| Chapter 2: | Competency Standards Design Methodology |
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They are essentially embedded in a dynamic hermeneutic process in which unavoidable acts of interpretation by those involved will inevitably break down mechanistic or rigid means-end theories of action. Mechanistic processes cannot give sufficient place to the essentially intersubjective nature of much of what is involved in both their specification and their implementation (cf. Chappell et al., 2000, pp. 197–198). It must be expected then that the process of developing the means to implement the standards may challenge the presuppositions and thinking upon which they have been developed in this book and require their further development and modification (cf. Bernstein, 1983, p. 147).
While thus acknowledging that standards are flexible modifiable ends, it is nevertheless argued that their fullest benefit will be gained if they are carefully maintained as ends and diligently separated from means-related issues such as considerations of how they might be implemented. Maintained as ends, standards can form a valuable and dynamic background and framework that will both be a clear target for critique and improvement (that is for their assessment as valid ends) and also can highlight the need for the development of suitable pedagogies, the training of teachers, and the development of teaching resources. They may also be seen as contributing to the means by which the effectiveness of pedagogies, the competence of teachers, and the validity of resources that might be developed to assist their attainment could be assessed.
Units of Competency
Each competency defined by the ANTA (2001a) process is called a unit of competency (for a comprehensive description of competency standards and their components, see also ANTA 2001b, 2001c, 2001d, 2001e). A unit of competency must be able to stand alone logically. It is the smallest component of attainment or achievement that can be recognised (ANTA, 2001e, p. 11). Appendix A is a sample unit of competency from the FNB99 Financial Services Training Package. The components of a unit of competency as prescribed in the Training Package Development Handbook are readily identifiable within it.