extended essay design technology

IB Design technology EE examples

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US - Extended Essay Guide: Design Technology

• Class of '25 EE Deadline Calendar
• 2024 EE Deadline Calendar
• Examples of Extended Essays
• Computer Science
• Design Technology
• Global Politics
• Studies in Lang. and Lit. (Group 1)
• Studies in Lang. and Lit. (Group 2)
• Mathematics
• Sports, Exercise, and Health Science
• World Studies
• Print and eBooks
• Web Resources
• Searching Tips
• Referencing and citing
• Notetaking Advice
• Tools and Strategies to Narrow Your Topic
• Supervisor Support

Design Technology Overview

• Design Technology: Subject Specific Guidance An extended essay (EE) in design technology gives students an opportunity to undertake in-depth research into: the processes involved in the design and development of products or systems the impact of the products or systems’ design on individuals and society. The outcome of the research should be a coherent and structured piece of writing that effectively addresses a particular research question and arrives at a specific, and preferably personal, conclusion. Students are expected to use a range of methods for the collection of data and the essay should use both primary and secondary sources. Absolute reliance on textbooks and the internet is discouraged: no EE in design technology should be based exclusively on such sources.
• Design Technology: Subject Specific Guide
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• Last Updated: Oct 30, 2023 11:30 AM
• URL: https://libguides.zis.ch/ee2024

EXTENDED ESSAY

All IB Diploma students complete an extended essay (EE) and should you choose to base yours around Design, this page will help to guide you through choosing an appropriate essay focus, research question and explain the planning process.

CHOOSING AN ESSAY TOPIC

The topic you select should be related to Design, meaning t hat it could be something that focuses on the investigation or exploration or one aspect or area within design and/or be problem-focused, ultimately providing a testable solution.  Either way, it must be explorative, reflective and evaluative and follow the design design process and thinking of that found in the design cycle. 

Successful essays tend to be based on an area of study that students have a personal interest within and/or some prior experience of knowledge so look to yourself and your own interests when attempting to identify an essay focus.

YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION

Your EE should be organi s ed and focused around a research question as t his is what guides your inquiry and is the reason for doing said inquiry. 

Your Research Question should be:

Related to Design Technology content - look at what you cover elsewhere in the course, particulary topics 1, 4 and 7.

Specific enough that authentic research and testing can be undertaken

Provide a lens or perspective through which to engage with the inquiry

Be s tated somewhere in the introduction

RESEARCHING FOR YOUR ESSAY

Your EE will need to include evidence of primary and secondary research if you hope to achi eve a score within the top boundary . You shoul d use this research to inform and support decisions and opinions made throughout your essay.

Why is primary research so important? 

Without primary research, you are basing all of your statements and decisions on the work of others. It is important to actively collect data and information yourself that is relevant to your essay as this form the foundations of every good EE. 

What does primary research look like?

conducting performance based tests for data collection

testing various existing products to determine their performance characteristics

testing various materials to determine their performance characteristics

testing various models, that you design, to determine their performance characteristics

interviewing several experts in the field in order to understand the scope of a problem or design context.

*Ensure that all sources of research and information, including images are cited correctly and appropriately.

SUGGESTED EE FORMATS

Option 1 - problem focused.

This EE option will have a product or system that works towards solving a problem as the focus and end goal.

This type of EE should follow the following format:

Introduction : Describe the design problem and the context; Introduce the RQ; Identify parameters or specifications for a solution

Develop Ideas: Include several sketches that outline possible solutions; *These do not need to be as extensive as those for your IA.

Create a Solution: Include planning drawings and evidence of the final manufactured product

Present the Solution for testing and evaluation by the user group; gather testing data.

Evaluate the success of the solution in solving or understanding the RQ, and suggest improvements

Option 2 - Inquiry Focused 

This EE option will focus on a process, material, or product in order to analyse and evaluate it.

Introduction : Describe the design problem and the context; Introduce the RQ; Identify the direct connections to the DT Topic areas

Develop a testing method and apparatus. This should allow you to gather accurate and detailed data.

Gather data using testing apparatus, gather and record the data

Analyse and evaluate the data , and connect it back to the DT Topic areas.

An example research question from this type of EE is:  

" To what extent can design systems reduce plastic waste specific to board markers used in schools ?"

