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 ability to:

plan to test an optical ethernet link

select and perform a testing regime on ethernet optical transmissions

analyse and document test results

comply with all related OHS requirements and work practices.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

a telecommunications operations site with ethernet optical transmission system

test equipment currently used in industry.

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:

oral or written questioning of the candidate

direct observation of the candidate carrying out relevant measurements within an ethernet optical communication system

evaluation of written report prepared by the candidate outlining architecture components, testing regime and analysis of test results.

Guidance information for assessment

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

ICTOPN4116A Use advanced optical test equipment

ICTOPN6129A Analyse optical transmission systems.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Required skills

analytical skills to identify and rectify faults in Ethernet transmission

communication skills to:

liaise with internal and external personnel on technical and operational matters

relate to work associates, supervisors, team members and clients

literacy skills to:

interpret technical documentation, such as equipment manuals, specifications and service orders

write reports using standard formats

research skills to gather data, observation and analysis of transmission issues

technical skills to conduct tests and operate test equipment

Required knowledge

ethernet:

applications of ethernet in optical systems

architecture of ethernet systems

operation of ethernet within a telecommunications environment

organisational policy and procedures

testing techniques

familiarity with workplace and industry environment

specific OHS requirements relating to:

handling of optical fibre

personal safety issues

use of laser light sources

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.

Hazards may include:

optical cable:

hazardous laser light.

Technical environment may include:

Ethernet frame structure

medium access control

physical media.

Architecture components may include:

entire fibres

Lambda

time division multiplexing

waveband.

Functions may include:

bandwidth profile parameters

class-of-service labels

network service parameters

service attributes

service performance parameters.

Framework may include:

auto-negotiation

physical coding sub-layer

physical medium attachment

physical medium dependent.

Appropriate tests may include:

approval and acceptance tests:

1000BASE-T PMA

1000BASE-X PCS

auto-negotiation

electrical interfaces

ethernet testing suite

flow control test

jitter measurements

media access control (MAC) layer

operating wavelength

optical interfaces

phase fluctuation and jitter

physical interface

physical-layer interoperability

media tests:

advanced cable testing

characteristic impedance

crosstalk

delay

insertion loss or attenuation

media categories

return loss

wiremap

performance tests:

back-to-back frames

frame loss ratio

latency

reset

RFC 2544 Test

system recovery

throughput

traffic generation.

Appropriate person may include:

authorised business representative

client

supervisor.