• CUFDIG501A - Coordinate the testing of interactive media products

CUFDIG501A
Coordinate the testing of interactive media products

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage the testing of interactive media products.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application

This is a central team role, working with the whole production team, including designers, authors, programmers and graphic artists.

In larger projects and particularly in games, testing is a continuous process and may have a quality assurance unit devoted to testing.

A person in this position plans and coordinates the testing process and is also responsible for analysing testing results, writing reports and communicating the results to appropriate members of the production team.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Determine the criteria for testing

1. Define testing criteria that ensure products meet technical and quality requirements

2. Identify with relevant personnel the production points at which development will be measured

3. Document and communicate testing criteria to relevant personnel

Plan an approach for product testing

4. Identify the various testing methods relevant for interactive media products

5. Determine characteristics and appropriateness of testing methods to be used during development and on completion

6. Consider testing methods in relation to appropriate testing strategy

7. Develop a plan for testing products at specified points during development and on completion

8. Establish records system to document testing results, including problems and faults

Test interactive media at specified production points

9. Determine progress towards completion of identified production points

10. Coordinate testing of products at identified production points

11. Apply testing methods to ensure that products meet creative, production and technical requirements

12. Record problems and faults detected by testing and remedial steps taken in records system

13. Resolve problems and faults detected during testing in accordance with agreed project or industry practice

14. Evaluate final products against the previously determined criteria

15. Document the testing process

16. Convey summarised evaluation report to relevant production personnel

Evaluate the testing process

17. Identify testing methods that were successful and those that led to difficulties

18. Evaluate the testing process and records system

19. Document findings to inform subsequent projects

Required Skills

Required skills

communication, teamwork and literacy skills sufficient to:

interpret and clarify project specifications

interpret and analyse information and statistics, and write summary reports

convey information to others in the production team

work as a member of a production team, including providing leadership in relation to product testing

organisational skills sufficient to:

plan testing processes

coordinate testing staff

establish records systems

ability to address and solve problems and challenges in a timely and collaborative manner

self-management skills sufficient to:

prioritise work tasks

work under pressure and meet deadlines

seek expert assistance as required

Required knowledge

industry knowledge, including:

roles and responsibilities of project team members, e.g. designers, content creators, information architects, programmers and coders

sound understanding of the relationship between technical and creative aspects and requirements of interactive media projects

issues and challenges that arise in testing interactive media products

testing criteria

range of methods for testing interactive media products

OHS standards as they apply to computers and environments in which testing may be conducted

Evidence Required

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:

documented plans for testing interactive media products

ability to identify appropriate testing methods for specific interactive media products

analysis of test results

summary reports containing test results

effective coordination of the testing process, including ability to work collaboratively with team members.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

development of more than one test plan to ensure that skills can be adapted to different circumstances

development of a test plan within commercially-realistic time constraints

involvement of and interaction with others to reflect the collaborative nature of the testing process

access to interactive media products under development

access to equipment used for testing

access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required

use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance

evaluation of at least two test plans developed by the candidate

evaluation of at least two test reports written by the candidate

written or oral questioning to test knowledge of the process followed to test an interactive media product, testing methods, testing criteria and the respective roles and responsibilities of team members.

Guidance information for assessment

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

BSBPMG510A Manage projects.


Range Statement

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.

Testing criteria may include:

accessibility

bug detection

controls

ease of learning

effectiveness

efficiency

functionality, including flow

interoperability

learning outcomes

levels of difficulty

performance

reliability

satisfaction

security

usability.

Relevant personnel may include:

author

game designer

game level designer

information architect

instructional designer

interaction designer

producer

programmer

user interface designer

visual artist

other specialist staff.

Production points may include:

alpha

beta

completion

continuous

milestone

prototype

staged.

Testing methods may be:

aggressive

automated

black box

card sorting

concept

debugging

focus group

heuristic analysis

inspection

platform testing

prototyping

regression

survey

user trial

visual impact

white box.

Interactive media products may include:

e-commerce

e-learning resource

game

information product

promotional product

training product

web environments.

Testing strategy may be determined by:

complexity of the project

money available

project specifications

time available.

Records system may include:

metadata that includes:

description of fault

identification of code

user responses

written or verbal comments

quantitative data

remedial action taken

retest result

date

tester's details

questionnaire

survey.


Sectors

Unit sector


Competency Field

Visual communication - digital content and imaging


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.