Assessor Resource

ICAU4205B
Select and employ software and hardware tools

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit defines the competency required to select and use software and hardware diagnostic tools, including multimedia contexts and automated testing environments.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

Assessment must confirm the ability to select and use the correct automating tools and to develop an automating process that produces an outcome that is measurable and meets specified requirements.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the person will require access to:

Specifications for a range of automating vendor products

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Meeting modern IT needs can be complex and difficult. Using process automating can improve organisation performance and remove mundane tasks. Designing and automating processes should undergo an analysis and design across a broad range of technical and/or managerial functions.

Meeting technical applications involves significant judgement in planning, design, evaluation, technical or leadership/guidance and communications functions related to services, operations and processes.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover a broad range of varied activities or application in a wider variety of contexts most of which are complex and non-routine. Leadership and guidance would be involved when organising activities of self and others as well as contributing to technical solutions of a non-routine or contingency nature.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a broad range of skilled applications including the requirement to evaluate and analyse current practices, develop new criteria and procedures for performing current practices and provision of some leadership and guidance to others in the application and planning of the skills would be characteristic.

Applications may involve responsibility for, and limited organisation of, others.

Method of assessment

The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.

Competency in this unit should be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.

Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills. The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating some theoretical concepts

Apply solutions to a defined range of unpredictable problems

Identify and apply skill and knowledge areas to a wide variety of contexts, with depth in some areas

Identify, analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to specified quality standards

Take limited responsibility for the quantity and quality of the output of others

Additionally, an individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of automating processes, with depth in some areas

Use judgements and analysis to employ automated processes in the organisation

Demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills

Generate ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level

Demonstrate accountability for personal outputs within defined technical requirements

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

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

Ability to analyse hardware and software tools

Ability to integrate multiple items of data and reconcile conflicting information

Ability to develop creative solutions and demonstrate automating process capability

Ability to predict outcomes and results of selection of tools

Ability to identify key sources of information

Ability to understand specification sheets

Ability to accurately summarise and document information

Ability to see the conflicts and integration capabilities between diverse equipment

Ability to organise and assess importance and relevance of product information

Ability to communicate with vendors effectively

Required knowledge

Batch scripting of nominated automating software routines

The interaction between relevant hardware and software products

Broad general knowledge of the client business domain (e.g. when confirming system components to acquire, and when agreeing to methods to acquire components)

Current industry-accepted hardware and software products, with knowledge of general features and capabilities and detailed knowledge in some areas

Broad knowledge of vendor product directions

Functions and features of animation development tools as required (e.g. Animator Studio and Director, Encore)

Functions and features of development tools as required (e.g. Fireworks, Adobe, Director Shockwave Studio)

Functions and features of media management tools as required (e.g. Media On Demand Producer, Windows Media Author, Windows Media Presenter, ASF Chop, ASF Check)

Functions and features of development tools as required (e.g. scripting languages, development package automating options, third-party tools for automating a range of software applications)

Functions and features of technologies as required, including but not limited to 3D graphic simulations, internet applications, verification processes, VOIP and wireless communication

Knowledge of basic design principles of each media type as 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.

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation for the purpose of developing multimedia products or carrying out automated testing of software and systems

Equipment may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

other peripherals or standalone units

Client may include but is not limited to:

internal departments

external organisations

clubs

individual people

internal employees

System architecture may include but is not limited to:

Operating system: Novell NetWare 5 or above or operating system that has multi-user ability; Linux, Mac OS, Windows 2000 or above

Database software: PostgresSQL,Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, Ingres, DB2, Informix, mSQL, MySQL, SQL server

Configuration: small memory model, large memory model, requests per second

Solution may include but is not limited to:

new hardware

hardware upgrades

new software

software upgrades

user training

implementing a new system

Standards may include:

ISO/IEC/AS standards

organisational standards

project standards (for further information refer to the Standards Australia website at: www.standards.com.au)

Hardware may include but is not limited to:

workstations

personal computers

modems and other connectivity devices

networks

DSL modems

remote sites

servers

Software may include but is not limited to:

commercial software applications

organisation-specific software, packaged software, in-house or customised software

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

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify the process requirements ensuring they are accurate, complete, prioritised, have functionality and reference appropriate method/media types 
Identify conflicting or overlapping requirements 
Document and validate functional requirements of the client 
Identify and validate available resources and budget of the client 
Identify and evaluate relevant hardware and software with reference to functional requirements 
Identify and analyse relevant products and equipment interdependencies with reference to functional requirements and systemarchitecture 
Identify and document appropriate tools, including their limitations for the required use and industry standards 
Select and acquire tools in accordance with purchasing policies 
Install and configure appropriate hardware and software according to vendor guidelines with reference to systemarchitecture and client functionality requirements 
Configure system architecture for optimal usage 
Prepare, schedule and execute tests and record outcomes 
Track errors, interpret and correct 
Make changes based on test results 
Document the hardware and software configuration according to requirements 
Provide appropriate training of client with reference to guides, instructions and vendor materials 
Use hardware and software according to vendor guidelines 
Validate hardware and software performance with reference to client functional requirements 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICAU4205B - Select and employ software and hardware tools
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ICAU4205B - Select and employ software and hardware tools

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: