COURSE CONTENT –What will I learn?
The Practical & Vocational Skills course provides you with a broad and engaging introduction to the world of Practical Craft Skills. The course is largely workshop-based. Within these experiences there is scope for your own practical creativity.
The course is practical and experiential in nature and focuses on the development of practical skills across the range of experiences offered. It provides opportunities for you to gain skills in the use of a range of specialist tools, equipment and materials. You will follow a series of practical activities through to the completion of some finished items.
The aims of the course are to enable you to:
• develop skills in reading and interpreting drawings and diagrams
• identify, select and use a range of workshop tools, equipment and materials
• develop basic skills in measuring and marking out of materials
• develop basic skills in cutting, shaping, fixing and joining materials
• apply safe working practices in a workshop or similar environment
• take account of good practice regarding sustainability and recycling
TEACHING METHODS – What will I do?
The structure of the course allows you to experience and develop your fundamental practical craft skills in a progressive fashion. Together, these tasks and experiences cover an introduction to the main stages of any practical or construction activity.
Working with Woods
In this unit you will develop knowledge of a range of common tools and equipment used in woodworking. You will also develop skills for measuring and marking out before developing your skills in cutting, shaping, fixing and joining wooden materials, using a variety of appropriate techniques.
Working with Metals
In this unit you will develop knowledge of a range of common tools and equipment used in metalworking. You will also develop skills for measuring and marking out before developing your skills in cutting, shaping, fixing and joining metallic materials, using a variety of appropriate techniques.
In each of the these units, you will develop an appreciation of safe working practices in a workshop environment. You will learn to read and interpret simple working drawings, select and use tools safely, apply appropriate finishing techniques and review your completed item. You will also develop knowledge of good practice in sustainability and recycling.
ASSESSMENT
Your developing practical abilities will be assessed using a series of skills building tasks and projects, drawing upon and assessing elements of each unit. You will be expected to draw upon your developing range of knowledge and skills to produce
items and examples to a given standard.
HOMEWORK
There are few formal homework tasks, however you may be expected to complete some elements of course work, including the planning of stages of manufacture and cutting lists for your project work outside your allocated class time.
PROGRESSION IN THE SENIOR PHASE
Completion of this course and/or its units may allow you to follow these courses in
your senior phase:
• National 3 Design & Technology
• National 4/5 Practical Woodworking
