The Building and Construction General course encompasses the skills and applications of many of the trades and professions in the construction industry. Students have the opportunity to develop and practise skills that contribute to creating a physical environment, while acquiring an understanding of the need for sustainability, and an awareness of community and environmental responsibilities. Students will learn and practise building processes and technologies, including principles of design, planning and management.
The Building and Construction General course develops students’ knowledge and practical appreciation of building technologies. The course provides students with a context in which to practise and integrate their knowledge and apply it to meet community and environmental responsibilities. It develops their knowledge of environmental issues. It allows them to apply and extend mathematical knowledge and strategies for problem solving. It develops their skills in planning and management, in technical communication and in the use of information technologies. In achieving the course outcomes, students learn and practise building processes and technologies, principles of design, planning and management and social considerations.
The course nurtures environmental and community responsibility in students and promotes the importance of ongoing learning. It develops interaction and communication skills with varied audiences and fosters an understanding of teamwork. It prepares students to appreciate the continually changing conditions and expectations within building professions and encourages innovation and creativity. In dealing with issues, such as quality assurance, duty of care, time management, contract management and liability, it develops ethical practices and considerations. The course requires compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1996 and trains students in the principles of occupational safety and health (OSH).
The course is an introduction to further studies in trades, engineering and architecture. It helps young people become informed contributors to the community through application of their knowledge and skills. The course leads to employment options, further vocational education and industry training.
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites for this course. It is beneficial however if students have had success in Wood or Metal Technology courses.
Syllabus:
The Year 11 syllabus is divided into two units, each of one semester duration, which are typically delivered as a pair. The notional time for each unit is 55 class contact hours.
Unit 1
This unit introduces students to the considerations required in building design and explores properties of common, natural or pre-made construction materials, their mechanical properties and use in construction. Students realise differences in structure and materials used. Basic plan drawing and reading is practised with application in building, in addition to the skills in areas of content, such as working with construction materials, spatial perception and computation and levelling. The unit explores processes drawn from building projects. Students work with a variety of materials and develop a range of practical skills.
Unit 2
This unit explores properties of common, natural and pre-made construction materials, their production, mechanical properties under direct loads (tension or compression) and use in construction. Concepts in space and computation are developed. Basic plan reading is practised with application in building, as well as skills in areas of content, such as working with materials, spatial perception and computation and levelling. The unit explores processes in contexts drawn from building projects. Students work with a variety of materials and develop a range of practical skills.
Assessment:
Design: 20%
Production: 70%
Response: 10%
Pathways:
The Building and Construction General course progresses to the Year 12 course by the same name and aims to prepare all students for a future in a technological and material world by providing the foundation for lifelong learning about how products are designed and how materials are developed and used. This course focuses on those areas of the Building and Construction world that utilise skills and technology to build a better world.
More Information:
For further information regarding this course click here.