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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Perform routine system maintenance
   • Required equipment is checked, and is in working order and available for use
   • Peripherals are fitted, maintained, cleaned and adjusted as required
   • Personal computer furniture and fittings are adjusted according to work health and safety (WHS) practices and protection of equipment considerations
   • Routine system maintenance and security processes are performed
   • Correct functioning of automated processes is monitored
   • Monitors are adjusted only when being calibrated and are otherwise left alone
   • All abnormalities and system malfunctions are reported
   • Off-line maintenance records are kept up-to-date
2. Perform back-ups and restorations on a personal computer
   • File system back-ups are performed regularly according to established workplace practices
   • Back-up media are labelled, stored and rotated according to established workplace practices
   • Files are restored from back-up as required
   • Data is recovered from damaged and corrupted files using small office tools
   • Adequate written records of back-ups are kept
3. Store and supply consumables
   • Consumables are stored and disposed of according to WHS, care of equipment and system security
   • Stock levels and user needs are monitored to ensure required consumables are available
4. Upgrade and configure a personal computer
   • Software and peripherals are installed, upgraded and configured according to enterprise policy
   • New software, upgrades and adjustments are tested to ensure adequate performance
   • Personal computer furniture and fittings are adjusted to meet workplace standards for WHS and care of equipment
   • Written records of installations, upgrades and configurations are maintained
5. Access documentation, records and updates
   • Documentation, including hardware and software manuals and equipment inventory and service records, is stored and accessed appropriately
   • Supplementary product information, updates and technical reference material are accessed using the internet, journals and other sources
6. Access and deliver data
   • Removable storage devices are connected, disconnected and configured as required
   • Data is accessed from different types of file systems
   • Data is stored and converted to suit a variety of operating systems, environments and applications
   • Data is transmitted effectively by the method most appropriate to the task

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

correctly operate and maintain computer resources

produce log books and written records showing system maintenance and configuration history over a period of THREE months, including all reported abnormalities and how they were addressed

perform a routine system back-up and restore a nominated file from an earlier back-up

convert a document from one common file format to another and make the file available for access on a different platform (eg Macintosh application to MS-Windows application via suitably encoded Internet email attachment)

research and report availability of upgrades and support for TWO pieces of hardware and TWO pieces of software currently in use.

Note: If a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

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Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

Work health and safety (WHS) requirements for terminal operators

describe correct positioning of the keyboard, mouse and screen to avoid fatigue

explain when a foot rest is appropriate

Computing technology

describe relationships between baud rate, bits per second and bandwidth

explain the meaning of MIPPS

describe the function of the video card

specify what must be checked before commencement of a software installation or upgrade

Security and storage of data

identify risks that might exist for the system, the enterprise and users if an individual proceeds to install their own software (assuming the software has been scanned for viruses)

describe back-up and restoration procedures currently used, as well as their strengths and weaknesses

explain why hand-written records are kept

describe how to identify and respond to a possible security breach or virus attack

list environmental factors that could cause data loss from removable media

File preparation, conversion and encoding including cross-platform considerations

describe how to retain fonts of converted files

explain differences in file naming conventions between IBM-PC, Macintosh and Unix

list three encoding methods for internet email transmission of files and state which platform each is used for

list four common graphics file formats and when each format should be chosen

Correct use of network and telecommunications technologies

explain how a Macintosh can communicate with another computer

identify types of cabling and network cards installed and their effect on data transmission speed

summarise how to transmit data

describe how to conduct a search for product information on the internet

identify the most efficient way to exchange files with clients or other companies

Specific hardware, peripherals and consumables for the pre-press area

list the configuration of a typical high performance pre-press computer

identify the form of computer language used to drive an image setter

describe types of removable media commonly used in the pre-press area

list pieces of hardware that require periodical cleaning

Pre-press software

specify the limiting factor of most desktop publishing pre-press software

explain where a multitasking computer operating system fits in the pre-press production process

identify appropriate software to:

scan for a virus

produce a logo

manipulate an image

set up a printer network

create a page of text

Information sources

list the machine manuals, safety and other documentation relevant to this task and outline the information included in these documents.

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