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+--- Thread: site tech role (/showthread.php?tid=3953)
site tech role - Dinosaur - 14th June 2011
P Prentice Wrote:i dont know why you keep hiding your ire behind a face-stir when you make comments like that. ifa will be whatever the members make it because the membership can vote, its a bit like one of those new-fangled democracies! your premise that most archaeologists arent interested because it wont work for them is a nonsence, because they could all join and make it work for them the way they want it. you dino advocate the status quo - why? are you afraid that the young folk will leave you behind?
With one exception, as far as I am aware every single digger that I've ever worked with who I am aware was a member of IFA had merely joined because they thought it would help them get a job (ha ha!) and had no interest whatsoever with the policies/politics/whatever and certainly wouldn't have bothered going to the effort of voting for anything. Most of them had long since realised that it was a total waste of money. From the posts on here it's clear that there are, in fact, a few politicised digger-IFA members (concede that), but precious few, it's always the same two or three individuals posting. Most couldn't give a t**s and are mainly interested in getting the h**l out and saving those precious beer-tokens for something more useful
Oh yes, as observed above, you're an excellent stir-target, keep it up, amazed how this thread has livened up :face-approve:
site tech role - Dinosaur - 14th June 2011
Sorry BAJR, crossed!
How are you going to make validation of the skills passport work? The model you sent us could just be filled in by the holder to make it look like they were an expert at everything!
Oh, and I'm all in favour of site training for people, but curators will have to start writing this into specs or no one around here would touch it for fear of being accused of undercutting (on top of all the other techniques currently in use....)
site tech role - moreno - 14th June 2011
All for skills validation, passport, green card, stamp, token, A star etc etc...as long as joining a certain organisation isn't part of the criteria
Validation of said skills, by whom? More nameless, faceless people? Or by Archaeologists we respect? If "you" say by elected comittee, I have a sharpie with your name on it...
site tech role - Kajemby - 14th June 2011
Dinosaur Wrote:Sorry BAJR, crossed!
How are you going to make validation of the skills passport work? The model you sent us could just be filled in by the holder to make it look like they were an expert at everything!
Oh, and I'm all in favour of site training for people, but curators will have to start writing this into specs or no one around here would touch it for fear of being accused of undercutting (on top of all the other techniques currently in use....)
What about something akin to the cscs card? I don't mean in terms of the test, but rather in house training that can be signed off by the supervisor/po etc (countersigned if needed), and a card sent with an appropriate indication of responsibility that the person should have on site? I don't mean like the ifa, gradings, bit more detailed and specific to field work (I.e; can this guy plan, take levels, work on watching briefs by themselves etc). Cards could have grades etc on them.
Pie in the sky I suspect, as o doubt unit managers would pay out for the training scheme, even though it'd probably save money in the long run as with a glance at a card, they could tell if the person is trained for the position (bit more reliable than looking at a CV)
site tech role - Wax - 14th June 2011
So what has the IFA done for field archaeologists (my suspicion is that over all BAJR and other less formal groups have done more)? I ask out of genuine curiosity.
site tech role - Dinosaur - 14th June 2011
Some of their stuff like the standards-for-this-that-and-the-other are handy since no one else has really ever tried so set specific benchmarks to standardise work, but frankly SCAUM or whatever it's currently calling itself should have done that decades ago, doesn't need IFA. At least SCAUM(etc) admits its a managers club....
A secure database accessible by potential employeres, and only updateable by former/current employers, listing skills/competences attained and who says so is what's required, then there's some come-back if the 'grading' turns out to be s**t. Couldn't, I suspect, have normal references on there for legal reasons, indeed no idea what legal problems there'd be with any of this. Could be financed by subscription from either the ptential employee (who'd hopefully find it easier to get work) or potential employers (who wouldn't get a workforce of wallies) :face-thinks:
site tech role - Kajemby - 14th June 2011
It should definately be the employers regardless of what scheme is picked (if one is picked), otherwise it would create a two tier system like the IFA, those that can afford to join and those that can't.
Agree with a database though, and that database could be shared between unit managers, if only they would co-operate!
Could be a bit dodgy - would staff want their details shared around? Some form of permission would be needed! :face-thinks:
site tech role - BAJR - 14th June 2011
Just a quick catch up...
Dino you are right... the Skills passport will be signed off by people who are registered to being 'capable' ie back to the old lamented IfA Competence. And I am working on a web based database that allows for cross reference. ie no self reference.! Therefore a Skils passport number can be verified on teh database which is password protected. You have to register to be able to access it - ie PMs or companies only. while another level to update and another for keeping personal details up to date.
site tech role - BAJR - 14th June 2011
pps... this is taking so long I strain at the lead. having first mooted it over 6 years ago <sigh> at last have backing... but do want the IfA to recognise it and it not to be 'just' a BAJR initiative. but boy do I hate waiting!
site tech role - kevin wooldridge - 14th June 2011
How would the skills passport validation scheme work for the self-employed?