" To what extent can ergonomic design improve performance, specific to gardening hand trowels "

An example research question from this type of EE is:

" To what extent has technology empowered the sensory impaired in the workplace?

" To what extent have designs of the past influenced the success of those in the future, specific to the work of Dieter Rams and Jony Ive"

EXAMPLE (GRADED A)

INSPIRATION

PARAMETRIC CHEMISTRY: A SCIENTIFIC DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR 3D PRINTING BIOCOMPATIBLE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL MATERIAL COMBINATIONS

Neri Oxman tested combinations of materials to see which would be most suitable to create the large, organic structure, Biopolymer Pavilion. This kind of materials testing would make for a great EE as there is opportunity to gather lots of useful data and the final outcome could be conclusive and directly answer the research question. See a similar EE here (glass based).

READ MORE about Neri Oxman's project.

MLA CITATIONS

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete ib extended essay guide: examples, topics, and ideas.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

• A title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

• A check on plagiarism and malpractice
• Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
• Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!  

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

• Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
• Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
• English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
• Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
• Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
• Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

• January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
• February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
• April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
• Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
• August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
• September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
• November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
• Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
• Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

• Business Management 1
• Chemistry 1
• Chemistry 2
• Chemistry 3
• Chemistry 4
• Chemistry 5
• Chemistry 6
• Chemistry 7
• Computer Science 1
• Economics 1
• Design Technology 1
• Design Technology 2
• Environmental Systems and Societies 1
• Geography 1
• Geography 2
• Geography 3
• Geography 4
• Geography 5
• Geography 6
• Literature and Performance 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mathematics 3
• Mathematics 4
• Mathematics 5
• Philosophy 1
• Philosophy 2
• Philosophy 3
• Philosophy 4
• Philosophy 5
• Psychology 1
• Psychology 2
• Psychology 3
• Psychology 4
• Psychology 5
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
• Visual Arts 1
• Visual Arts 2
• Visual Arts 3
• Visual Arts 4
• Visual Arts 5
• World Religion 1
• World Religion 2
• World Religion 3

What's Next?

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OGC Extended Essay: Design Technology

• Computer Science

Design Technology

• Global Politics
• Language Acquisition
• Mathematics
• Sports Science
• World Studies
• Notes & Outlines
• Works Cited Page
• In-Text Citations
• Reflections
• Supervisor Info
• Library This link opens in a new window

• Requirements

Research Questions

• Past Papers

 Design Technology: Overview 

Requirements for a Design Technology EE

The Subject-Specific Guidance page  for your chosen subject is THE KEY to ensuring your paper meets the requirements. Print, highlight, and annotate this page and pin it above your desk!

• Subject-specific Guidance

The Command Terms  are the key terms and phrases used in examination questions . Use these in your essay to indicate a strong background in your subject

The Subject Reports  give an overview of what EXAMINERS have said  about makes a successful paper in the subject. It's smart to read these over to know what the examiners are  looking  for.

• Subject Report May 2018
• Subject Report May 2021

Review the questions below

• Which ones will be most successful?
• What ideas do the questions spark for you?

Design Tech Questions, scoring B

How can school websites be designed to maximize ease of use?

How can we determine the ideal color of a product intended for either males of females?

Past Papers: Why Read Them?

• See  common structures, methodologies, use of command terms  and other subject-specific vocabulary
• Notice the difference  between successful papers AND papers that were less successful
• Read the  examiner comments  on scored papers and their reflections to note what worked and what didn't
• Four papers, scored with reflections via the IBO
• << Previous: Computer Science
• Next: Economics >>
• Last Updated: Apr 4, 2024 10:50 AM
• URL: https://oberoi-is.libguides.com/OGC-EE

Design Technology / Extended Essay

The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.

An extended essay (EE) in design technology gives students an opportunity to undertake in-depth research into:

The processes involved in the design and development of products or systems

The impact of the products or systems’ design on individuals and society.

The outcome of the research should be a coherent and structured piece of writing that effectively addresses a particular research question and arrives at a specific, and preferably personal, conclusion.

Students are expected to use a range of methods for the collection of data and the essay should use both primary and secondary sources. Absolute reliance on textbooks and the internet is discouraged: no EE in design technology should be based exclusively on such sources.

