The course is organised into 3 units at both National 4/5 and Higher:

Electronics & Control

This unit includes design, simulation, calculation, construction and testing of analogue and digital systems which control outputs like motors and lights in response to changes at input sensors like light dependent resistors or thermistors. Pupils at various levels will use relays, transistors, MOSFETS, operational amplifiers, breadboards and soldering irons. Students will learn functional hardware programming and will use state of the art robotics equipment to learn and understand the principals of electronic programmable control.

Mechanisms & Structures

This unit introduces students to principalsof force and movement and helps students to recognise situations where movement is desired and when it is not. Students again have to carry out calculations, create scale drawings, design and model mechanical and structural assemblies. Pupils at various levels will work with gear trains, chain drives, belt and pulley systems, clutches, bearings and couplings. They will study compression and tension, stress and strain as well as some materials analysis. Students will be taught how to calculate resultantand equilibrant forces from vector diagrams. They will use practical pneumatic components to build assemblies that create movement and simulation software used by American military colleges to design and simulate bridge building.

Engineering Contexts & Challenges

This unit attempts to expose students to the various types of engineer; Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical and Environmental. It explores the areas of responsibility for each of these roles. Pupils will investigate and report on research in to the roles of the different engineer types and their roles in specific engineering applications like the European Space Agency, the new Forth crossing or the London Eye. The pupils will also learn about the systems approach to design and energy types and audits during this unit. This, again, requires calculation and design skills. Unit assessment at all levels is open book but conducted under supervised conditions. Unit assessment is carried out by written work in most cases, practical activity in a number of areas and presentation in a small number of areas. Students will have to complete a project to gain a course award. This requires students to design, plan, simulate and test an electro-mechanical circuit in response to a design problem. At National 5 and Higher the assignment grade is worth 40% of their final grade. The other 60% is arrived at by the external exam set by the SQA.|