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 liaise with others about kiln operations and technical challenges
critical thinking and analytical skills to:
evaluate the needs of particular work projects to establish kiln and firing requirements
research and evaluate historical and contemporary trends in kiln work
literacy skills to read kiln specifications and requirements
problem-solving skills to identify and resolve:
technical and design issues in kiln work
technical firing issues
numeracy skills to:
estimate costs for kilns and kiln operation
work with numerical features of kilns and firing processes, including temperatures and controls
self-management, planning and organising skills to:
evaluate needs of own practice in relation to kilns
set up a kiln and kiln work space
set up and monitor the firing process
technology skills to safely use technical features of kilns.
Required knowledge
historical, contemporary and emerging trends in kiln types, kiln construction and kiln operation
properties and capabilities of the range of firing materials, tools and equipment, including pyrometric instruments
properties and specification of different kiln types
specific firing processes, including required firing stages, changes to materials, temperature range and timing of each stage of the process
typical problems that occur with kilns and with the firing process and how they may be resolved in the context of relevant materials and art forms
sustainability considerations for kiln work
OHS requirements for the set-up, operation and maintenance of kilns.
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.
Kilns may be: | electric gas pit raku salt wood. |
Historical and contemporary trends may relate to: | annealing ovens enamelling kilns glass-casting kilns history and development of kilns: early Chinese, Japanese and Korean early European modern kilns primitive and tribal, including New Guinean, African, Micronesian and pre-Columbian high fire pottery kilns sculpture kilns stained glass and flat glass kilns source of energy, including fuel types, structure and configuration of different types of kilns. |
Safety issues may relate to: | correct lifting techniques kiln emissions safe use of equipment specific hazards associated with: extreme heat fuels use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect against dust and fibres. |
Key requirements relate to: | cleaning kiln location monitoring equipment safety equipment, including PPE space around kiln storage of kiln furniture and equipment ventilation work to be fired. |
Firing program requirements may include: | annealing requirements firing profile maximum temperature optimum firing time soak times. |
Kiln loading and unloading requirements may relate to: | positioning of work to take account of: adequate pathways for flames even distribution of temperature ventilation of fumes and vapours props shelving stability. |
Firing process may include: | firing stages, the changes at each stage, and the temperature range and time as they relate to ceramics: biscuit firing glost firing creating reduction in the clay body and the glaze causing oxidation in the clay body and the glaze maintaining a neutral atmosphere creating a primitive fired effect creating blackware raku firing saltglaze firing wood firing using saggars for support or effect firing stages, the changes at each stage, and the temperature range and time as they relate to glass: firing enamels and lustres stained glass firing bending slumping fusing kiln casting thick work complex work annealing. |
Technical problems may relate to: | bloating colour issues dunting firing cracks thermal shock overfiring underfiring warping. |
Information may include: | control mechanisms used firing process energy and fuel type timing. |
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