It is possible to establish local standards for each of the performance indicators. This step will help career development practitioners to gauge the level of mastery that learners achieve for each competency. Local standards provide schools and other learning systems with appropriate flexibility to develop standards that truly reflect the local context in which people’s careers are developing.
The purpose of a local standard is to specify the task requirements that must be demonstrated in order to produce a tangible and/or measurable outcome against each performance indicator.
A local standard specifies:
- What the individual will do to demonstrate their ability against an indicator.
- The conditions under which individuals will perform the task asked of them.
- How well individuals should perform the task asked of them (how well might refer to accuracy, quality, speed, quantity or tolerance).
Educators will recognise these elements as a traditional means of creating learning objectives, which should define the competence to be shown, the conditions under which it should be demonstrated and the standard to which it should be performed.
However, local standards are intended to be flexible. They are designed to reflect individual circumstances and local decisions. Remember, you decide what you want the local standard to be for your program.
Quick Guide for Developing Local Standards
| Step 1 |
Consider the performance indicator, and the learning stage to which it corresponds. In particular, note the verb that begins the performance indicator, as this indicates the type of learning expected from the individual. Verbs such as discover, explore, understand and examine require learners to know something but not necessarily do anything with that knowledge. Verbs such as create, engage, transform and demonstrate require learners to actively do something that directly affects their own lives. Paying attention to the verb within the performance indicator will assist with developing local standards. |
| Step 2 |
Consider the size of your cohort of learners. |
| Step 3 |
Consider the resource requirements. |
| Step 4 |
Consider your learner’s access to resources, equipment and settings. |
| Step 5 |
Ensure your local standards are achievable by students and those responsible for implementing and measuring them. |
Examples of Local Standards for Primary Schools:
Example 1 Local standard for performance indicator 2.1.3 for year 3 students
CAREER MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY 2.1:
Develop abilities for building positive relationships in life.
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 2.1.3:
Identify positive social skills, such as empathy, cooperation, a willingness to help and show respect for others.
LOCAL STANDARD:
Year 3 students are presented with four school-based scenarios, two showing positive social skills, two showing poor social skills. Students are asked to identify which scenarios demonstrate positive social skills, and to name them. In the scenarios that illustrate poor social skills, students are asked to suggest positive behaviours that could have been used
Example 2 Local standard for performance indicator 5.1.3 for year 5 students
CAREER MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY 5.1:
Locate and effectively use career information.
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 5.1.3:
Understand how parents, relatives, friends and/or neighbours provide us with information and influence our career choices.
LOCAL STANDARD:
Year 5 students to compile a list identifying 8 occupations, and against each occupation match a friend, relative or acquaintance in their circle who may be able to provide expert information on each of the occupations selected. Students to also provide a brief reason as to why these individuals have been selected.
Example 3 Local standard for performance indicator 1.2.1 for year 7 students
CAREER MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY 1.1:
Build a positive self concept while discovering its influence of self and others.
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 1.2.1:
Discover how behaviours and attitudes affect school, work and family situations.
LOCAL STANDARD:
In a short answer test item, year 7 students will describe how their attitudes and behaviours positively affected one school, one sporting and one family situation, using specific examples.
Examples of Local Standards for Secondary Schools:
Example 4 Local Standard for performance indicator 5.2.4 for year 9 students
CAREER MANAGEMENT COMPETENCY 5.2:
Locate and effectively use career information.
PERFORMANCE INDICATOR 5.2.4
Explore the differences between occupations and industry sectors by locating and using available career information resources.
LOCAL STANDARD:
Using available career information resources, year 9 students to explore three diverse industry sectors of interest to them, and identify five distinct occupations within each industry sector.