Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Required skills
communication skills to discuss cutting strategies with clients and colleagues
planning and organising skills to:
choose appropriate equipment
select the way to cut the stone for best artistic and commercial return
problem-solving skills to deal with complications in the pre-cutting stage as well as OHS or safety issues
numeracy skills to use numerical features of machinery
technical skills to:
make sound decisions to achieve best colour and yield
determine the position of the colour in a boulder opal
use appropriate equipment
apply OHS principles and safe operating procedures.
Required knowledge
characteristics of opal gemstone structure and formation
importance of achieving yield when cutting a gemstone
market trends
jewellers’ and industry requirements
OHS principles and safe operating procedures for cutting machinery, including:
appropriate procedures for dealing with emissions
complying with the safe operating procedures for each machine
using personal protective equipment (PPE) where required.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Appropriate equipment may include: | Asahi wheel diamond grinder diamond sawing free-hand saw nova wheel silicon carbide grinder slab saw trim saw. |
Unwanted material may include: | cotton and gypsum cracked material crockery iron stone materials with inclusions or stains matrix (in black opal as a unwanted inclusion) poor colour potch sandstone. |
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist