Candidates will explore a variety of industries, services and career opportunities, in science laboratories locally, nationally, and globally.

They will develop the basic practical skills and knowledge needed for working in a laboratory: measuring, weighing and preparing compounds and solutions; and health and safety requirements. Practical skills in microbiology, measuring radioactivity, chemical handling and laboratory instrumentation will be developed.

This course emphasizes the employability skills and attitudes valued by employers which will help to prepare candidates for the workplace. Candidates will review their own employability skills and will seek feedback from others on their strengths and weaknesses.

 

Course Content and Assessment:

 

There are 4 units that are internally assessed as pass or fail by the school. A folio of evidence will be collected throughout the course.

Unit 1: Careers using Laboratory Science

Unit 2: Working in a Laboratory

Unit 3: Practical Skills

Unit 4: Practical Investigation

The employability skills assessed in this course are:

· Ability to follow instructions

· Awareness of Health and Safety in a laboratory

· Problem solving skills

· Time management skills

· Review and self-evaluation skills

· Working independently

No final SQA examination is required.