Technical

Courses

In S2 the curriculum is a common course which involves the following technological subject: Graphic Communication and Practical Woodworking.

Courses in S1 will be following the new Curriculum for Excellence guidelines and S2 follow the 5-14 National Guidelines. In previous years the S1 and S2 courses have proven to be a good foundation for further study in S3 to S6. The S1 and S2 course encourages pupils to be creative and innovative.

In S3 and S4 Graphic Communication and Practical Craft Skills become individual subjects.

Graphic Communication

The course introduces pupils to an extremely wide range of presentation methods which are employed in real life visual communications. These involve:

• Drawing Board Skills

• Colour Illustration

• Computer Aided Design

• Drafting Presentation Techniques

The wide variety of teaching aids is stressed here. A thematic approach is adopted throughout the course. The final assessment is based on a practical activity and an exam both of which are set and marked externally by the SQA.

The Higher and Advanced Higher Grade further develops the areas covered in National 5.

The Graphic course aims to :

• Foster an awareness of the importance of Graphic Communication as an international language

• Foster the ability to initiate, develop and then communicate ideas graphically

• Develop the ability to read and interpret a variety of types of drawing

• Develop the ability to use a range of draughting techniques

• Develop the ability to produce desired effects through the consideration of colour

• Develop the ability to select, organise and represent information graphically

• Develop expertise in computer-aided graphics

Practical Woodworking aims to:

• Teach pupils to work independently and develop skills in thinking and planning

• Foster practical woodwork skills in the creation of artifacts

• Develop knowledge, understanding and skills of general aspects of practical woodwork activity

• Encourage independence and the ability to make choices

• Highlight the importance of safety and encourage responsible attitudes in the workshop environment

• Contribute to personal development, in particular to practical capability

Course Content

Pupils will manufacture three unit projects and then a final exam piece.

Core Skills

• Planning and Organising

• Using Graphical Information

Assessments

To gain the award of the course, the student must pass a practical activity as well as the final exam, both are set by the SQA.

Final practical activity is internally marked and externally moderated, the exam is externally marked.