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Our Approach to Design

Students at AISB have a range of opportunities in maker education experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom. Here is a short video explaining the pedagogy behind our approach to Maker Education. We have also collated a Padlet if you wish to delve further.
Early Learning Center
The ELC teachers have access to Tinker Tubs, a maker education initiative designed specifically for our setting at AISB. Find out more about the Tinker Tubs here and here.
Elementary
The Elementary School has its own Makerspace, located in the Secondary Design section of the building. Elementary students use the space for a wide range of activities, connected to the Units of Inquiry.
For example, at the start of the Grade 4 Design unit, students use the materials and tools available to construct a chair design. Our focus is on tinkering, thinking, and creating.
The space is also used at lunchtimes (one grade per day) for students who wish to spend their recess time creating, coding, or collaborating. We have also held ‘Makerspace Magic’, ‘Scratch Club’ and ‘Digital Storytelling’ CCAs in the space.
Secondary School
The Secondary School Design Programme is located in its Design Center, which features several classrooms dedicated to the instruction of the MYP Design and the IB Design Technology Programme. The Design Center comprises an industrial arts space, industrial printing space with laser cutter and 3D printers, and digital design studios, providing students with access to a wide range of tools and technologies.
The programme aims to provide an innovative and exciting learning opportunity for students who are passionate about design and technology. The curriculum is designed to be hands-on and interactive, allowing students to collaborate with their peers, work on real-world design challenges whilst adhering to the Design Cycle principles.
All students in grades 6 through 8 participate in a year long product design course focusing on human centered design whereas grade 9 sees students choose from a range of semester based electives including product design, journalism, intro to coding, photography and intro to programming. Grade 10 students choose a year long elective from offerings like product design, journalism, computer science, programming and digital media. Grade 11 and 12 students may continue in design through the DP Design Technology courses.