Lesson 21 · Unit 3 · IA Day
IA Day 5
Criterion A Build Day
Mini-lesson on the Criterion A 7–9 mark direction, then protected time to assemble and strengthen the evidence.
80 minutesMini-lesson + work timeSL Design Project
Today’s question
What would make your Criterion A evidence detailed, comprehensive and evaluative?
The goal is to leave class with visible evidence—not just ideas in your head.
What would make your Criterion A evidence detailed, comprehensive and evaluative?01
15–20 min mini-lesson
Criterion A’s top band uses three stronger verbs.
Persona
Explain
Make the primary persona relevant to the redesign through evidence about characteristics, context, preferences, motivations and requirements.
Storyboard
Detailed + comprehensive
Show a comprehensive task analysis of the primary persona using the product for a specific task.
Existing products
Evaluate
Accurately identify successes and weaknesses of all key features across a range of products.
Top-band evidence goes beyond naming and description.02
Clarifications
Use the approximate page structure to protect evidence balance.
~2
pages · persona
Digital images + explanation of relevant user evidence.
~3
pages · storyboard
Visual task sequence; extended writing not needed.
~4
pages · existing products
Annotated testing of a typical range of four to six products.
Approximate structure—not a requirement to fill space.03
Do not format missing evidence
Check that the research exists before polishing layout.
1
Persona evidence includes relevant images and explanations.
2
Storyboard is based on observed use of a specific task.
3
Existing-product analysis uses actual testing / annotated evidence.
4
Typical range of comparable products is sufficient for meaningful evaluation.
5
Sources used are recorded for footnote referencing.
Formatting cannot substitute for evidence quality.04
~50–55 min protected work time
Assemble and strengthen Criterion A.
1
Build / refine persona pages using relevant images + analysis.
2
Build / refine the visual storyboard; remove unnecessary prose.
3
Complete / organize comparative existing-product evidence.
4
Upgrade descriptive statements into explanation/evaluation.
5
Add footnotes to sourced information as you go.
A
Teacher conference: show one paragraph / annotation you upgraded from “what” to “why it matters.”
Today’s deliverable: a substantially built Criterion A, not loose notes.05
5-minute audit
Which verb best describes your current evidence?
| Strand | Lower direction | Top-band direction |
|---|---|---|
| Persona | state / describe | explain relevance to redesign |
| Storyboard | limited / satisfactory | detailed, comprehensive task analysis |
| Products | list / describe some features | evaluate successes + weaknesses of all key features |
Use the descriptor language to decide what to improve next.06
Exit ticket
Before you leave…
1. Identify which Criterion A strand is currently weakest.
2. Name one specific evidence gap you will close before Criterion B.
3. State one product-analysis claim you can now evaluate rather than merely describe.
Next lesson
IA Day 6 — Problem Statement & Specifications
Keep the evidence chain moving: user → research → decision → test.
Curriculum alignment
IA Criterion A: 9 marks · explain primary persona · detailed storyboard from comprehensive task analysis · evaluate range of existing products · approximate 2+3+4 page structure · footnote referencing.
IA Criterion A: 9 marks · explain primary persona · detailed storyboard from comprehensive task analysis · evaluate range of existing products · approximate 2+3+4 page structure · footnote referencing.
Lesson complete7 slides
Designed by David Xu · © 2026 David Xu. All rights reserved.Educators and students are welcome to use these materials for non-commercial teaching and learning with attribution. Please share the original link when possible. Reposting, redistributing modified copies, removing attribution, or commercial use requires prior permission.
IB Design Technology SL · Lesson 2107