National Occupational Standards
- Element 10.1 - Establish the role of multimedia
components in a technical publication
- Element 10.2 - Import multimedia components into
a technical publication
- Element 10.3 - Adjust the settings of multimedia
components for use in a technical publication
- Element 10.4 - Review multimedia components for
inclusion in a technical publication
This unit describes the competence required from technical communicators
when incorporating multimedia components into a technical publication, eg,
animation, applets, audio, graphics, hypertext, photographs, and video. Technical
communicators have to confirm the objectives of the technical publication
and identify the role of multimedia components in communicating the content.
They then have to select and import the multimedia components, incorporating
them with the other components of the technical publication. The settings
of the multimedia components have to be adjusted to ensure they deliver the
content correctly. Finally, the technical communicators have to review the
multimedia components to ensure they work correctly, and they are revised
if there are any errors or problems.
Evidence Requirements
Evidence of performance and knowledge is required. Evidence of performance
should be demonstrated by activities and outcomes, and should be generated
during the course of normal activities, unless indicated under Assessment
Methods (see below). Evidence of knowledge can be demonstrated through performance
or by responding to questions. A variety of assessment methods can be used
(see below).
Quantity and scope of evidence:
Evidence should show that the candidate can undertake this unit consistently
over a suitable period. The number of times, or the amount of experience,
cannot be specified in detail. However, it is important that the candidate
provides performance evidence of having undertaken this unit a minimum of
two times. Further guidance will be developed during the implementation of
the qualifications.
Assessment methods:
A number of assessment methods are listed below. The ticks and crosses indicate
which methods are or are not recommended. However, these are recommendations,
and this is not a list of sanctioned or prohibited methods: it is up to individual
assessors to determine which assessment methods are suitable in individual
cases. In addition, other assessment methods might be appropriate. Further
guidance will be developed during the implementation of the qualifications.
Recommended Assessment Methods |
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direct observation of the candidate by the assessor |
√ |
outputs (eg publications) produced by the candidate in their normal activities |
√ |
outputs (eg publications) produced by the candidate as special exercises |
√ |
supporting documents (eg memos, notes, correspondence) |
√ |
responses to questions from the assessor |
√ |
written answers to questions |
√ |
testimony of others who have witnessed the candidate achieving the standards |
x |
Evidence Guidance
Examples of Evidence:
- Direct evidence
- Correspondence with the client
- Multimedia components incorporated in the technical publication
- Organisational records
- Test versions of multimedia components
- Supplementary evidence
- Contract/order notes/job sheet
- Correspondence, memos, faxes, and e-mail
- Design specification for technical publication
- Information notes provided by the client
- Technical specifications
Key words in this unit that can be found in the glossary:
- client
- components of the technical publication
- content
- designs
- error
- information systems
- multimedia components
- people
- technical publication
- users
You must be able to:
- Confirm the objectives of the technical publication
- Identify the role of different multimedia components in communicating
the content
- Establish how the multimedia components relate to the rest of the technical
publication
- Identify any problems with using multimedia components in the technical
publication
- Review the potential use of the multimedia components with the relevant
people
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Multimedia components
- what are the multimedia components that could be used
- what are the advantages and disadvantages of using different multimedia
components
- what types of problem could be encountered when using multimedia components
in technical publications
- who should review the use of multimedia components
You must be able to:
- Select multimedia components to convey effectively the required content
of the technical publication
- Select multimedia components that are suitable to the users of the technical
publication
- Incorporate the multimedia components with other multimedia to produce
a coherent design for the publication
- Ensure the multimedia components are free from errors
- Comply with all relevant legislation and ownership rights relating to
the use of other people's work
- Record and protect the multimedia components in the appropriate information
systems
- Provide the multimedia components to the relevant people according to
the agreed time scale
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Importing multimedia components
- what are the multimedia components that could be imported
- how to obtain supplies of multimedia components
- what are the advantages and disadvantages of using different multimedia
components
- what types of error could be encountered when importing multimedia
components
- who requires the multimedia components
- Legislation and ownership rights
- what is the relevant legislation relating to using materials and data
- what are the rights of owners of materials
- where to obtain information on licensing agreements
- what are the consequences of not complying with the ownership rights
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Adjust the settings of multimedia components to convey effectively the
required content of the technical publication
- Produce multimedia components that are suitable to the users of the technical
publication
- Ensure the multimedia components are free from errors
- Produce the multimedia components in the agreed format required in the
technical publication
- Record and protect the multimedia components in the appropriate information
systems
- Provide the adjusted multimedia components to the relevant people according
to the agreed time scale
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Adjusting multimedia components
- what are the multimedia components that could be adjusted, and to
what extent
- what are the advantages and disadvantages of adjusting multimedia
components
- what are the methods for adjusting different multimedia components
- what types of error could be encountered when adjusting multimedia
components
- who requires the adjusted multimedia components
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
You must be able to:
- Review the multimedia components with the relevant people
- Identify any errors, omissions, or inconsistencies within the multimedia
components that need to be corrected
- Identify any multimedia components that are redundant and can be removed
- Revise the multimedia components effectively to meet the requirements
of the client and users
- Ensure health and safety requirements are implemented in the multimedia
components
- Recommend to the relevant people any improvements to the technical publication
- Record and protect the revised multimedia components in the appropriate
information systems
You must be able to apply knowledge of:
- Reviewing multimedia components
- who should review the multimedia components
- what are the errors, omission, and inconsistencies in multimedia components
that can be found
- what types of multimedia component are often redundant and can be
removed
- why it is important to ensure health and safety requirements are implemented
- Information systems
- which systems should be used
- why it is important to use the systems correctly
© Crown Copyright, 1999,
© Publishing Training Centre, 1999,
© ISTC, The Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators, 1999 |
