Introduction

Within Core Curriculum, the Practical and Applied Arts (PAA) is a major area of study that incorporates five traditional areas of Home Economics Education, Business Education, Work Experience Education/Career Education, Computer Education, and Industrial Arts Education. Saskatchewan Education, its educational partners, and other stakeholders have collaborated to complete the PAA curriculum renewal. Some PAA curriculum guidelines have been updated by integrating, adapting, or deleting some components; some Locally Developed Courses have been elevated to provincial status; and, some new guidelines have been developed.

A companion, Practical and Applied Arts (PAA) Handbook, provides background on Core Curriculum philosophy, perspectives, and initiatives. The Handbook describes a renewed set of goals for PAA. It presents additional information about the PAA area of study, including guidelines about work study and related transition-to-work dimensions. A PAA Information Bulletin provides direction for administrators and others. Lists of recommended resources from all guidelines will be compiled into a PAA Bibliography with periodic updates.

Philosophy and Rationale

In today's rapidly changing world, the use of electric arc, oxy-acetylene, and metal inert gas (MIG) welding is ever expanding. A basic understanding of welding skills at the Secondary Level affords students an opportunity to gain experience and/or employment in the private sector. There may also be an opportunity for students who have completed courses to apply for advanced standing in a post-secondary education or training program. Students of welding may be granted time credit should they register as apprentices following high school completion. Some students may choose to study welding for personal use.

Courses in Welding are offered to:

• introduce high school students to specific life skills that have practical lifetime applications
• give students the opportunity to investigate career options
• develop specific employability skills that will facilitate entry level employment and/or participation in post-secondary training.

The aim of the Welding 10, 20, A30, B30 curriculum is to provide students with opportunities to acquire knowledge and develop skills used in the welding industry and to become familiar with career opportunities in the welding industry in Saskatchewan.

Applied Technology: To develop skills using hand and power tools of the industry in electric arc, oxy-acetylene, and metal inert gas (MIG) welding procedures.

Awareness: To provide students with experiences and information that delineate possible career and post-secondary education and training choices in the industry.

Communication: To develop the ability to read welding diagrams and related technical manuals.

To practice effective listening and communication skills.

Health and Safety: To develop an awareness of the responsibility and need for safe procedures that must be followed in the classroom and/or work environment.

Mathematics: To provide students with the practical application of mathematical computations used in the welding industry.

Personal Development: To develop teamwork skills, professional ethics and behaviours, time management, and wellness skills.

Articulation (Optional): 1) To provide successful students with the opportunity to write the Level I examination administered by the Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Unit of Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training. 2) To enable students to receive time credit towards Journeyperson certification upon registration as an apprentice following completion of the high school program.

Foundational objectives are the major, general statements that guide what each student is expected to achieve for the modules of the PAA curriculum guidelines. Foundational objectives indicate the most important knowledge, skills, attitudes/values, and abilities for a student to learn in a subject. Both the Foundational Objectives and the Common Essential Learnings (CELs) Foundational Objectives to be emphasized are stated in this document. Some of these statements may be repeated or enhanced in different modules for emphasis. Foundational Objectives include:

• To become familiar with the terms, tools, equipment, and techniques used in the welding trade.
• To understand and use terminology related to the trade including basic welding symbols.
• To demonstrate the safe and proper use and care of welding tools, materials, and equipment.
• To use appropriate safety appliances when engaged in practical activities.
• To develop effective use of tools and equipment in order to develop entry level skills in the workplace.
• To establish a systematic routine for setting up a welding workstation and for putting away materials and equipment in the workplace or school setting.
• To apply some principles of science to the welding trade.
• To introduce students to the issues surrounding safe, fair, and cooperative workplace practices including an awareness of the potential dangers to fellow workers.
• To identify and explain health and safety hazards in the workplace so that the potential for personal injury and damage to the equipment and/or the environment are minimized.
• To use critical evaluation skills in order to judge quality welding workmanship.

All of the subject and CELs Foundational Objectives are stated explicitly at the beginning of each module.

The incorporation of the Common Essential Learnings (CELs) into the instruction and assessment of the Practical and Applied Arts (PAA) curriculum offers many opportunities to develop students knowledge, skills, and abilities. The purpose of the CELs is to assist students with learning concepts, skills, and attitudes necessary to make the transition to career, work, and adult life.

The CELs also establish a link between the Transition–to-Work dimensions and the Practical and Applied Arts curriculum content. The Transition-to-Work dimensions included in the PAA courses are: apprenticeship, career development, community project(s), employability skills, entrepreneurial skills, occupational skills, personal accountability, processing of information, teamwork, and work study/education.

Throughout the PAA curricula, the CELs objectives are stated and coded as follows:

COM = Communication

NUM = Numeracy

CCT = Critical and Creative Thinking

TL = Technological Literacy

PSVS = Personal and Social Values and Skills

IL = Independent Learning

It is anticipated that teachers will find additional ways to incorporate the CELs into their classroom instruction.