National Occupational Standards in
Archaeological Practice

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AF4 Provide information on the material remains of past communities to others

AF4.1 Interpret customers' requests for information on the material remains of past communities

Performance Required

This will involve:

1. Ensuring that information is collated and organised into a suitable form for display and use
2. Ensuring that information stored is classified and capable of prompt identification and retrieval when required
3. Where users are unable to identify the required information, giving guidance in accessing the information system and identifying alternative sources
4. Controlling the use of information using agreed procedures so as to maximise the utility and integrity of the information system for all identified users
5. Establishing and implementing appropriate and valid methods for maintaining the currency of information, removing data and archiving redundant data

Occupational Context

1. Suitable form for display
   • Hard copy text presentation / ICT presentation
   • Library /microfilm
   • Graphical presentation: maps / plans / drawings
   • According to organisational capacity of time, manpower and financial resources
   • Relating to the social / cultural context of the given receivers / audience
2. Guidance
   • For resources
   • For contacts
   • For systems
3. Use of information
   • Technical reference
   • Current/archive record
   • Publicised presentation of new data
   • Information specifically relevant to particular specialist, non/ -professional groups
4. Agreed procedures
   • Data protection
   • Restricted/ authorised access
   • Health and safety
   • For the sake of the information source
   • For the preservation of the material
   • For its contribution to the discipline
5. Currency
   • Valid and up to date content
   • Relevant to present archaeological developments
   • Consistent with interests of society; of funding and regulatory bodies; of specialists groups

Knowledge Requirements

You need to know and understand how to:

• Organise, store and classify information into a suitable form for display and use
• Control the use of information to maximise the utility and integrity of the information system for users
• Establish and implement appropriate and valid methods for maintaining the currency of information, removing data and archiving redundant data
• Give advice to users

You need to know about:

Interpretation and information systems

• Formats for information display and use
• Classification systems

Customers

• User requirements, needs, expectations, capacities

Required Skills

You should demonstrate:

Communication skills- specifically in dealing with:

• non-specialists (e.g. clients) on technical subjects;
  • those who will implement their recommended solution
  • Data Presentation skills:
    • public speaking
    • graphical presentation
    • ICT, etc

  Evidence Required

  You should provide evidence that you can interpret customers' requests for information on the historic environment

  • Performance evidence will be required in the form of an up and running information system that can be formally assessed.

  Supportive documentation for this will take the form procedural evidence, such as sample inputs and outputs

  Evidence Rules

  The candidate should have been involved over time in providing a range of technical and non-technical information about the historic environment to others, internally and externally.

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  Today's date: 31/7/2010
  This page last updated: 27/7/2007 16:17