[Design and Technology] thanks for link and exam feedback

Thu Nov 24 19:35:16 EST 2011

Hi Gabriella and others,

I agree with your comments Gabriella.  Overall it was a fair exam. All of my
students said they ended up using stretch fabric in the design as it made
sense.  I also had a problem with the final question with the Product
Development Cycle, there were only 4 stages + research.  I have always
taught 5 +  research ( concept, design, development & prototype, production
& distribution, retail & consumer use, evaluation & modification)  Where the
question ask students to name the missing 2 there were 2 possible options
for stage 3. (production & distribution OR Retail & consumer use) I hope
both answers will be marked as correct.  There was a lso a very wordy
question asking students to about evaluation criteria ( don't have the exam
on me).  I thought this could have been written in a much clearer manner. 

I was also surprised the "design a poster' question was included again after
the feedback last year that it was more of a Vis Com question.

About to start all over again on Monday, feels like a very short turn
around.  

Melissa Treverton

Design & Technology Teacher

Parkdale Secondary College

Ph: (03 9580 6311

Fax: (03) 9587 3142

Email:  <mailto:treverton.melissa.j at edumail.vic.gov.au>
treverton.melissa.j at edumail.vic.gov.au 

Description: psclogo

From: destech-bounces at edulists.com.au
[mailto:destech-bounces at edulists.com.au] On Behalf Of VERSTRAETEN Gabriella
Sent: Thursday, 24 November 2011 5:21 PM
To: tran.lorraine.i at edumail.vic.gov.au; Design and Technology Teachers'
Mailing List (destech at edulists.com.au)
Subject: [Design and Technology] thanks for link and exam feedback

Hi Lorraine

Thank you publishing the link regarding feedback for the exam survey. I had
a chance on the weekend to look more closely at the exam and had a couple of
comments I was keen to feedback.  It was very timely as I had just finished
typing up my response when your email came through.  I have pasted my
comments below and would be interested to hear from any other teachers
especially textiles in they felt the same as me. 

What I feedback:  

Overall, I felt it was a good exam that covered a lot of areas.  However, I
do have a minor and major concern. My minor concern is Section B, Question
q. Even I struggle to understand how to answer the question.  I understand
the difference between 'effective' and 'efficient,' it's subtle (which a
number of students wouldn't get. I would have to ask here, is this an
English comprehension exam or a design and product based exam?) Where in the
study design is the comparison between these articulated, especially in
reference to the planning and production activities.

My major concern has to do with the Constraints given in the Design Brief to
the Costume option which gave Textiles students a distinct disadvantage that
none of the other mediums were constrained by.  This is very unfair to the
textiles students. It all comes down to one sentence, "Note: Jude dislikes
stretch materials." The brief also states, "The costume needs to allow for
ease of movement" due to "some jumping and gymnastics" routines. That
constraint screams stretch fabrics. You tell me what gymnastic outfit isn't
made of a stretch fabric - it has to allow for stretch, comfort and ease of
movement, which is the exact nature of a stretch/knitted material. That is
their core characteristic, ease of movement. Any tracksuit, swimwear,
tights, underpants, t-shirts etc. are all made of stretch fabrics. Just by
the way, I'd like to know how Jude, male or female, is going to stop his or
her jiggly bits from jumping around uncomfortably throughout the routine
without the support of stretch fabrics in their underwear!  So this is very
unfair to rule these fabrics out.  While the brief doesn't say that you
can't use stretch fabrics, it says "Notes: Jude dislikes stretch materials."
If the note said "Jude dislikes red materials and materials with a textured
surface" as a designer you wouldn't design Jude a red outfit nor an outfit
of textured fabric.  In response as a designer you aren't going to use
stretch fabrics.  So the textiles students needed to design an outfit
allowed for gymnastics in its construction, i.e. gussets or loose fit. So
there was a degree of difficulty there for textiles students.  Now, I
wouldn't have minded this if the same constraints were then placed on all
the other materials.  For example, "the body adornment that Jake didn't like
plastics and resins." This would be fair. But they weren't, not one of the
other 5 materials listed were presented with such a constraint.  Clearly
that comment was added in by someone who didn't appreciate the significance
of the statement or someone who deliberately wanted to undermine the scores
of textiles students.  It is disappointing and unfair. So, that was my major
concern.

Cheers 

Regards 

Gabriella 

Gabriella Verstraeten

Head of Technology

Thomas Carr College

35 Thomas Carr Drive,

Tarneit, VIC 3029

(P) (03) 8734 2444

(F) (03) 9748 4388

(E) gab.verstraeten at thomascarr.vic.edu.au

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