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GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (HIGHER)

COURSE Graphic Communication (Higher)

Communication in all its forms is vital to society and the means of passing on information graphically is an important and relevant skill. Communication through graphics, in whatever medium, permeates all spheres of life, including education, industry and commerce. In increasingly global markets, graphic communication is a chosen medium in aspects of life from consumer to education, industry and commerce. The development of skills in the production, interpretation and analysis of graphics in a range of contexts is of broad educational value.

Higher Graphic Communication offers progression in the acquisition of knowledge and skills from

Standard Grade or from Intermediate 2 Graphic Communication. The Higher course is intended to prepare candidates for employment.

The structure of the course reflects the use of graphics in business and industry, both in content and methodology, while embracing the changes brought about by the continuing advances in technology.

Manual and computer skills and their effective application will be developed through preliminary, production and promotional graphics.of an extended form of coursework in the form of a Thematic Presentation.

The use of the computer as a learning and teaching aid will permeate all aspects of the course and opportunities will exist to develop expertise in computer applications.

The course should fulfil the following aims:

•develop aspects of technological capability

•develop technological creativity in relation to selecting information and evaluating its

appropriateness for graphic communication

•develop an ability to read and interpret a range of drawings and information presented graphically

•develop a technological perspective on the role of graphic communication in an industrial context

•develop an ability to communicate graphical information using both manual and computer graphic skills and techniques

•develop a knowledge of appropriate computer hardware and software for graphic communication and its related industrial applications

•develop technological confidence in planning and implementing a graphic presentation on a theme, using appropriate samples from a range of manual and computer graphic skills and techniques.

COURSE CONTENT

All of the course content will be subject to sampling in the external assessment.

Summary of the course outcomes

Technical Graphics 1 (H)

1 Apply manual techniques of pictorial representation to suit a range of subject matter.

2 Apply manual techniques of geometric construction in the generation of orthographic drawings.

3 Apply manual techniques of illustration and presentation to give emphasis and realism to graphic presentations.

Technical Graphics 2 (H)

1 Apply manual techniques of orthographic projection to produce drawings of components,

assemblies and locations.

2 Apply the principles of dimensioning to orthographic production drawings.

3 Demonstrate knowledge of the use of graphic communication within the consumer, engineering, and construction industries.

Computer Graphics (H)

1 Produce orthographic and pictorial drawings using a computer-aided draughting package.

2 Produce computer-rendered drawings for promotional purposes using an illustration package.

3 Plan and produce single and double page layouts using a desktop publishing package.

4 Demonstrate knowledge of terminology and hardware associated with computer graphics.

Computer aspects would benefit from study concurrent with manual techniques to make best use of access to information technology hardware. Knowledge of conventional representations, dimensions and types of graphic communication may be used in many parts of the course.

ASSESSMENT

To gain the award of the course, the candidate must pass all the unit assessments as well as the external assessment. External assessment will provide the basis for grading attainment in the course award.In addition to the satisfactory achievement of the constituent units, to gain the course award in Higher

Graphic Communication, all candidates will be required to pass the external assessment. This consists of:

•an examination paper, covering all three units of the course

•a Thematic Presentation, incorporating manual and computer-aided graphics. The quality of the Thematic Presentation will be internally assessed and externally moderated.

Examination paper 3 hours

Section A Graphic Knowledge

This section will contain short-response questions testing knowledge and understanding of the use of graphics in industry and other course content, for example: state examples of the use of orthographic drawings in manufacture, describe the terminology and hardware associated with computer graphics.

Section B Drawing Abilities

This section will contain formal drawing questions on orthographic and pictorial drawings and will sample across the content of the course.

(Note: it is recommended that candidates spend around 45 minutes on Section A.)

Thematic Presentation

In tackling the course, the candidate will produce a range of graphic work, both manual and

computer-produced.  The Thematic Presentation is a folio of work, on a theme chosen by the candidate, and should address

the following range:

•preliminary (informal) drawings - for example, market-research data, freehand sketches, planning

charts, and sequence diagrams

•production (formal) drawings CAD - for example, assembly drawings, site plans, detailed

production drawings, service diagrams, installation diagrams, and constructional drawings

•promotional (for effect) drawings CAG and DTP - for example, illustrations, displays, cutaways,

exploded views, and perspective views and DTP layouts.

In preparing graphics for the Thematic Presentation, preliminary work may be manually produced.

The production and promotional work should be computer-produced.

Summary of marks for course assessment:

external assessment by examination paper 70%

external moderation of Thematic Presentation 30%

COURSE STRUCTURE

Technical Graphics 1 (H) 1 credit (40 hours)

Technical Graphics 2 (H) 1 credit (40 hours)

Computer Graphics (H) 1 credit (40 hours)

RECOMMENDED ENTRY

While entry is at the discretion of the centre, candidates would normally be expected to have attained

one of the following:

•Standard Grade Graphic Communication at Grade 1 or 2

•Intermediate 2 Graphic Communication, or equivalent.

With kind permission of the Scottish Qualifications Authority