Practical Electronics (National 4)

The National Parent Forum of Scotland is grateful for the support of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Quali3cations Authority and Education Scotland in the preparation of this series. www.parentforumscotland.org enquiries@parentforumscotland.org

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parentforumscot For more detailed course information: SQA: Practical Electronics National 4: www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47453.html Education Scotland: www.educationscotland.gov.uk/nationalqualifications/index.asp Curriculum for Excellence Key Terms and Features Factfile: www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/CfEFactfileOverview_tcm4-665983.pdf NATIONALS IN A NUTSHELL The National Parent Forum of Scotland Summary of Practical Electronics National 4 3 UNITS CIRCUIT DESIGN CIRCUIT SIMULATION CIRCUIT CONSTRUCTION ADDED VALUE UNIT: PRACTICAL ACTIVITY - DEVELOPING AN ELECTRONIC SOLUTION WHAT WILL MY CHILD EXPERIENCE DURING THE COURSE? • Active and independent learning through self and peer evaluations, group feedback, reflecting on learning, making independent decisions • A blend of classroom approaches including practical and experiential learning in real-life contexts; whole class learning; team working; visits • Collaborative learning: working in pairs, small groups or larger groups; working with partners in other Technologies subjects, Maths, Sciences • Space for personalisation and choice: learners can choose how they develop their Practical Activity • Applying learning • Embedding literacy and numeracy skills: interpreting drawings/ diagrams, measuring, marking out, analysing data, designing. ASSESSMENT • To gain National 4, learners must pass all Units • Units are assessed as pass or fail by the school/centre (following SQA external quality assurance to meet national standards) • Unit assessment (or ‘evidence of learning’) could be presented in a variety of ways such as completed tasks, records of the task development (blogs, diaries). A portfolio of work (including a learner checklist) may be prepared • The Added Value Unit (Practical Activity) will require learners to solve an electronics problem, completing a record of progress, a report on testing the solution and on the final solution. National 4 progresses onto National 5 PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGIES What skills will my child develop? • electronic knowledge and skills in a range of straightforward contexts • an awareness of some electronics impacts on society and the environment • knowledge and understanding of the systems approach to electronics • understanding of key electrical concepts — current, voltage, resistance, analogue/digital • knowledge and understanding of key electronic components • introductory knowledge and understanding of combinational logic • awareness of safe working practices • simulating, testing and evaluating solutions to straightforward electronic problems, with guidance • skills in using basic test equipment • constructing simple electronic circuits using permanent (soldering) and non-permanent methods, with given layouts + ADDED VALUE UNIT NATIONAL 4