S1 & S2 Course Information
The Design and Technology course for S1 & S2 pupils covers a range of innovative topics, over 4 rotations, where pupils are challenged to develop their knowledge and understanding of design and their creativity and problem solving skills.
Some of the topics covered during the S1 & S2 courses are branding, 3D modelling, architecture and various design and manufacture projects. All of the activities covered in the S1 & S2 course link to our individual departmental subjects: Design and Manufacture, Graphic Communication, Architecture and Practical Woodworking; which are available to pupils from S3 onwards.
Design and Manufacture Course Information
Design and Manufacture introduces learners to the multi-faceted world of product design and manufacturing. Creativity is at the heart of this Course and its combination with technology makes it exciting and dynamic.
The Course combines scientific, mathematical and technological rigour with design and manufacturing creativity and innovation. It is at this interface that the Course demonstrates broad options, possibilities and flexibilities in supporting educational growth.
In the Course, learners are encouraged to exercise imagination, creativity and logical thinking. The Course thus provides a broad scope for personalisation and choice.
The Course allows learners to broaden and deepen their skills base and to widen their horizons regarding a range of potential vocations and careers. It will provide opportunities to further acquire and develop further the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities, including: creativity, flexibility and adaptability; enthusiasm and a willingness to learn; perseverance, independence and resilience; responsibility and reliability; and confidence and enterprise.
The Course provides learners with skills that allow them to learn live and work more effectively in our advancing technological society. It allows them to become not just effective contributors but informed and discerning consumers.
National 5: Total 180 marks.
Component One: Course Assignment (90 Marks = 60% of the total mark)
The assignment requires students to demonstrate aspects of challenge and application in a practical context. Learners will apply knowledge and skills from the Units to produce a solution to an appropriately challenging design problem. The Course Assignment will assess two areas:
Design skills (50% of Assignment marks). Candidates will produce a folio.
Practical skills (50% of Assignment marks). Candidates will produce a prototype.
Component Two: Written Exam (60 marks = 40% of the total mark).
The question paper requires learners to demonstrate aspects of breadth and application in theoretical contexts. Learners will apply breadth of knowledge from across the Units and depth of understanding, to produce descriptions and explanations related to theoretical design and manufacture contexts. Learners will complete this in 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Higher: Total 170 marks
Component One: Course Assignment (90 Marks = 53% of the total mark)
Pupils will undertake an internal design folio exam where they will be required produce a solution for an SQA design brief. Learners will apply knowledge and skills from the Units to produce a solution to an appropriately challenging design problem.
Component Two: Written Exam (80 marks = 47% of the total mark).
The question paper requires learners to demonstrate aspects of breadth and application in theoretical contexts. Learners will apply breadth of knowledge from across the Units and depth of understanding, to produce descriptions and explanations related to theoretical design and manufacture contexts. Learners will complete this in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Graphic Communication Course Information
The Graphic Communication Course introduces learners to the diverse and ever-increasing variety of presentation methods employed in graphic communication. It provides scope for personalisation and choice.
The Course allows learners to broaden and deepen their skills base and to widen their horizons regarding a range of vocations and careers. It provides opportunities to further acquire and develop the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities, including: creativity, flexibility and adaptability; enthusiasm and a willingness to learn; perseverance, independence and resilience; responsibility and reliability; confidence and enterprise.
Learners are encouraged to exercise imagination, creativity and logical thinking. They will develop an awareness of graphic communication as an international language. They will find that the skills they acquire by successfully completing this Course will be invaluable for learning, for life and for the world of work.
The Course provides skills that are complementary to other curricular areas such as expressive arts, sciences and mathematics. It provides skills that are valuable for learners in the other areas of study in the technologies.
The Course provides progression from experiences and outcomes in expressive arts and ICT, as well as in craft, design, engineering and graphics.
National 5: Total 120 marks
Component One: Written Exam (80 marks = 67% of the total mark).
The question paper will have a total of 80 marks. Learners will complete this in 2 hours.
Approximately 50% (40 marks) will be awarded for questions related to 2D Graphic Communication.
Approximately 50% (40 marks) will be awarded for questions related to 3D and Pictorial Graphic Communication.
Component Two: Course Assignment (40 Marks = 33% of the total mark)
In the assignment, marks will be awarded for:
Preliminary graphics (approximately 10-15 marks)
Production graphics (approximately 10-15 of the marks)
Promotional graphics (approximately 10-15 of the marks)
Learners’ evidence should include a set of preliminary, production and promotional graphics relating to the brief, and evidence of planning and evaluation. Learners will complete this in 8 hours.
Higher
Component One: Written Exam (90 marks = 64% of the total mark).
The question paper will have a total of 80 marks. Learners will complete this in 2 hours. Learners will be expected to show evidence of their breadth of knowledge from across the graphics Units and depth of understanding.
Component Two: Course Assignment (50 Marks = 36% of the total mark)
In the assignment, marks will be awarded for:
Preliminary graphics, Production graphics & Promotional graphics
Learners’ evidence should include a set of preliminary, production and promotional graphics relating to the brief, and evidence of planning and evaluation. Learners will complete this in 8 hours.
Architecture NPA Course Information
National Progression Awards (NPAs) assess a defined set of skills and knowledge in specialist vocational areas, linked to National Occupational Standards.
This NPA in Architecture and Creative Industries introduces learners to technologies, processes and practices that are important in Architecture, Design and the Creative Industries.
This NPA develops knowledge and understanding of processes and disciplines in the creative industries sector; practical, technical and transferable skills; oral, written and evaluation abilities; resource management; problem solving and planning; and organisational and communication skills.
This qualification covers areas such as: career paths, job roles and the responsibilities of those working within the creative industries; the generic skills and attitudes valued by employers; storytelling techniques (traditional and emerging techniques); the key elements of the creative process (media platforms, media commissioning, audience research and legal controls); and the structure and language of creative briefs and how they can be interpreted.
NPA Level 6
In order to gain an award within this course, pupils must pass all of the mandatory units and assessments outlined within the course. There are four units within the course, and all of them are mandatory.
The units are structured as follows:
Unit One: An Introduction to Creative Industries within Scotland
Unit Two: Understanding a Creative Brief
Unit Three: The Creative Process
Unit Four: Storytelling for the Creative Industries
Practical Woodworking Course Information
Practical Woodworking introduces learners to the manufacture of various timber models using a number of craft skills.
The Course is distinct in value in that it allows learners to develop practical psychomotor skills (manual dexterity and control) in a universally popular practical craft. It helps learners to develop safe working practices and to become proactive in matters of health and safety. It allows them to learn how to use a range of tools, equipment and materials safely and correctly.
The Course is of broad educational benefit. It allows learners to develop skills in reading drawings and diagrams, measuring and marking out, as well as cutting, shaping and finishing materials. It allows them to learn how to work effectively alongside others in a shared workshop environment. The skills that learners acquire by successfully completing this Course will be valuable for learning, for life and for the world of work.
The Course encourages learners to become successful, responsible and creative in their use of technologies. It allows them to continue to acquire and develop the attributes and capabilities of the four capacities, including: creativity, flexibility and adaptability; enthusiasm and a willingness to learn; perseverance, independence and resilience; responsibility and reliability; and confidence and enterprise.
National 5:
The SQA assessment will allow pupils to showcase their skills within the following areas:
Flat-frame Construction
Carcase Construction
Machining and Finishing
Evidence will be required that the learner can carry out all there topic areas to a given standard. Tasks will include some complex features. Evidence of knowledge and understanding will also be required.
