This year I have seven students registered to do their extended essay in DP Design technology. This is a great opportunity for students to investigate an area that is of interest or new to them. In the IB Diploma Program, the Extended Essay (EE) is an opportunity to develop research skills through an independent inquiry. I really enjoy this aspect of the course - it is rewarding to work with students in a different capacity, one that is so focused on research. It is an opportunity for them to take risks, explore new areas of interest, and grow as researchers.

Because of the large number (it’s usually been 2-3 in the past), I’ve had to think more deeply about how to support and guide students in this inquiry. Within the subject of Design Technology, the EE can take many forms, from a problem-solution inquiry that sees the development and testing of a prototype, to the testing of materials or products to determine their performance characteristics, to the analysis of design strategies, concepts or approaches in a real-world context.

For most students my course, it is their first time writing a 4,000 words research paper - the task can be quite intimidating. I have developed a set of guidelines to guide and support them, which are organized around several sections

Choosing a topic and approach to the inquiry
Organizing a research paper, methodology, and apparatus
Understanding the expectations of the extended essay rubric and how they connect to design technology inquiries

The full set of resources is below and can also be found on Design and Inquiry