materials, 3D CAD, or wireframe) representing their redesigned product.
- By annotating 3 specific material selection justifications in Design Journal Section 8.
Do Now | TΔ«matanga Whakaaro (10 min)
Prototyping Philosophy:
"If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a physical prototype is worth 1,000 meetings. Why?"
Unpack: A drawing allows you to hide flaws (e.g. how a joint connects, how a battery is accessed, how a user holds it). A physical or interactive prototype forces you to confront reality immediately. Don't worry about cosmetic beauty today β focus on functional mechanics and material honesty.
Prototyping Options & Material Selection (20 min)
Students build their prototype using one of three approved pathways:
π¦ Option A: Physical Cardboard/Bio-Model
Use card, timber scraps, harakeke, or bio-plastics to model physical form, disassembly joints, and internal component layout.
π» Option B: Digital 3D CAD / Mockup
Use Tinkercad, Onshape, or Blender to model 3D components, showing exploded assembly views and material tags.
π± Option C: Interactive UI/UX Wireframe
For software/app technology problems, use Figma or paper wireframes to map user flows, energy-saving dark modes, and repair guides.
Activity: 3 Material Justifications (10 min)
On your prototype or journal entry, write 3 explicit material annotations following this formula:
"I selected [Material A] instead of [Material B] for [Component X] because [Material A] has [Lower carbon / local sourcing / easy repairability]."
Example: "I selected recycled aluminium instead of virgin plastic for the outer casing because aluminium can be recycled infinitely in NZ without quality loss, whereas plastic degrades after 1β2 cycles."
π Design Journal β Section 8: Prototype Documentation
Students open their Design Journal and write Section 8:
Section 8 Requirements:
1. Prototype Photo / Diagram: Insert a clear photo or annotated diagram of your prototype.
2. Key Features Callout: Label how your prototype demonstrates disassembly, repair, or energy efficiency.
3. 3 Material Justifications: Include your 3 completed material selection annotations.
Exit Verification | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)
Exit Check:
"My prototype is constructed, documented with 3 material justifications, and ready for Lesson 9 user testing."
Teacher Planning & Curriculum Alignment
NZ Curriculum Alignment (Technology β Phase 3 / Years 9β10):
- Outcome Development & Evaluation: Undertake functional modelling to test design concepts and evaluate material performance against brief specifications.
- Technological Products: Justify material choices based on performance, environmental footprint, and end-of-life recovery.
Vocabulary: Low-fidelity prototype, functional modelling, material annotation, embodied carbon, disassembly joints.