Content, Organization and Strategies

An excellent resource by Aidan Hammond at Branksome Hall Asia has this presentation: 

IB Extended Essay website shortcuts

The Extended Essay in General

EE in Design Technology

Choice of topic

Treatment of topic

Interpreting the EE assessment criteria

Other resources

Sample Extended Essays in DP Design Technology

Example A: Plants in Modern Architecture

Example B: Improving swimming through ergonomics and economics

Example C: Investigation of the effectiveness of sustainable strategies in a local school environment

Example D: Analysis of Climbing Ropes

DP Design Technology: Extended Essay

• Library Resources
• Topic 1: Ergonomics & Human Factors
• Topic 2: Resource Management
• Topic 3: Modelling
• Topic 4: Raw Material to Final Product
• Topic 5: Innovation & Design
• Topic 6: Classic Design
• Topic 7: User Centered Design
• Topic 8: Sustainability
• Topic 9: Innovation and Markets
• Topic 10: Commercial Production
• Extended Essay
• Evaluating Sources
• Citing Your Sources

EE Subject Reports

Comments from examiners about what is good and what needs work from a recent Extended Essay session.  Good to review so you have an idea of a) what they look for while assessing and b) mistakes to avoid.

• Design Journals
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DP Design Technology: Extended Essay

• Topic 1: Ergonomics & Human Factors
• Topic 2: Resource Management
• Topic 3: Modelling
• Topic 4: Raw Material to Final Product
• Topic 5: Innovation & Design
• Topic 6: Classic Design
• Topic 7: User Centered Design
• Topic 8: Sustainability
• Topic 9: Innovation and Markets
• Topic 10: Commercial Production
• Extended Essay
• MLA Citations
• Evaluating Sources

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Rather than use a general search-engine like Google, academic search engines   focus on  scholarly, peer-reviewed content.   They automatically "weed-out" a lot of the Google Garbage.

• Design Journals
• PLOT(S) MA Design Studies Journal
• International Journal of Design
• International Journal of Design in Society
• International Journal of Designed Objects
• Make  
• Instructables  
• Office Ergonomics   Interesting collection of articles/reviews
• ProtoLabs White papers and more
• Open University: Design Innovation
• Idea Connection Blog
• Interesting Engineering
• GCSE: Design and Technology
• Design is History
• Design World
• MakerCast: Podcast for Makers podcast on product design and development
• Product Design Show
• O'Reilly Design Podcast explores how experience design—and experience designers—are shaping business, the Internet of Things, and other domains.
• Engineer Guy The Engineer Guy features Bill tearing down devices, explaining engineering and design, and showing how product designers contribute to the world.
• 3D Printing Today
• 3D Printing Podcast
• FW: THinking covers several topics ncluding 3D printing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, the Internet of Things, robotics, technology, and more.
• MIT Technology Review  
• Wired Magazine  
• Lifehacker  
• BBC: Click  
• CNN Tech  
• News.au: Tech  
• Engadget  
• Extreme Tech  
• 3D Printing

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• Last Updated: Mar 4, 2024 8:57 AM
• URL: https://branksome-asia.libguides.com/ss/dt

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• Posted in in Technology

Extended Essay on Design and Technology

• Posted by by ION
• 6 years ago

The word design means different things to different people. In many cases, it bases on the perception of an individual towards a specific product or object. People tend to think of design as a noun. For example, “that’s a good design,” however the plan is a verb within the current context of Design and Technology .

It’s a way of looking at the world, it’s not an “it” but rather a “how.” A method of doing things. It’s the process of converting an idea to the real world application whether we’re talking about the app you’re using or the car you’re driving.

Since the incorporation of Design and Technology in the UK curriculum in 1989, we have seen an increase in the quality of engineers produced by the school system. Being taught from a very early age, students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in math and physics in a real-world scenario. Taking the abstract and bringing it into an applicable model that is easier to understand.

Furthermore, students can learn about the technologies used within the design process that make their everyday tools and products. It provides deeper insight into what makes our world work and creates a more profound appreciation within the minds of the students.

Stimulating the Creative Process

Within a world where technology is becoming ever more inexpensive, the creative process is becoming more critical. It is because of technology, as with any tool, is only as good as the person who is operating it.

