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.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently:

identify appropriate numerical methods for engineering or related problems

apply the appropriate technique to the problem

communicate the outcome of the analysis in an appropriate way.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed on the job, off the job or a combination of both on and off the job. Where assessment occurs off the job, that is, the candidate is not in productive work, then a simulated working environment must be used where the range of conditions reflects realistic workplace situations. The competency covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package.

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge.

Assessment methods must be by direct observation of tasks and include questioning on underpinning knowledge to ensure its correct interpretation and application.

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process.

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances.

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency where required.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Required skills

Required skills include:

identifying and defining problems

collecting and analysing data

reporting and presenting data and quantitative information

communicating effectively with stakeholders on problem resolution

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

numerical solutions:

finite difference techniques

polynomial interpolation

errors:

computer arithmetic

propagation of errors

solution of non-linear equations:

fixed point and bisection method

Secant and Newton-Raphson iterative methods

convergence

solution of systems of linear equations:

Gaussian elimination

pivoting strategies

LU factorisation

Ill-conditioning

errors and residuals

iterative methods

solution of differential equations:

Euler method

Taylor and Runge-Kutta methods

convergence

Interpolation and Approximation:

polynomial interpolation

Lagrange form

Newton’s divide formula

error bound

finite difference techniques:

solution of problems in electrostatics and wave propagation

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. 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.

Data available

Data currently available includes:

all relevant data which is currently available within the organisation or could be readily obtained

Information required

Information required is the outcome which needs to be produced in order to solve/assist in resolving the defined problem

Numerical methods

Numerical methods may include:

one or more or any of the techniques listed under ‘required knowledge’

a related technique

Computational device

Computational devices include:

calculators with numerical methods functions

computer software packages

Appropriate action

Appropriate action may include:

taking necessary steps to obtain required data

obtaining some relevant proxy for the desired data

choosing a different numerical method/computational device which will function with available data

Appropriate technique

Appropriate technique includes:

selected numerical method which will yield required outcome

technique which is appropriate for the available data and which is relevant to the problem

Check answer

Checking answer means examining the answer to ensure it is within the range of expected logical results

Interpret answer

Interpret answer means translating the result of the numerical analysis into a form which is useable by the relevant stakeholders

Appropriate communication

Appropriate communication may include:

report

presentation

verbal communication

web-based

electronic or hard copy

Check outcome

Check outcome includes:

ensuring that the result of the analysis does assist in the resolution of the problem