The MYP Design Cycle is a model that is used to guide students in the design process using design thinking principles. One of the eight MYP subject groups is Design and it requires this design cycle to be used as a tool. The visual representation depicting the cyclical process in the MYP Design Cycle illustrates the methodology that MYP students will use to develop products. The four stages of the design cycle that guide students from identifying a need for a design to a design result are inquiring and analyzing, developing ideas, creating the solutions, and evaluating. The Design subject group is part of the MYP comprehensive, holistic framework that helps to provide the opportunity for students to construct their knowledge about the concepts of development and systems in relevant contexts, and the design cycle is the leading instrument in the exploration into various inquiries.
It is important for students to learn design thinking because the process develops their factual, conceptual, procedural, and metacognitive knowledge. This design cycle helps to facilitate the enculturation of the IB philosophy by using a constructivist approach that empowers students to be caring, knowledgeable inquirers.
Four Stages of the MYP Design Cycle
The MYP Design Cycle’s four stages have a holistic focus on the process rather than the final outcome or solutions. The activities that students will engage in are as follows:
- In the Inquiring and Analysis stage, the learners explain and justify the need for the project, research and explore options and products, and create a design brief.
- In the Developing Ideas stage, learners develop and communicate solution ideas and communicate them in an appropriate way depending on the project.
- In the Creating the Solution stage, the learners construct a plan, use technical skills to make the solution, and justify changes.
- In the Evaluating stage, the learners design the testing for the solution, enact the test, then determine and adjust accordingly. Any of the other stages in the process can be repeated in this phase.
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Why is the MYP Design Cycle Important for IB?
The MYP Design Cycle process leads to the creation of solutions that solve a problem. When this iterative process approach combined with learning experiences are employed, they support design thinking. As students progress through the stages, they must be reflective, knowledgeable inquirers able to communicate solutions in ways that reach the intended audience. Also, it is beneficial to the design process to be caring so as to be empathetic to what is needed to solve a problem, an open-minded risk-taker to be innovative, and of course a thinker. Learning that nurtures the IB Learner Profile is being implemented with the use of the design cycle. IB Approaches to Learning skills in the areas of Communication, Thinking, and Research can be explicitly taught during the process. Additionally, design thinking can be used to solve problems big and small in every aspect of the curriculum across the IB continuum and life. Solving math problems, becoming a better reader, exploring scientific phenomena, making social connections, creative endeavors, making healthy choices, and relational decisions are enhanced by experiencing the MYP Design Cycle at the levels that permit the middle school students to transfer this process to new learning experiences and situations. By honing design thinking skills, students will be better equipped to think at high levels for academic and practical solution planning needed for the Diploma Programme coursework and personal successes.
Teaching the IB Design Cycle
Teaching the design cycle can be complex because it is a multi-faceted, innovative, and iterative process. To build on your professional capabilities to effectively teach the MYP Design Cycle, it is advisable to take the MYP Design workshop to learn from an MYP educator that has an abundance of experience in teaching the course and facilitating educators as they grow in their proficiency in doing so as well. You can register for an MYP Design IB Workshop with CASIE to increase your expertise.
