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:

Assessment must confirm the ability to clearly identify the best LAN, VPN or WLAN topology based on business or organisational needs.

To demonstrate competency in this unit the learner will need access to:

Business requirements

Equipment specifications

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The breadth, depth and complexity covering planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills or knowledge applications across a broad range of technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination would be characteristic.

Assessment must ensure:

self-directed application of knowledge and skills, with substantial depth in some areas where judgement is required in planning and selecting appropriate equipment, services and techniques for self and others.

Applications involve participation in development of strategic initiatives as well as personal responsibility and autonomy in performing complex technical operations or organising others. It may include participation in teams including teams concerned with planning and evaluation functions. Group or team coordination may also be involved.

Method of assessment

The purpose of this unit is to define the standard of performance to be achieved in the workplace. In undertaking training and assessment activities related to this unit, consideration should be given to the implementation of appropriate diversity and accessibility practices in order to accommodate people who may have special needs. Additional guidance on these and related matters is provided in ICA05 Section 1.

Competency in this unit should to be assessed using summative assessment to ensure consistency of performance in a range of contexts. This unit can be assessed either in the workplace or in a simulated environment. However, simulated activities must closely reflect the workplace to enable full demonstration of competency.

Assessment will usually include observation of real or simulated work processes and procedures and/or performance in a project context as well as questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills.

The questioning of team members, supervisors, subordinates, peers and clients where appropriate may provide valuable input to the assessment process. The interdependence of units for assessment purposes may vary with the particular project or scenario.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICAA5140C Design a server

ICAA5145B Identify best-fit topology for a wide area network

ICAI5172B Implement backbone technologies in a local area network

ICAI5174B Install high-end switches in multi-switched, local area networks

ICAI5176C Install and configure router

ICAS5192B Configure an internet gateway

An individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of a broad knowledge base incorporating theoretical concepts, with substantial depth in some areas

Analyse and plan approaches to technical problems or management requirements

Transfer and apply theoretical concepts and/or technical or creative skills to a range of situations

Evaluate information, using it to forecast for planning or research purposes

Take responsibility for own outputs in relation to broad quantity and quality parameters

Take some responsibility for the achievement of group outcomes

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

Required skills

Use of LAN functional matrices

Use of traffic simulation tools

Basic traffic analysis

Use of network protocols

Basic skills in connecting networks and keeping cables tidy

Required knowledge

Characteristics and relative strengths and weaknesses of LAN network topologies

Line sharing protocols

Scope of operation, redundancy paths, high/low-speed links, protocols, security, traffic flow patterns, traffic load, response time and reliability requirements, types of user/applications, growth projections and capacity planning, constraints (costs, queuing)

Detailed knowledge of bridges, routers, gateways, TCP/IP, Ethernet, hubs, adaptor cards

Basic knowledge of cabling, particularly UTP (unshielded twisted pair), STP (shielded twisted pair) or optic fibre

Current industry-accepted hardware and software products, including broad knowledge of general features and capabilities

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.

Traffic may include:

data

voice

video

Network may include but is not limited to:

large and small local area networks (LANs)

wide area networks (WANs)

virtual private networks (VPNs)

virtual local area networks (VLANs)

wireless local area networks (WLANs)

as well as the use of the public standard telephone network (PSTN) for dial-up modems only

private lines

data

voice

Requirements may be in reference to:

business

system

network

people in the organisation