Course Plan: Design and Technology - Desk Organisation
Course Introduction
Welcome to the Design and Technology course focused on Desk Organisation! In today's fast-paced world, an efficiently organised workspace is essential for productivity, creativity, and mental clarity. This course is designed for Year 7 students, aiming to equip them with the skills to create and maintain a well-organised desk. Throughout the 12 lessons, students will explore various aspects of desk organisation, including ergonomic design, effective storage solutions, and the psychological impacts of a tidy workspace. This course will provide hands-on opportunities for designing personalised desk layouts and creating organisational tools.
Course Goals
- Develop an understanding of the principles of desk organisation and its impact on productivity.
- Gain skills in designing and creating practical organisational tools and techniques.
- Foster creativity in the workspace through innovative design solutions.
Course Aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Recognise the importance of desk layout and organisation.
- Understand ergonomic principles and apply them to desk design.
- Create various organisational tools and storage solutions.
- Evaluate and reflect on their organisational systems and make improvements.
Lesson Plan Overview
Lesson 1: Introduction to Desk Organisation
- Objectives: Understand the importance of desk organisation.
- Activities: Group discussions about workspace experiences, introduction to course goals.
Lesson 2: Ergonomics in the Workspace
- Objectives: Define ergonomics and its role in desk design.
- Activities: Research ergonomic principles, discussions on ideal desk heights, and chair adjustments.
Lesson 3: Assessing Your Current Desk Setup
- Objectives: Evaluate personal workspace setups for efficiency.
- Activities: Self-assessment of current desk setups, peer feedback.
Lesson 4: Organisational Tools and Materials
- Objectives: Explore different types of organisational tools (e.g. trays, folders).
- Activities: Hands-on review of organisational products; group brainstorming session.
Lesson 5: Creative Storage Solutions
- Objectives: Investigate innovative ways to store supplies.
- Activities: Research on vertical storage, DIY storage projects.
Lesson 6: Designing Your Ideal Desk Layout
- Objectives: Create a blueprint for a personalised desk layout.
- Activities: Sketching layouts based on ergonomic principles and personal preferences.
Lesson 7: DIY Organisational Tools
- Objectives: Construct basic organisational tools from everyday materials.
- Activities: Hands-on crafting session, creating trays, and dividers.
Lesson 8: The Digital Workspace
- Objectives: Incorporate digital tools for organisation.
- Activities: Explore apps and software for task management and organisation.
Lesson 9: Decluttering Techniques
- Objectives: Learn strategies to reduce clutter.
- Activities: Discuss methods for decluttering physical and digital spaces.
Lesson 10: Maintaining Your Organised Desk
- Objectives: Develop a personal maintenance plan for desk organisation.
- Activities: Create a checklist for daily, weekly, and monthly organisation tasks.
Lesson 11: Presentation of Organisational Projects
- Objectives: Share designs and organisational concepts with peers.
- Activities: Students present their projects, highlighting key features and benefits.
Lesson 12: Reflection and Future Goals
- Objectives: Reflect on learning and set organisation goals.
- Activities: Group discussions about progress, personal organisation strategies moving forward.
References
- McGlynn, H. (2019). Effective design: Ergonomics in the classroom and beyond. London: Classroom Publishing.
- Smith, R. (2021). Creative workspace: How to design your perfect desk. London: Design Press.
- Jones, A. (2020). Decluttering your workspace: A guide for students. London: EduResources.
- Brown, L. (2022). The role of organisation in academic success. New York: Academic Press.
- Johnson, T. (2023). Digital tools for the modern student. London: TechBooks.
Note: This course plan is designed to align with the UK educational standards for Year 7 students, integrating practical, theoretical, and creative approaches to learning about desk organisation.