§-Industrial Technology syllabus
NSW · NESA← Industrial Technology
Industrial Technology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the NSW Industrial Technology syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Graphics Technologies
Module overview →How are buildings communicated through architectural drawings, and what do plans, elevations, sections and site plans each show?
Produce and interpret architectural drawings, including floor plans, elevations, sections and site plans, using appropriate symbols, scale and conventions, and describe their use in building communication
How does computer-aided design change the way technical drawings are produced, and what can 2D and 3D CAD do that manual drawing cannot?
Describe and apply computer-aided design (CAD) to produce technical drawings and 3D models, and explain the advantages of CAD over manual drawing and its links to manufacture
How are mechanical parts and assemblies communicated through engineering drawings, and how do detail, assembly and exploded views work together?
Produce and interpret engineering drawings, including detail drawings, assembly and exploded views, sectional views and tolerances, and describe technical illustration for instructions and manufacture
How do orthogonal drawings describe an object precisely, and how do Australian Standards conventions make those drawings readable by anyone in industry?
Produce and interpret orthogonal (multiview) drawings using third-angle projection and Australian Standards conventions, including views, dimensioning, line types, sectioning and scale
How do pictorial drawings show an object in three dimensions on a flat page, and when do you choose isometric, oblique or perspective?
Produce pictorial drawings including isometric, oblique and perspective, and explain how each method represents three-dimensional objects and where each is best applied
How do rendering and presentation techniques turn a line drawing into a convincing, communicative image of a design?
Apply rendering and presentation techniques, including tone, texture, colour, light and shadow, to communicate the appearance and materials of a design effectively
How are graphics reproduced and output, and how do printing processes, colour and file formats affect the final result?
Describe the reprographic and printing processes used to reproduce and output graphics, including digital printing, plotting and offset printing, and explain colour, resolution and file management
How is the graphics industry organised, and how do its sectors, technologies, environmental practices and trends shape the work it produces?
Describe the structure, sectors, technologies, environmental and sustainability practices and current trends of the graphics industry as the industry-related knowledge for the focus area
Industry Study
Module overview →How does a focus area industry use design to develop its products, and what current and emerging trends in technology, markets and society are shaping its future?
Analyse the role of design in a focus area industry and identify the current and emerging trends, including new technologies, market changes and sustainability pressures, that are influencing the direction of the industry
What materials, tools, machines and production processes does a focus area industry use, and how do these choices shape cost, quality and the kind of product the business can make?
Investigate the materials, resources, tools, machines and production processes used by a focus area industry, and explain how the selection of materials and processes affects cost, quality, productivity and the finished product
How is a chosen focus area industry organised and managed, and how do its structures, ownership, location and workforce shape the way it operates day to day?
Investigate and describe the organisation and management of a focus area industry, including its structure, ownership, size, location, scale of production, employment and the impact of technological change on the way it is managed
How does a focus area industry assure the quality of its products, and how does it manage the environmental impact of the materials, energy and waste involved in production?
Examine the quality management and environmental practices of a focus area industry, including quality control and assurance, standards, waste minimisation, recycling, energy use and sustainable material choices, and explain their effect on the business and its products
How does a focus area industry identify, control and manage workplace health and safety risks, and what legal duties shape the way it protects its workers?
Examine the work health and safety practices of a focus area industry, including hazard identification, risk assessment and control, legislative responsibilities, personal protective equipment and the safe use of materials, tools and machinery
Major Project
Module overview →How do you move from an initial idea to a resolved, achievable Major Project design, and how do you justify your decisions about needs, function, materials and feasibility in the folio?
Identify a need and develop a Major Project design that addresses it, including research, generating and evaluating ideas, functional and aesthetic requirements, material and process selection, and a feasibility assessment that justifies the chosen solution
How do you plan, schedule, resource and monitor the production of a Major Project so that it is completed safely, on time and within budget, and how is that management evidenced in the folio?
Plan and manage the production of a Major Project, including time and action plans, financial planning and costing, ordering and managing resources, monitoring progress, and managing risk and safety throughout construction
How do you produce the Major Project to a high standard, controlling accuracy, construction quality and finish, and how do quality and finishing decisions affect the final result?
Produce the Major Project to a high standard of construction, applying accurate marking out, fabrication and assembly, quality control throughout production, and appropriate finishing processes that suit the materials and intended use
What must the Major Project management folio contain, how should it be structured and presented, and how does it communicate the design, management and evaluation of the project to the examiner?
Produce a management folio that documents the design, development, management, production and evaluation of the Major Project, structured and presented clearly to communicate the project and meet NESA folio requirements
Metal and Engineering
Module overview →How is molten metal cast into complex shapes, and how do sand casting, die casting and investment casting differ in cost, accuracy and use?
Describe the casting and moulding processes used to form metal components, including sand casting, die casting and investment casting, and explain their applications, advantages and limitations
What are ferrous metals, how does carbon content change their properties, and how do you choose the right steel or iron for a metal project?
Describe the composition, properties and applications of ferrous metals, including the effect of carbon content on steels, and select appropriate ferrous metals for engineering and fabrication tasks
How does controlled heating and cooling change the properties of steel, and how do you use hardening, tempering, annealing and normalising in metal work?
Explain the heat treatment processes of hardening, tempering, annealing and normalising, and describe how controlled heating and cooling change the properties of steels for engineering purposes
How do you mark out, cut and machine metal accurately, and what do the lathe, mill and drill press contribute to engineering production?
Describe the processes and tools used to mark out, cut, drill and machine metal, including the centre lathe, milling machine and drill press, and explain accurate measurement and their safe operation
Why does metal corrode, and how do surface preparation and finishes such as painting, plating, galvanising and anodising protect and improve a metal product?