Design & Technology teaches people to utilize their creative processes to solve real-world problems. It shows you problem-solving and motivates you to look outside the box of the conventional to find a solution that will work for a particular problem.

This skill also translates well into other sectors within society, providing students with a more robust approach to their particular discipline.

A Future within the Workplace

Seeing that roughly 1.9 million new engineers will need in the decade leading up to 2022, this means that within a world that is becoming ever more automated, the security in employment becomes a significant benefit of Design & Technology.

Many people who cling to the “old ways” have been made redundant. By this, we mean that their function within society is no longer valuable seeing that technology is replacing the need for physical labor.

For those who have a background in design & technology, they have a more secure future with a potential for higher earnings than that of many other industries. Additionally, understanding that there is a considerable demand, and the sheer versatility of the subject matter, students with this background will have a myriad of choices when selecting a career path.

Solving the World’s Problems

Technology has increased the efficiency of humanity like never before. We face significant catastrophic potential problems, and it is subjects like Design & Technology that will cultivate the skills needed to solve these issues.

From issues relating to the environment, disease, infrastructure and so forth, it is the mentality that instills by design & technology that will provide the framework to address these robust problems.

Whereas many people look at the world’s problems and try to figure out why; engineers, creative people, and inventors see at solutions not yet thought of and asks, “why not?”

It is the very premise that we desperately need within a world that is expanding at an accelerated pace. From topics such as global warming or overpopulation, to even more alien concepts such as government and corruption; design & technology will provide the mindset to address these problems and make the world more efficient.

Better by Design

We cannot fathom how the world will be within the next decade. Technology has allowed humanity to connect like never before. We are finally in a position where we can design a future that meets the needs of everybody. Where the old ways of the privileged no longer hold humanity in a choke hold.

Now, the individual is empowered, and ideas have more value than ever before. Design and Technology provide humanity the necessary tools to become better, more efficient have less impact on our surroundings.

Something as simple as urban farming and hydroponics, designed by engineers and scientists, have revolutionized the production of food that can feed an ever-growing population. Smart cars, smart houses, and smart technology are increasing our efficiency while decreasing our negative impact on the world.

Author: Joan Young is an aspiring journalist and copywriter with deep interest in sociology, inventions and technological progress. In a spare from travelling minute, she provides online tutoring sessions to international students and finds immense pleasure in witnessing their writing progress. Currently he is working for AdvancedWriters.com, a custom essay writing service .

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an extended essay in design in technology

• design technology
• extended essay
• topic selection

By aziz July 30, 2017 in Extended Essay

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I have design technology as a higher subject and because i like it so much i decided to do my extended essay on it,after choosing my topic and my question and writing an early draft i was told that my topic would yield low marks. my topic was centered around how CAD (computer assisted design) has helped reduce the amount of raw plastic being used in production and how that affected both the environment and benefitted businesses, but it turns out that primary research on the topic is very limited and a high school student wouldn't be able to get good resources for such topic,and from what i saw topics that went about physical design rather than digital programs yielded way better marks. so what i want to know is what topic should i write about because i'm currently very stuck and i have one month between me and my first full draft deadline with that month being completely free so please help, if you have any idea what i should do then reply to me here or email me at       [email protected]

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Example essays

The International Baccalaureate® (IB)  programme resource centre,  a key resource for educators at IB World Schools, includes several examples of  extended essay titles .

These highlight the diverse range of topics covered by International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) students during their extended essays.

Some examples are:

• “An analysis of costume as a source for understanding the inner life of the character”
• “A study of malnourished children in Indonesia and the extent of their recovery after a period of supervised improved nutrition.”
• “Doing  versus  being: language and reality in the Mimamsa school of Indian philosophy.” 
• “The effects of sugar-free chewing gum on the pH of saliva in the mouth after a meal.”
• “To what extent has the fall in the exchange rate of the US dollar affected the tourist industry in Carmel, California?”
•  “What level of data compression in music files is acceptable to the human ear?”

Also available in the programma resource centre , the Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures has guidance on choosing a subject for the extended essay.

The PRC is only available to existing IB World Schools.

You can also purchase examples of essays in the IB Store . These essays fulfil the requirements for an ‘A’ grade in the extended essay.

If your school is not one already, learn how to become an IB World School  in order to implement the DP.

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