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Communication Design Briefs for the Elementary Grades
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The Design Briefs were created by undergraduate students
taking ITDPT 364, Technology Education for the Elementary Grades. They
tested each design brief by teaching the problem-solving activity to a
group of their peers. The students then re-wrote the design briefs. A
few other briefs are by technology education graduate students, and by
experienced teachers pursuing a degree or certification for teaching MIMH
students. Most of these design briefs have been tested with children.
All are categorized according to the Technology Education Curriculum for
the State of Indiana.
Page last updated April 20, 2000.
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My
First Home Page!
My First Home Page is a an activity which students develop their own
web page. The students get experience exploring the Internet as well as getting
the opportunity to build their own webpage. The design brief has a list of all
meed software and links to how to get it.
Lights,
Camera, Action!
Light, Camera, Action is a cooperative learning activity which requires
students to work together to accomplish one goal. This goal is to produce a
short 30 second video commercial supporting school support.
Get
off the Island!
You can communicate with people many different ways. These ways include
talking, writing, e-mailing, screaming, and touching for example. There is no
right or wrong way to communicate with people. Communication is used in our
everyday lives, whether it is in school, the work place, or traveling.
Island
Hopper
Incorporate a way that five survivors can use simple machines and
resources found on an island to help them to recover supplies lost in an airplane
crash. Test your ideas. The supplies should be recovered within a reasonable
amount of time, with minimum loss of survivors.
Bats
and Echolocation
You must figure out how to design a tool that will help you move around without
bumping into things. Bats use echolocation to "see" what is around
them. What kind of tool can you design that will allow you to maneuver around
without bumping into things? Just as echolocation does, this tool should give
you feedback about your surroundings so that you can find your way around.
Survive
the Desert
There are many different ways to communicate with people. A lot of times
we take advantage of communication not only as a way to talk to others but
also as a way of survival. It would be very hard if not impossible for any
of us to survive in the world today if we did not have a slightest way of
communication. This would include simple things not thought of such as writing
checks, paying bills, and using the computer.
Sending
a message
Usually when you communicate a message, you speak or write with writing materials,
but what if you lose your voice and do not have any writing utensils? Are
there still ways to get your message to others?
Videotaping
a commercial
Commercials, advertisements and slogans are a highly
effective way in selling and introducing a company’s new product. A commercial
includes the product name, a slogan or a jingle and an overview of the product.
Think of a commercial that has persuaded you to buy a product, what made it
stand out? Why was it successful? Products can be useful, not useful or strictly
just for luxury and pleasure.
Develop
a comunication device
Communication is a social skill among all people. There are several
different ways that people communicate. Some of these are by telephone,
computer, and mail. Communication has become increasingly easier due to technology.
Communication is important to us because we use it in everything we do.