Technology and Design Curriculum (İlköğretim Okulu 8. sınıf)

This curriculum aims to cultivate students' understanding of technology and design processes, fostering their ability to apply these skills for personal and societal benefit. The curriculum emphasizes analytical observation, creative problem-solving, and informed decision-making. Students are encouraged to consider both the positive and negative impacts of technology and design, promoting ethical considerations in their applications. The curriculum also aims to develop students' confidence, collaborative skills, and innovative thinking.

Core Concepts of Technology and Design

• Innovative Thinking and Protection of Ideas: This unit explores the desire for change, openness to innovation, types of innovation, research and development (R&D), and sustainability. It also covers intellectual property rights, protection methods, patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial design registrations, and the impact of protecting ideas on technological advancement. The five stages of innovation (divide, combine, subtract, multiply, and break symmetry) are also introduced.
• Computer-Aided Design and Smart Products: This unit focuses on 3D design knowledge and smart products. Students learn about 3D sketching, computer-aided design software, 3D printers, sensor technology applications, and internet-connected devices. They are challenged to design a smart product for future use, considering potential future problems.

Design Process and Presentation

• Visual Communication Design: This unit covers visual communication design, layout, and various graphic designs. Students learn about communication types and the relationship between communication and visuals. They apply graphic design elements and principles to create logos and emblems, and learn about publication graphic design and layout principles. They then design a publication (book, magazine, or newspaper) in groups. Finally, they apply promotional and marketing techniques for a chosen product.
• Product Development: This unit emphasizes the importance of ergonomics in product development. Students learn about the concept of ergonomics and its relationship with anthropometry. They analyze the usability of everyday products from an ergonomic perspective and design a product considering ergonomic principles.
• Engineering and Design: This unit explores the relationship between engineering and design, robotic technology, and the design process used by engineers. Students learn about different engineering fields and their design aspects, relate products to engineering and design concepts, and evaluate limitations in the engineering design process. They then design a product using the engineering design process, addressing a specific need or problem within given constraints.
• From Nature to Design: This unit encourages students to observe nature and learn about the contribution of organic structures to technological development, as well as the properties and applications of nanotechnological structures. Students learn about the concept of biomimicry, analyze a biomimetic product, and design a product using biomimicry to solve an everyday problem.
• Transportation Technologies: This unit covers land, water, air, and space transportation technologies. Students learn about the basic principles considered in vehicle design, classify vehicles based on their characteristics, and design a vehicle capable of operating in at least two different environments.

Needs and Innovation

• Transportation Technologies: This unit focuses on land, water, air, and space transportation technologies. Students learn about the basic principles considered in vehicle design, classify vehicles based on their characteristics, and design a vehicle capable of operating in at least two different environments.

Design and Technological Solutions

• Designing My Original Product: This unit culminates in students designing an original product using the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program. They identify and research a design problem, develop a design plan, create a model or prototype, evaluate their design, and refine it based on feedback. They also consider branding and promotion for their product.
• I Made This: In this unit, students showcase their projects in an exhibition, presenting their work through visual, verbal, and multimedia presentations. They prepare promotional materials such as cards, posters, brochures, short films, or computer-aided presentations. Students are encouraged to apply for utility model certificates or patents for innovative designs.