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2014 Notes from the Marking Centre – Industrial Technology

Introduction

This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Industrial Technology course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2014 Higher School Certificate examination, highlighting their strengths in particular parts of the examination and indicating where candidates need to improve.

This document should be read along with:

the Industrial Technology Stage 6 Syllabus
the 2014 Higher School Certificate Industrial Technology examination
the marking guidelines
Industrial Technology project requirements – Frequently asked questions
Advice for HSC students about examinations
Information regarding the certification of projects, submitted works and performances
other support documents developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW to assist in the teaching and learning of Industrial Technology in Stage 6.

Major Project

Design, Management and Communication

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

including relevant research that supported the development of the project and justifying their choice (Research)
presenting samples of work which detail the development in the required page limit (Development of ideas)
documenting changes to the design as the project developed (Development of ideas)
providing descriptions of the tasks performed (Project management)
working website links and smooth scene transitions in multimedia (Project management)
recognising the importance of PPE (WHS and safe working practices)
using desktop publishing for text, borders, page numbers, images, internet and CAD drawings and using a range of computer software in presenting the folio (Presentation skills and techniques including ICT)
including evaluation throughout the folio with a summation at the end of the folio (Evaluation of the major project).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

including information that contributes value to the folio (Research)
providing evidence of how their designs evolved (Development of ideas)
practising their drawing skills to include sketches (Development of ideas) and working drawings (Production)
appreciating the importance of timeline and finance plans as management tools (Project management)
addressing the broader issues surrounding the use of industrial machinery and hazardous materials (WHS and safe working practices).

Production

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

including design ideas, storyboards, mind maps and timeline plans to provide evidence of a planned sequence of development in Graphics and Multimedia (Links between planning and production)
documenting the contribution of outside agents/organisations in the management folio (Outsourcing).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

providing evidence of design evolution, workshop drawings, timeline plans, finance plans and construction steps (Links between planning and production)
not including images or videos with sexual themes or violence contained in Graphics and Multimedia major projects (Breach of subject rules).

Written Examination

Section II

Automotive Technologies

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

identifying a device that is used in the removal of contaminants (Q.11)
providing some relevant information of the MAP sensor on an engine (Q.12)
providing an understanding of how differential gears allow for independent movement of the wheels in a rear-wheel drive vehicle (Q.13)
understanding the main function of piston rings in the engine (Q.14)
giving examples of safety devices incorporated into new vehicles and how they have improved safety (Q15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

relating the MAP sensor to the control of the engine through the ECU (Q.12)
understanding the terminology used in the question – for example, differential interpreted as a gear box, rear-wheel drive as four-wheel drive (Q.13)
analysing the multiple functions of piston rings – for example, sealing for combustion, assisting oil to lubricate and allowing expansion when heating up (Q.14)
providing relevant examples of modern safety devices incorporated into new vehicles (Q.15).

Electronics Technologies

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

understanding resistor bands and tolerance (Q.11)
knowledge of a suitable method used to manufacture a PCB (Q.12)
knowing the operations of a relay and identifying specific parts of a relay (Q.13)
application of Ohm’s law in a series circuit and showing appropriate workings to calculate voltage (Q.14)
understanding the advantages of integrated circuits used in electronic devices (Q.15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

knowledge about the multiplier when calculating a resistor value (Q.11)
understanding the steps required to produce a PCB, including use of appropriate materials and technology (Q.12)
describing parts of a relay and its function (Q.13)
demonstrating knowledge of Ohm’s law and showing correct sequences to calculate voltage in a series circuit (Q.14)
drawing cause-and-effect relationships of using integrated circuits in electronic devices considering their design features (Q.15).

Graphics Technologies

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

identifying a suitable method of protection for display plans (Q.11)
identifying a suitable software package for presenting (Q.12)
completing some aspect of the isometric drawing (Q.13)
completing some part of a perspective view (Q.14)
completing some part of the offered view (Q.15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

justifying the choice of software, relating it to presentation (Q.12)
completing the detail at the back edge of the hole and correctly aligning ellipses (Q.13)
using the correct technique to shorten receding lengths (Q.14)
using the correct viewpoint in the section view (Q.15)
using correct standards to show section lines and thread detail (Q.15).

Metal and Engineering Technologies

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

identifying a suitable machine (Q.11)
listing PPE (Q.12)
identifying one way in which cutting fluid improves machining of mild steel (Q.13)
outlining melting and pouring as part of the process of casting (Q.14)
listing one or more methods of surface treatment of mild steel (Q.15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

describing precautions other than PPE (Q.12)
identifying more than one way in which cutting fluid improves machining of mild steel (Q.13)
outlining the steps and materials used in making a mould (Q.14)
accurately detailing a number of treatment methods of mild steel (Q.15).

Multimedia technologies

Candidates showed strengths in these areas:

understanding the many different injuries that can be caused by excessive computer use (Q.11)
understanding what motion capture is (Q.12)
describing how 3D character animation has been improved by using motion capture (Q.12)
understanding what a midi file is (Q.13)
understanding that RTSP is better and more appropriate for live streaming (Q.14)
describing a range of both ethical and legal issues, including copyright, viewer rating issues, paying royalties for others’ intellectual property, offending races and cultures through inappropriate content (Q.15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

indicating more than one advantage and one disadvantage of using a midi format in a multimedia product (Q.13)
understanding the differences between RTSP and HTTP (Q.14).

Timber Products and Furniture Technologies

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

demonstrating knowledge of recycled timber (Q.11)
setting out a logical sequence for making a table top from recycled timber beams (Q.12)
naming a suitable joint for a door frame (Q.13)
identifying the suitability of a router to machine the profile of a raised panel (Q.14)
knowing how to apply veneer to manufactured board (Q.15)
knowing about finishing techniques for veneered surfaces (Q.15).

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

knowing about the need to cramp a glued joint (Q.12)
sketching framing joints (Q.13)
using the full range of appropriate graphic communication techniques available (Q.13)
knowledge and understanding of technical terms, such as profile (Q.14)
addressing both applying and finishing veneer (Q.15).

Section III (common to all papers)

Question 16 (a)

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

identifying different types of government legislation
understanding the impact of legislation on a company
providing examples from different tiers of government.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

providing a clear link between the legislation and its effects on work practices
restricting their answers to the impact on work practices rather than the impact on the workplace.

Question 16 (b)

Candidates showed strength in these areas:

identifying new and emerging technologies that have affected work practices
providing examples of the effect of these technologies on a company.

Candidates need to improve in these areas:

providing more judgement of the value of the effect of new and emerging technologies
relating the effects more clearly to work practices.