Thread: Hsc

Hi Tony

if you look closely at the photos you linked to you can see how the cabinet attaches

It looks like he's used screws through the top rails of the stand into the bottom rails of the cabinet. I've done the same thing. You can make it look like the cabinet is floating by putting small spacers between the cabinet and stand.
It's a nice design which gives you plenty of room to introduce your own features, for example, in the shaping of the legs, position & shape of the rails, proportions etc.

Hi Tony

If you read further down under the "Stand" heading, it explains

"The top was attached to the base with two 8mm (5/16in) dowels, which were preferred to a visible method. The dowels were glued into the base but not the top, to allow easy removal for transportation. The weight of the top is more than enough to keep everything in place."

Aw "I wield a spade" -- we're not supposed to make it that easy

HSC students are expected to do a bit of their own research of the chosen project and make their own interpretation and comments -- it's what gains them most of the total marks.

They're not supposed to come here and ask us to effectively build the project for them.

Besides, as I read the assessment criteria, the finished product is worth a maximum of 7 marks out of a total of 100
Depending on the amount and quality of your reasearch, and how well you wite and can present ideas, alternatives and conclusions, you should be able to score more than 90%, and possibly more than 96% without even completing the chosen project.




that should draw some comment

Originally Posted by ian

Besides, as I read the assessment criteria, the finished product is worth a maximum of 7 marks out of a total of 100
Depending on the amount and quality of your reasearch, and how well you wite and can present ideas, alternatives and conclusions, you should be able to score more than 90%, and possibly more than 96% without even completing the chosen project.

Wow that's a bit cheap in the mark allocations. For my design and technology project this year the product (or final system or design, whatever you chose) was integrated a lot more into the overall marks for it, at least for our internal marking. I'll be sure not to throw so big a bone their way in future

Originally Posted by IWieldTheSpade

Wow that's a bit cheap in the mark allocations.

Well, this is what the Marking Guidelines say
15 marks for the Project Proposal and Project Management component
10 marks for the Evaluation component
but let's just concentrate on the Project Development and Realisation component which is worth a maximum 35 marks.

To score a mark in the range 29–35, the assessment criteria are:
• Demonstrates the substantial application of creativity in the development of the major design project (MDP)
• Analyses a range of design factors relevant to the product, system or environment (PSE) and applies them
• Undertakes, evaluates and applies a range of appropriate research experimentation and design solution testing in the development of the MDP
• Applies conclusions drawn from research and experimentation and design solution testing to the MDP
• Justifies the selection and use of ideas and resources used for the PSE
• Succinctly demonstrates a range of appropriate quality communication and presentation techniques
• Applies a range of high-quality practical skills in the development of the PSE

that's seven critera, each of which (at this, the highest level) is worth between 4 and 5 marks. I can't see where any of them require a completed project.
For example, presenting four trial doors mounted wthin a door frame, each with a different hinge system (e.g. piano, Blum, butt, knife) along with a well written explanation why one system is best for the project should "tick-the-box" for many of the criteria. Ditto for the other core components.

The Evaluation component is similar. The criteria, to score 90% or better are:
• Critically evaluates aspects of the PSE throughout its entire development

• Analyses and critically evaluates the functional and aesthetic aspects of the PSE
• Critically evaluates the impact of the PSE on the individual, society and the environment
• Analyses the relationship of the PSE to the criteria for success identified in the project proposal (my emphasis)

so it follows that if the student exactly meets the criteria for success (as documented by them in their project proposal) and can show that their project meets, but does not exceed those criteria, then what grounds would a marker have for not awarding maximum marks?

Originally Posted by ian

Aw "I wield a spade" -- we're not supposed to make it that easy

HSC students are expected to do a bit of their own research of the chosen project and make their own interpretation and comments -- it's what gains them most of the total marks.

They're not supposed to come here and ask us to effectively build the project for them.

Besides, as I read the assessment criteria, the finished product is worth a maximum of 7 marks out of a total of 100
Depending on the amount and quality of your reasearch, and how well you wite and can present ideas, alternatives and conclusions, you should be able to score more than 90%, and possibly more than 96% without even completing the chosen project.



that should draw some comment

Where did you get that from? From my teacher and myselfs understanding, the major project is worth 60% of the HSC mark. 20% for the folio, 40% for the finished project. If it was only 7 marks, why would students even bother spending their time? And all I asked was ideas how to join them together thats all, I have done my own research, I have it all planned out now. Just waiting for the timbers to come.

