MetaPet Field Mode — Australian Schools
Lesson 6: Design a Better Feature
Students change one design element and justify who the change helps.
- Years
- 3–6
- Suggested time
- 20 minutes
- Use
- Teacher-led
- Records
- Alias-only, local device
Learning intention
I can design one change to a feature and explain who it helps.
Learning areas: Design and Technologies · Digital Technologies
Success criteria
- I can change one part of a design.
- I can say who my change helps.
- I can say who it might not help.
Teacher opening
One change only. The constraint is the teaching: students have to justify a single choice rather than list ten. Ask who it helps and who it might not.
Designers change one thing at a time so they can tell what worked. Today you change one thing, and you say who it helps.
Five guided steps
1. One change only
- Teacher says / does
- Say: "Change one thing. Only one."
- Student task
- Think of one thing you would change.
- Expected outcome
- Students understand the single-change constraint.
2. Look at what is there now
- Teacher says / does
- Show the current design. Name its parts.
- Student task
- Look at the parts.
- Expected outcome
- Students can name the parts available.
3. Make your change
- Teacher says / does
- Let students change one part.
- Student task
- Change one part.
- Expected outcome
- Each student has made one change.
4. Who does it help?
- Teacher says / does
- Take answers to "Who does your change help, and who might it not help?"
- Student task
- Say who your change helps.
- Expected outcome
- Students justify a design choice by audience.
5. Stop here
- Teacher says / does
- Say that Session Six is finished.
- Student task
- Remember your change.
- Expected outcome
- Session Six is recorded on this device.
Support option
Choose one part and say why you like it.
Extension option
Design the same change for someone who uses the screen differently.
Discussion prompts
- What one thing did you change?
- Who does your change help?
- Who might it not help?
Teacher notes — aliases only
Do not record student names, contact details or identifying information.