SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY MAY 2012 CURRICULUM EVENTS – COURSE AIMS AND STRU CTURE
SUBJECT:
GRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
PURPOSE:
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.
National 3
National 4
National 5
Higher
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
 extend and apply
knowledge and
understanding of
graphic communication
standards, protocols,
and conventions where
these apply
 develop an
understanding of the
impact of graphic
communication
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
COURSE AIMS
There is no Course at this
level.
The aims of the Course are
to enable learners to:
 develop skills in graphic
communication
techniques, including
the use of equipment,
materials and software
 extend and apply
knowledge and
understanding of
graphic communication
standards, protocols
and conventions, where
these apply
 develop an
understanding of the
impact of graphic
communication
technologies on our
National 3
National 4
environment and society
National 5
technologies on our
environment and society
Higher
 an understanding of the
impact of graphic
communication technologies
on our environment and
society
STRUCTURE, ASSESSMENT AND HIERARCHIES
Course Structure:
Units
 2D Graphic
Communication
1) Produce and
interpret simple 2D
sketches 1 and
drawings
2) Produce preliminary
2D colour designs
and illustrations for
single-page
promotional displays
3) Create simple 2D
promotional graphic
layouts
 3D and Pictorial
Graphic
Communication
1) Produce and
interpret simple
pictorial sketches 1 ,
pictorial drawings
Course Structure:
Units
 2D Graphic
Communication
1) Produce and
interpret 2D
sketches 1 and
drawings
2) Produce preliminary
2D colour designs
and illustrations for
single-page
promotional displays
3) Create 2D
promotional graphic
layouts
 3D and Pictorial
Graphic
Communication
1) Produce and
interpret pictorial
sketches 1 , pictorial
drawings and 3D
Course Structure:
Units
 2D Graphic
Communication
1) Produce and interpret 2D
orthographic sketches 1
and drawings
2) Produce 2D computeraided designed/draughted
production drawings
3) Produce preliminary 2D
designs and illustrations
for a multi-page
promotional document
4) Create a multi-page 2D
promotional publication
and a project set of
promotional publications
 3D and Pictorial Graphic
Communication
1) Produce and interpret
pictorial sketches 1 and
drawings
National 3
National 4
and 3D models
2) Produce simple
pictorial and 3D
colour illustrations
3) Create simple
pictorial or 3D
promotional displays
 Added Value Unit
Graphic
Communication
Assignment
1) Produce, with
guidance, a
graphical response
to an assignment
brief
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical
with corresponding Unit at
National 5.
National 5
models
2) Produce pictorial
and 3D colour
illustrations
3) Create pictorial or
3D promotional
displays
Course Assessment
 Question Paper
 Assignment
Higher
2) Produce 3D computeraided designed/draughted
models and associated
production drawings
3) Produce pictorial and 3D
illustrations of geometric
forms and everyday
objects
4) Plan and produce pictorial
and/or 3D models for
promotional purposes
Course Assessment
 Question Paper
 Assignment
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical
with corresponding Unit at
National 4 and Higher.
Hierarchies:
Each Unit is hierarchical with
corresponding Unit at National 5.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
 replicating basic and
familiar graphic forms in
2D, 3D and pictorials
 initiating and producing
simple preliminary,
production and
 replicating basic,
familiar and some new
graphic forms in 2D, 3D
and pictorials
 initiating and producing
simple preliminary,
 replicating familiar and some
new graphic forms with some
complex features in 2D, 3D
and pictorial representations
 applying recognised graphic
communication standards,
National 3






National 4
promotional graphics in
familiar contexts
initiating and producing
simple informational
graphics in
straightforward and
familiar contexts
demonstrating visual
literacy by interpreting
simple and familiar
graphic communications
spatial awareness in
simple and familiar 2D,
3D and pictorial graphic
situations
using standard graphic
communication
equipment, software
and materials effectively
for simple and familiar
tasks
knowledge of graphic
communication
standards, protocols
and conventions, in
straightforward and
familiar contexts
applying design skills,
including creativity,
when developing
solutions to simple
graphics tasks






National 5
production and
promotional graphics in
straightforward, familiar
and some new contexts
initiating and producing
simple informational
graphics in
straightforward, familiar
and some new contexts
visual literacy by
interpreting simple but
unfamiliar graphic
communications
spatial awareness in
straightforward but
unfamiliar 2D, 3D and
pictorial graphic
situations
using standard graphic
communication
equipment, software
and materials effectively
for simple tasks with
some complex features
knowledge of graphic
communication
standards, protocols
and conventions in
straightforward but
unfamiliar contexts
applying design skills,
including creativity,






Higher
protocols and conventions in
straightforward but unfamiliar
contexts
initiating, planning and
producing preliminary,
production, promotional, and
informational graphics in both
familiar and new contexts,
with some complex features
applying graphic design skills,
including creativity, when
developing solutions to
graphics tasks with some
complex features
understanding the application
of colour, illustration and
presentation techniques in a
broad range of graphics
contexts
critically reviewing graphics
work as it progresses and
evaluating completed task
work suggesting strategies for
improvement
extending visual literacy by
interpreting unfamiliar graphic
communications — some with
complex features or
combinations of views
extending graphic spatial
awareness in unfamiliar 2D,
3D and pictorial graphic
National 3
National 4
 the ability to contribute
to the evaluation of work
in progress and
completed graphics and
offer suggestions for
improvement in
presentation
 basic knowledge of
computer-aided
graphics techniques and
practice
 knowledge of colour,
illustration and
presentation techniques
in straightforward and
familiar contexts
 basic knowledge of the
impact of graphic
communication
technologies on our
environment and society




National 5
Higher
when developing
situations including those with
solutions to simple
complex features
graphics tasks with
 selecting, managing, and
some complex features
using graphic communication
the ability to take
equipment, software and
initiative in evaluating
materials effectively across
work in progress and
tasks
completed graphics, and  understanding a broad range
applying suggestions for
of computer-aided graphics
improvement in
techniques including
presentation
commercial/industrial practice
knowledge of a range of  an informed understanding of
computer-aided
the impact of graphic
graphics techniques and
communication technologies
practice
on our environment and
knowledge of colour,
society and their likely impact
illustration and
in the future
presentation techniques
in straightforward,
familiar and some
unfamiliar contexts
knowledge and
understanding of the
impact of graphic
communication
technologies on our
environment and society