Evaluating the quality of the product/outcome against the criteria
I believe I have achieved my goal; my textbook has an appealing design and a layout that is easy to understand, and I have the necessary lessons and units to become intermediate and a customizable tracker. I believe that what I have finished is efficiently communicated and transcribed onto the pages, and the content is consistently detailed for my textbook.
However the product to be successful and fairly graded it must coincide with my criteria, and so after thorough evaluation and comparison with the criteria and my product, I believe that my textbook is as follows: In Aesthetics I have achieved a level 7. Strands 1 and 2 require a presence of minimalistic and eye-catching back and cover designs that are targeted towards adolescents, as well as high quality images. I have incorporated both, with designs focusing on minimalism and chosen entirely by teenagers. This is shown in every design aspect of my textbook, as all designs are clear and concise. However have given myself a 7 and not a 8, as the sample of students who represented my target audience were only 20. In Content I have achieved a 6. Although I have ensured to incorporated both strand 1 and 2 to the highest standard, I could only manage to add 6 units and not 8. I believe all necessary topics were covered, however not achieving strand 3 lowered my mark. In functionality I have achieved a 5, as although again I have completed strand 2 and 3 to the 7-8 category in strand 3 I have achieved a level 1-2 as my textbook is not in a physical form. This was due to COVID 19 restrictions and a limited time period, although instead I have created a website that not only has a download feature but also advertises my product. In Customization I have achieved a level 8, this is due to my detailed trackers located at the end of my textbook, levelled units and lessons (as you progress they get harder), and completion boxes. I have incorporated many customization features so that students can be organized and efficient.
Reflecting on how completing the project has extended knowledge and understanding of the topic and global context
I believe that in the duration of this project I have cultivated many skills. The biggest being my skill in Japanese; I was able to reach an intermediate level. Japanese interested me greatly and so I was able to achieve much with a teacher and then by myself in a short period of time. I am able to have basic conversation easily, understand Japanese concepts better, write and read, as well as translate back and forth. Creating my textbook also further developed my knowledge and application in marketing, as I was marketing a real product using the marketing mix and then anticipating consumers reactions.
This project has helped me explore the core themes and true meaning of the global context “personal and cultural expression”. Being that I had not been exposed to much Asian culture, I was completely unaware of other ways people can conduct themselves and interact. This assignment enabled me to understand another culture extensively, and this has opened me up to a plethora of new ideas and mindsets. What is rude and polite is different in Japan, in the way that if you adjust yourself to the culture you are inevitably being nicer and kinder yourself. History and morality is what I believe to be the Japanese’s personal and cultural expression, and I was able to explore this through learning the language. This project helped me understand and respect the Japanese way of life, and improve my own way of personal expression.
Reflecting on the development as an IB learner through the project
Overall, I believe that I have successfully created a functional and useable textbook for aspiring students and have as a result cultivated core skills such as communicative and critical thinking skills that will benefit me greatly in the future. Throughout this process the IB learner profiles I have developed to a significant level are; open-minded, and inquirer. This project needed for me to appreciate another culture in order to understand its traditions, perspectives, values and communities. By seeking and evaluating the Japanese culture I have grown personally, and this has led to me becoming more open-minded and knowledgeable about the world I am in. My horizons have broadened. I have developed the inquirer learner profile as I have had to complete extensive market research in order to create a successful product amongst my target audience. This meant that I had to directly communicate with my target audience in order to inquire about certain likes and dislikes. This has inevitably developed my Inquirer learner profile.