ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Install peripherals to a network

1.1. Plan the location of peripherals to provide appropriate services to users and to take into consideration OH&Sstandards

1.2. Connect peripherals to network, using vendor-approved method and technology

1.3. Connect peripherals to computers in the network using parallel, serial or other direct connection methods

1.4. Add peripheral accessories or upgrades to printer such as memory or high-volume paper trays

1.5. Test peripherals for correct operation

2. Configure peripheral services to manage peripherals

2.1. Install software required to manage local and network-connected peripherals

2.2. Use meaningful names for peripherals and control queues

2.3. Configure security and access to allow appropriate users to make use of peripherals

2.4. Configure workstation for peripherals to allow applications to work with peripherals

3. Administer and support peripheral services

3.1. Assign priority to control queues

3.2. Use peripheral management software supplied as part of the networkoperating system or by third parties

3.3. Create templates for use on the network

3.4. Configure settings on the network to create maintenance schedules, usage logs, and cost centre usage statistics

3.5. Demonstrate to the user the methods for using peripheral services from their or workstation

4. Maintain peripherals and fix common problems

4.1. Establish and follow a regular maintenance schedule as recommended by peripheral manufacturer

4.2. Replace consumables and components when required

4.3. Fix peripheral mishaps and malfunctions

4.4. Monitor peripheral usage and traffic and recommend additional peripherals if needed

4.5. Determine failures of peripheral services or devices and rectify as required

Required skills

Ability to plan and discuss network issues with clients and team members in a manner that promotes team spirit and cooperation in carrying out project tasks.

Communication skills for educating users about the causes of network problems and how to minimise their recurrence.

Ability to use operating system and the peripheral device's logging or monitoring features to monitor the health of the peripheral.

A familiarity with the general construction and operation of the peripheral device, in order to facilitate its troubleshooting.

Awareness of network documentation conventions when configuring the peripheral device's name or new profile.

Required knowledge

Current peripheral devices, such as scanners, multi-use devices, external modems

How to configure peripherals for network use, with drivers and cable connections.

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 knowledge of peripheral technologies and how network peripherals (hardware and software) are installed and configured.

Assessment must confirm the ability to maintain networked peripherals in working order.

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

Live network

Peripherals

Documentation for records and reports

Context of and specific resources for assessment

The continuing development of new, more advanced and complex peripheral devices requires the network manager to be able to introduce and integrate the devices into the organisation's networked system. A competent learner should be able to efficiently engage in related installation and maintenance procedures in accordance with vendor specifications. This process includes the ability to troubleshoot the system in case the equipment functioned abnormally.

The breadth, depth and complexity of knowledge and skills in this competency would cover selecting, adapting and transferring skills and knowledge to new environments and providing technical advice and some leadership in resolution of specified problems. This would be applied across a range of roles in a variety of contexts with some complexity in the extent and choice of options available.

Assessment must ensure:

Performance of a defined range of skilled operations, usually within a range of broader related activities involving known routines, methods and procedures, where some discretion and judgement is required in the section of equipment, services or contingency measures and within known time constraints would be characteristic.

Applications may involve some responsibility for others. Participation in teams including group or team coordination may 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 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:

ICAI3020B Install and optimise operating system software

ICAI4029C Install network hardware to a network

ICAS3034B Determine and action network problems

Demonstration of competency would involve:

Demonstrating basic network operational knowledge in relation to a range of common peripherals

Applying knowledge of normal operating mode and previous troubleshooting data to resolve operational problems with peripherals

Assessing and recording information related to network solutions and problems from varied sources

Taking limited responsibility for administering networks

Additionally, an individual demonstrating this competency would be able to:

Demonstrate some relevant theoretical knowledge

Apply a range of well-developed skills

Apply known solutions to a variety of predictable problems

Perform processes that require a range of well-developed skills where some discretion and judgement is required

Interpret available information, using discretion and judgement

Take responsibility for own outputs in work and learning

Take limited responsibility for the output of others

Maintain knowledge of industry products and services

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.

Peripherals may include but are not limited to:

Printers, scanners, tape cartridges

Speakers, multimedia kits

Personal computer fax/modems

Input equipment may include mouse, touch pad, keyboard, pens

Mobile phones, palmtops and personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops and desktop computers

Bluetooth devices, universal serial bus (USB), Firewire (IEEE 1394)

User may include:

a person within a department

a department within the organisation

a third party

OH&S standards may include:

correct posture

lighting

type of desk

type of monitor

style of chair

typing position

repetitive strain injury prevention

ventilation

light position

correct lifting method

length of time in front of computer

Network may include but is not limited to:

large and small LANs

WANs

VPNs

the internet

the use of the PSTN for dial-up modems only

private lines

data

voice

Printer may include but is not limited to:

laser printers

ink jet printers (mono or colour)

Software may include but is not limited to:

commercial, in-house, packaged or customised software

Applications may include:

database programs

word processors

email programs

internet browsers

system browsers

spreadsheets

Consumables may include but is not limited to:

ink cartridges

toner cartridges

ribbons

floppy disks

CD-R

CD-RW

Network operating system may include but is not limited to:

Novell NetWare 5 or above or any operating system that has multi-user ability

Linux

Mac OS

Windows 2000 or above

Components may include:

motherboards

CMOS battery

central processing unit (CPU)

CD and DVD drives

interface cards

drives

fax/modem cards

RAM upgrades

CPU upgrades

Unit sector

Support

This unit contains employability skills.