Writing an Evaluation

PDF FILE - CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE EVALUATION SHEETS

Designers evaluate their finished products or prototypes in order to test whether they work well and if the design can be corrected or improved. Whatever you have designed it is important to evaluate your work constantly during the project. Evaluation can take a variety of forms:

	General discussion with other pupils, staff and others. Questionnaires / surveys carried out at any time during the project. Your personal views, what you think of existing designs. Most important of all - what do you think of your designs, prototypes and finished products ? Can you think of any other ways of evaluating your work ?

	CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS WHEN WRITING YOUR FINAL EVALUATION


	1. What do you think of the overall design ? What changes would you make ? 2. Are you happy with the materials you chose ? Would you make adjustments next time ? 3. Is the colour scheme exactly what you expected ? What alterations would you make ? 4. Did the project take too long to make ? Would this alter the cost of manufacture ? 5. Would it be easy to set up a production line for the manufacture of your solution ? 6. Is your solution safe ? Could it be made safer ? 7. Are the techniques you used to make your solution adequate or would you use a different range of manufacturing techniques ? 8. Is the solution the right size/shape ? 9. What are the views of other people regarding your design ? 10. Does it work ? What changes are required ?

The final evaluation is often neglected because it is the last part to any design and make project. Do not make the mistake of completing it quickly or not doing it at all. The final evaluation is usually quite easy to write and counts for a high proportion of the marks.



SAMPLE EVALUATION LAYOUT



EXAMPLE EVALUATION - CHILDS EDUCATIONAL TOY





KEY FOB EVALUATION EXERCISE

CLICK HERE FOR EVALUATION EXERCISE AND KEYWORDS/PHRASES


ALTERNATIVE WAY OF PRESENTING AN EVALUATION

Below is a mind map which is based on an electronics project which uses a piece of electronics called a PIC Micro-controller. The mind map approach can be used for evaluating any Design and Technology project. The term ‘PIC micro-controller’ is at its centre and words associated with this theme are arranged around the outside. All these words have been added to help you evaluate your project. Evaluation paragraphs are added to the mind map and finally pictures. Normally an evaluation entails writing an account about the final product, in this case a product that includes a PIC micro-controller. This techniques for evaluating a product is different. 1. Draw a mind map similar to the one below but ensure it applies directly to your project. 2. Add evaluation statements to each of the key areas. 3. Add pictures to enhance the overall presentation


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