Electrical Construction & Maintenance

Program Overview

This program provides students with an introduction to the basic concepts of residential and commercial wiring. With an emphasis on safety, students install circuits, switches, conductors, circuit breakers, and other electrical devices. Topics covered include selecting and ordering materials, key supplies and tools, codes, blueprint reading, and low voltage wiring. Students are taught in compliance with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the Residential Construction Academy (RCA) industry standards. Students begin working toward their RCA and OSHA 10 certifications.

Students exploring this program will first learn safety, tools, residential wiring, blueprints, circuitry, devices, raceways, bending, OHM’s Law, and will complete OSHA 10. As students continue in the program, they attain employability skills. Students gain more in-depth knowledge with respect to safety and tools, commercial wiring, review of blueprints, devices, raceways, bending, panels, disconnects, and circuitry.

* Blueprint Reading is a required course for this program of study.

Skill Alignment Chart (Click to Expand)
Educational & Physical Attributes Expectations
Program Safety & Physical Considerations
  • Ability to lift 50 lbs overhead
  • Ability to work in all weather conditions
  • Ability to work independently
  • Average or above eye/hand coordination and fine motor skills
  • No fear of heights or working in closed spaces
  • Average or above gross motor skills
  • Physical strength & stamina
Essential APTITUDES for this lab–Recommended Levels
  • Customer/Personal service
  • Basic knowledge of Physics
  • Critical thinking/problem solving skills
  • Active listening and learning
  • Time management, judgement, decision making, and self–control
  • Completion of tasks with minimal supervision
  • Distinguishing all colors accurately
  • Working independently or with a team
Reading
  • Explain the main ideas or draw accurate conclusions after reading text
  • Learn and apply content–specific symbols correctly
  • Apply content–specific vocabulary correctly
  • Identify and explain how different ideas connect throughout text
  • Comprehend written text and apply it to understand tables, charts, and other visuals
  • Compare & contrast information in a text
  • Summarize information from different written resources
  • Follow a complex multi–step procedure independently
  • By the end of grades 9–10 & 11–12 read & comprehend technical texts independently & proficiently
  • Textbook: Residential Construction Academy House Wiring, Fifth Edition: Average grade reading level of 13.9
Writing
  • Write a weekly work report summarizing program specific content completed
  • Complete sample work orders concisely and accurately
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic sentence structure
  • Produce clear & coherent writing
  • Use technology to produce, publish or share writing
Math Levels

    Numbers and Operations:

  • Grade 6 – Fluency in operations with whole numbers and decimals
  • Grade 6 – Fraction computations
  • Grade 6 – Whole number exponents
  • Grade 7 – Fraction to decimal conversion
  • Grade 7 – Percent and ratio problems
  • Grade 8 – Decimals to rational number (fraction) conversion
  • Grade 8 – Estimate the value of irrational numbers
  • Algebra 1 – Problem solving with real world units, including conversions
  • Measurement:

  • NG – Units: English Metric Precision: length to nearest 1/8 inch
  • Grade 6 – Unit conversion within measuring systems
  • Algebraic Concepts:

  • Grade 6 – One–step equation solutions – one variable with all non–negative components
  • Geometric Concepts:

  • Grade 7 – Scale drawings of geometric figures
  • Geometry – Scale models and drawings
  • Data and Probability:

  • Algebra 1 – Interpret data on various displays – use to make predictions
  • Note – Algebra 2 is required for admission to any pre–apprenticeship program

Theory Time
  • Up to 1 hour/day
  • Theory will include:
    • Vocabulary and Predictions
    • Structured notes
    • Review questions
    • Vocabulary test
    • Chapter assessments
    • Weekly Report
Homework
  • About 1 hour/week
  • Student is allotted time in class to complete assignments—if not completed in class, work must be completed at home
  • Portfolio completed outside of class hours
Lab Time
  • About 4.5 hours/day
  • Expectation: Completion of 3–5 tasks/day (varies based on student ability)
Tests
  • Vocabulary Assessments
  • Chapter Assessments
  • NOCTI (mandatory for all CTE programs)
  • IEC Pre–Apprenticeship (Available to 12th grade students only)
POS Academics and Electives Recommended
  • English and Algebra 2 are a component of the DCTS program
  • Blueprint Reading
Study & Other Skills
  • Good attendance
  • Independent reading of assigned chapter in textbook
  • Ability to use National Electric Code (NEC)
Technology Skills/Knowledge
  • Use and navigate school–issued laptop
  • Web navigation
  • Email management
  • Navigate learning management system and other instructional technology tools
  • Database navigation
  • Video conferencing
Certifications Offered
  • OSHA 10
  • Ladder Safety
  • S/P2 – Construction
Post–Secondary Options and Continuing Ed
  • IEC Apprenticeship program
  • IBW Apprenticeship program
  • ABC Apprenticeship program
  • Local/state postsecondary schools (i.e. HACC, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Penn Tech, etc.)
  • SOAR Articulations

  • Harrisburg Area Community College – 10 credits
  • Orleans Technical Institute – 9 credits