Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements and Performance Criteria | |||
Element | Performance Criteria | ||
1 | Establish requirements for image capture | 1.1 | Define requirements and purpose of the work and create a brief |
1.2 | Choose an imaging technique that maintains the integrity and veracity of the subject and fulfils the work requirements | ||
1.3 | Plan the work using technical knowledge to ensure an effective and efficient result | ||
2 | Plan and set up the shoot | 2.1 | Select and assemble the required equipment |
2.2 | Follow ethical and legal work practices at all times | ||
2.3 | Assess risks or hazards and implement safety procedures | ||
2.4 | Prepare the subject to achieve the brief | ||
3 | Capture and reproduce the required image | 3.1 | Expose media or film and accurately document the work in progress |
3.2 | Review the image against the work requirements and repeat if necessary | ||
3.3 | Reproduce the image to specification | ||
4 | Keep records and deliver images | 4.1 | Accurately and retrievably record the request, technical specifications and images so that they are retrievable |
4.2 | Store records safely and securely to archival standards | ||
4.3 | Follow copyright and crediting policies and procedures | ||
4.4 | Make the images available to the client, discuss the results and ensure that requirements have been met. |
Required Skills
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence.
Critical aspects of competency
Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard. In particular, assessors should look to see that the candidate:
can create and interpret a brief
can apply an imaging technique that best meets the specifications and purpose of the job, consistent with enterprise procedures
provides a back up system of image capture when shooting images
produces consistent high quality, cost effective outcomes for clients
keeps accurate records that allow future replication of images
works safely and in an ethical manner consistent with legislation, regulations and Codes of Practice.
Underpinning knowledge
Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:
repercussions of manipulation of images and differences between adjustment and manipulation
scientific approach and protocols to ensure integrity of images
veracity of different types of storage media
relevant copyright, moral rights and intellectual property issues and legislation
relevant health, safety and environment requirements
enterprise policies and procedures for capturing and managing scientific images.
Assessment context and methods
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of portfolio of work completed by candidate
feedback from clients and supervisor
oral or written questions to assess underpinning knowledge
case studies to assess the candidate's approach to different subjects and use of a variety of imaging techniques.
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.
Interdependent assessment of unit
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
PMLTEST519A Prepare animal and plant material for display.
Resource implications
Resources may include:
appropriate facilities, equipment and materials for photoimaging
enterprise procedures, equipment manuals, industry catalogues and journals.
This competency in practice
Biomedical, biotechnology, environmental
It's Friday afternoon and a technical officer in a university biology faculty is asked, at short notice, to assist a postgraduate student to obtain images to support a presentation of her work at an international conference. She's flying out of the country to the conference on Sunday. The officer discusses the requirements with the student and determines that the images are needed for a poster presentation to show the differences between sizes of fungal spores. It is agreed that colour prints of four different sized spores are to be produced using a camera coupled to a stereomicroscope. Given the time constraints, a decision is made to use a digital image that can be reproduced on site. The images are produced on Friday evening and the student produces her poster on Saturday. The details of the subject, conditions and the images themselves are carefully stored for later use in the student's thesis.
Key Competencies
The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation. The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit. These are stand-alone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Level (1) represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively
Level (2) represents the competence to manage tasks
Level (3) represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Collecting, analysing and organising information | Communicating ideas and information | Planning and organising activities | Working with others and in teams | Using mathematical ideas and techniques | Solving problems | Using technology |
Level 2 | Level 2 | Level 2 | Level 2 | Level 2 | Level 2 | Level 2 |
Range Statement
The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.
Scientific images may include photographic, digital, X-ray and video images, and prints or transparencies of subjects, such as:
building sites, environmental survey and monitoring sites
accident or incident sites, injuries
forensic evidence
biological specimens
histological sections
live animals
chromatography gels.
Other imaging techniques may include:
direct transformation from images to data, such as reading of DNA sequencing gels
autoradiations
micrographs
other non visible light sources, such as ultraviolet light, fluorescence and phosphorescence
electron micrographs.
Job requirements and brief may include:
description and specification of work, including constraints, due date
purpose of the image
specifications, such as size, purpose, audience, medium and style
interviewing and collecting information from the client
keeping records, request forms, notes.
Purposes of the image may include:
publication as a thesis, presentation or on the web
temporal serial recording of changes over time
display as a poster, diorama, print or projection
preview, snapshot or proof of an image for production at a later stage
records of data for inclusion in databases
use in forensic investigation or court proceedings.
Planning of the job may include:
choice of type of image, media, site and conditions
preparation of the subject, such as: make-up, choice of whole or part, staining, dissection, mounting, animal handling, setting up a light path for a microscope, appropriate magnification
technical requirements, such as: resolution, film type, tripods, shutter speed, lens type, colour differential
back up method and equipment for image capture
specification of final product, size, delivery, number, cost
position of subject.
Equipment may include:
lighting
backdrops
camera systems and accessories.
Hazards may include:
microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, human or animal tissue and fluids
solar radiation, dust, noise
chemicals and radioisotopes
X rays and other sources of electromagnetic radiation (laser, UV)
manual handling of heavy objects
slips, trips and falls, falling objects, moving machinery (for example, on building sites)
pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Safety procedures may include:
recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs
use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, gown, body suits, respirators and safety boots
following required containment procedures through the use of appropriate equipment, such as biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets and Class PCII, PCIII, and PCIV physical containment facilities
use of material safety data sheets (MSDS)
handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, materials safety data sheets and manufacturer's instructions
following established manual handling procedures.
Ethical and legal work practices include consideration of:
industry Codes of Practice, contracts, permits, intellectual property, crediting, plagiarism and copyright
moral rights, model release, etiquette, decorum and sensitivity towards the subject, use of a chaperone and confidentiality.
Production of images may include sending images for processing, processing the images or use of commercial software.
Storage of records may include the brief, technical specifications and images. It may include file management (back ups, data retrieval, storage) and can be paper based, electronic or digital.
Health, safety and environment
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
All operations assume the potential hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.