Explain corrosion of metals and describe the surface preparation and finishing processes used to protect and decorate metal, including painting, electroplating, galvanising, anodising and powder coating
What are non-ferrous metals and alloys, why are they chosen over steel, and where do aluminium, copper, brass and their relatives belong in engineering?
Describe the composition, properties and applications of non-ferrous metals and alloys, including aluminium, copper, brass and bronze, and select appropriate non-ferrous metals for engineering tasks
How is flat sheet metal turned into three-dimensional products through development, cutting, forming and joining?
Describe the processes used to fabricate products from sheet metal, including pattern development, cutting and shearing, bending and folding, forming and joining, and explain their application in fabrication
How is the Australian metal and engineering industry organised, and how do its sectors, technologies, environmental practices and trends shape what it produces?
Describe the structure, sectors, technologies, environmental and sustainability practices and current trends of the metal and engineering industry as the industry-related knowledge for the focus area
How are metals joined permanently and temporarily, and how do you choose between arc welding, oxy welding, brazing, soldering and mechanical fasteners?
Describe the welding and joining processes used in metal fabrication, including arc, MIG and TIG welding, oxy-acetylene welding, brazing, soldering and mechanical fastening, and select appropriate joining methods
Multimedia Technologies
Module overview →How is animation created for multimedia, and how do frame-by-frame, tweened and 3D techniques bring still images to life?
Describe the principles and techniques of animation for multimedia, including frame-by-frame, tweening, keyframes, 2D and 3D animation, frame rate and file considerations, and its use in products
How is audio captured, edited and prepared for multimedia, and how do sampling, formats and mixing affect quality and file size?
Describe the recording, editing and production of audio for multimedia, including sampling rate and bit depth, microphones, mixing, compression and audio file formats, and its use in products
How is a multimedia product designed and developed from a brief, and why do storyboards, structure charts and the design process keep a project on track?
Describe the design and development process for multimedia products, including the brief, target audience, storyboarding, structure charts, prototyping and the integration of media elements
How are digital images created and edited for multimedia, and why does the difference between raster and vector graphics matter?
Describe the creation and editing of digital images and graphics for multimedia, including raster and vector formats, resolution, colour, compression and file types, and their use in products
What hardware and software does multimedia production rely on, and how do file formats, storage and management keep a project working and safe?
Describe the hardware and software used in multimedia production, including capture, processing, storage and output devices, software types, file formats and the management and backup of digital assets
How is the multimedia industry organised, and how do its sectors, technologies, intellectual property and environmental practices and trends shape the work it produces?
Describe the structure, sectors, technologies, intellectual property and copyright, environmental practices and current trends of the multimedia industry as the industry-related knowledge for the focus area
How is video shot, edited and prepared for multimedia, and how do resolution, frame rate, compression and editing technique shape the result?
Describe the production of video for multimedia, including pre-production planning, shooting, resolution and frame rate, editing, transitions, compression and video file formats, and its use in products
How are interactive and web-based multimedia products authored, and how do navigation, interactivity and standards make them work for users?
Describe the authoring of interactive and web-based multimedia products, including authoring tools, navigation and interactivity, web technologies, usability and accessibility, and publishing
Timber Products and Furniture Technologies
Module overview →How do you hold timber components together reliably, and when do you choose an adhesive over a mechanical fastening for your Major Project?
Describe the types, properties and applications of adhesives and mechanical fastenings used in timber and furniture work, and select appropriate methods for joining components
How do fixed workshop machines and CNC equipment turn timber into accurate, repeatable furniture components, and what does each machine do safely?
Describe the function, application and safe operation of fixed machines used in furniture production, including saws, the thicknesser and jointer, the lathe and the drill press, and the role of CNC machining in industry
Which hand tools and portable power tools do you use to mark out, cut, shape and assemble timber, and how do you use and maintain them safely and accurately?
Identify and describe the use, care and safe operation of hand tools and portable power tools used in timber and furniture work for marking out, cutting, shaping, drilling and assembly
Which timber joints suit which jobs, and how do you choose and make joinery that is strong, accurate and appropriate for your furniture project?
Describe the construction and application of common timber joints, including frame, carcase and edge joints, and select appropriate joinery for furniture components based on strength, appearance and function
Why do manufactured boards dominate modern furniture, and how do you choose between plywood, particleboard, MDF and veneered panels for your Major Project?
Describe the manufacture, properties and applications of manufactured boards including plywood, particleboard, MDF and blockboard, and explain veneering and the use of veneers in furniture
How do you prepare a timber surface and choose a finish that protects the furniture, looks right and suits how the piece will be used?
Describe the preparation of timber surfaces and the types, properties and application of timber finishes, including oils, varnishes, lacquers, stains and paints, and select finishes appropriate to the project
How is the Australian timber and furniture industry organised, and how do its sectors, technologies, environmental practices and trends shape the products it makes?
Describe the structure, sectors, technologies, environmental and sustainability practices and current trends of the timber and furniture industry as the industry-related knowledge for the focus area
How does the biological structure of timber explain its properties, and how do you identify and classify the timbers you use in your Major Project?
Explain the structure, growth and physical properties of timber, classify hardwoods and softwoods, and identify common species used in furniture and timber products by their characteristics
How is a felled log converted into usable boards, and why does seasoning timber to the right moisture content decide whether your project stays flat and stable?
Describe the recovery and conversion of logs into timber, including sawing methods, and explain seasoning by air and kiln drying, moisture content, equilibrium moisture content and the defects caused by poor seasoning