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 document key information
critical thinking and analytical skills to assess areas of risk
literacy skills to document operational information
planning and organising skills to organise storage and stock control
problem-solving skills to monitor situations and adjust actions accordingly
numeracy skills to use stock control systems and make basic calculations
technical skills to use appropriate handling and storage.
Required knowledge
origin of the types and forms of opal
types of cutting styles
procedures for handling and storing opal
areas of risk of theft.
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.
Types of rough opal may include: | composite natural opal – doublets, triplets, mosaic and chip opals natural opal type 1 – opal in one piece in its natural state apart from cutting and polishing natural opal type 2 – opal naturally attached to the host rock – boulder opal natural opal type 3 – opal intimately diffused as infilling in pores or between the grains of the host rock; matrix opal varieties of opal: (N1 to N9 represents gradation form black to white in approximately 10% intervals) black – opal which shows a play of colour within or on a black or very dark body tone (N1, N2, N3, N4) dark – opal which shows a play of colour within or on a dark body tone (N5, N6) light – opal which shows a play of colour within or on a light body tone (N7, N8, N9). |
Appropriate storage conditions and locations may include: | depending on the value: in safe or in designated locked cupboard display boxes and pockets display cases individually bagged humidified atmosphere safes and deposit boxes. |
Ways in which damage might occur may include: | dehydration exposure to halogen lights extremes of temperature general wear and tear immersion in water rough handling surface damage and scratching. |
Preventative measures may include: | humidifying atmosphere keeping in bags. |
Areas of risk may include: | lack of documentation misplacement theft. |
Strategies for minimising risk and safeguarding opal may include: | alarm systems banks (deposit boxes) display cases insurance lighting photographing safes scanning security locks systematic approach to storage and handling thorough recording and documenting use of standard procedures for handling, storage and documentation. |
Stock control system may be: | manual or electronic very simple in the case of small businesses. |
Stock may be: | cutting and polishing consumables equipment for production cutting rough or cut opal. |
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