Thanks alot guys, I didnt even realise there was dowel joints lol I now finally know how to join the two parts

Originally Posted by Tony_

Thanks alot guys, I didnt even realise there was dowel joints lol I now finally know how to join the two parts

Manners.............

Originally Posted by wun4us

Manners.............

I dont understand?

Originally Posted by Tony_

Where did you get that from? From my teacher and myselfs understanding, the major project is worth 60% of the HSC mark. 20% for the folio, 40% for the finished project.

Hi Tony

sit down with your teacher and go through the Assessment Criteria point by point so you understand what you're trying to achieve.
Ask him (or her) to point out where in the criteria it says you MUST produce a completely finished piece.

To return to the criteria I found through the Board of Studies, my emphasis in bold and my comments are in blue
Project Development and Realisation .
• Demonstrates the substantial application of creativity in the development of the major design project (MDP) -- originality, i.e your own design, should count for more than skillfully reproducing an existing design
• Analyses a range of design factors relevant to the product, system or environment (PSE) and applies them -- for your cabinet, what are the available options to prevent the top falling off the base? The documentation you have says the original maker used dowells, AlexS suggested screws. Another option would be create a frame around the top of the legs and make the cabinet as a tight fit within that frame. Looking at the info you linked to I think the original maker has used a combination of a tightly fitting frame and dowells
• Undertakes, evaluates and applies a range of appropriate research experimentation and design solution testing in the development of the MDP -- now we haven't seen your portfolio, where you may have covered this aspect in the context of market research into what uses a Kernov style/inspired cabinet-on-stand might be used for and who might buy one, and demonstrated that the design you have chosen should be highly marketable. Alternatively you could experiment with different ways of fixing the cabinet to the stand (or the different ways of mounting the doors, or different arrangements of the drawers, etc)
• Applies conclusions drawn from research and experimentation and design solution testing to the MDP -- the conclusions you draw from your research will depend on what aspects you researched. But the action word for this critera is applies. So in respect to the question you came here to research, how will you demonstrate application of the answer? Will you need to build a jig so that the dowell holes in the frame line up with those you will drill in the cabinet base, or will dowell centres be sufficient?
• Justifies the selection and use of ideas and resources used for the PSE -- the action word here is justifies -- sounds a lot like detailed well written stuff to me
• Succinctly demonstrates a range of appropriate quality communication and presentation techniques -- the action word is demonstrates -- again sounds like some well written words to me. Well presented pictures of the finished cabinet, or five timber options for the doors or drawer fronts, or different drawer and/or shelf arrangements within the cabinet -- all of which would require some quality construction (or creative use of photoshop) would be helpful, but you should be able to score >80% for tgis criteria without building the stand
• Applies a range of high-quality practical skills in the development of the PSE -- note the action word is applies and you are applying the high-quality practical skills to the development, not the completion of the PSE

If it was only 7 marks, why would students even bother spending their time?

I suppose because it's a lot less work building a piece than fully documenting the alternatives at each major stage of the project.

By the way, I rather like the design you've chosen, although to my taste the doors are a little too flashy.

Hi Tony

my apologies, I've been leading you astray
I've just checked across to your original post and see you are doing Industrial Technology Timber, my comments above relate to the Design and Technology course


I still suggest you sit down with your teacher and gain a good understanding point-by-point of what the assessment criteria really mean

Originally Posted by Tony_

Thanks alot guys, I didnt even realise there was dowel joints lol I now finally know how to join the two parts

Originally Posted by wun4us

Manners.............

Originally Posted by Tony_

I dont understand?

I think he was remarking that you had shown good ones.

I get a bit P'd off when a student asks a question here, then is told to go away and do his own research.
Asking questions is as much a part of research as sitting in a library reading articles. Tony has obviously put some thought into his design, or he wouldn't have raised his question. And after getting what he wanted, he's thanked us. I for one appreciate that.

Originally Posted by AlexS

Asking questions is as much a part of research as sitting in a library reading articles. Tony has obviously put some thought into his design, or he wouldn't have raised his question. And after getting what he wanted, he's thanked us. I for one appreciate that.

Well said