Graphic Communication – Higher

Purpose and aims of the Course

The Course provides opportunities for learners to initiate and develop their own ideas graphically. It allows them to develop skills in reading and interpreting graphics produced by others. Learners will continue to develop graphic awareness in often complex graphic situations thus expanding their visual literacy.

The Course is practical, exploratory and experiential in nature. It combines elements of creativity and communicating for visual impact with elements of protocol and an appreciation of the importance of graphic communication standards, where these are appropriate.

The Course allows learners to engage with technologies. It allows learners to consider the impact that graphic communication technologies have on our environment and society.

The aims of the Course are to enable learners to develop:

skills in graphic communication techniques, including the use of equipment, graphics materials and software
creativity in the production of graphic communications to produce visual impact in meeting a specified purpose
skills in evaluating the effectiveness of graphics in communicating and meeting their purpose
an understanding of graphic communication standards protocols and conventions, where these apply
an understanding of the impact of graphic communication technologies on our environment and society

Course Structure:

Unit 1: 2D Graphics. This Unit helps learners to develop their creativity and presentation skills within a 2D graphic communication context. It will allow learners to initiate, plan, develop and communicate ideas graphically, using two-dimensional graphic techniques. Learners will develop a number of skills and attributes within a 2D graphic communication context, including spatial awareness, visual literacy, and the ability to interpret given drawings, diagrams and other graphics. Learners will evaluate the effectiveness of their own and given graphic communications to meet their purpose.

Unit 2: 3D Graphics. This Unit helps learners to develop their creativity and presentation skills within a 3D and pictorial graphic communication context. It will allow learners to initiate, plan, develop and communicate ideas graphically, using three-dimensional graphic techniques. Learners will develop a number of skills and attributes within a 3D graphic communication context, including spatial awareness, visual literacy, and the ability to interpret given drawings, diagrams and other graphics. Learners will evaluate the effectiveness of their own and given graphic communications to meet their purpose.

Both units are assessed on a pass/fail basis

Assessment:

Internal Assignment

Pupils will complete an SQA assessment worth 50% of their overall grade, producing work that demonstrates their skill in preliminary, production and promotional graphics.

Written exam (2hours)

2 hour examination that will seek to establish the candidate’s knowledge across the course.