These online assessment ideas focus on selected required knowledge from the MSS11 SS2 Determine energy usage Skill Set.They do not cover all assessment requirements for the Skill Set.
UPDATE: These resources have not been designed or mapped to the updated units in the MSS Sustainability Training Package. However they do cover some of the key aspects of the MSS units of competency.
The following abbreviations have been used to show where the requirements are in the Skill Set units:
- E – Element
- PC – Performance Criteria
- RK – Required Knowledge
- RS – Required Skills
Carbon sources and carbon sinks
This is a requirement in MSS015001A (E1, E2, E4, RK) and MSS015011A (E1)
Guidance
The Skill Set requires the learner to identify carbon sources and carbon sinks for each step of a process.
The learner will need to understand the relationship between energy use and carbon emissions.
Carbon sinks could include:
- Environmental offsets such as tree planting
- Sequestering such as chemically combining or otherwise removing from the environment
- Energy capture/sharing approaches such as co-generation and tri-generation.
Sample question
This question is presented as matching items. The learner is given a list of activities and has to match them to the right heading – either a carbon source or carbon sink.
Online this could be a drag and drop function where only a correct answer will stay in place and allow the learner to move on to the next item. On paper this could be done by a drawing line from the term to the correct heading.
Drag and drop each activity onto the correct heading.
Using methane from rubbish tips to generate electricity
Fugitive emissions of gas from mining operations
Geosequestration
Planting trees
CO2 from coal fired generation of electricity
Methane escaping from wastewater treatment plants
Carbon source
Carbon sink
Using methane from rubbish tips to generate electricity – carbon sink
Fugitive emissions of gas from mining operations – carbon source
Geosequestration – carbon sink
Planting trees – carbon sink
CO2 emitted during coal fired generation of electricity – carbon source
Methane escaping from wastewater treatment plants – carbon source
Embodied carbon
This is a requirement in MSS015001A (E3, RK, RS)
Guidance
The Skill Set requires the learner to determine the total carbon embodied in a product.
Embodied carbon is the total of carbon consumed in the manufacture, use and disposal of the product expressed as CO2 equivalent tonnes.
Carbon related changes in a process will generally result in a carbon emission, for example, by the consumption of energy or use of a component which comes with embodied energy.
Components such as iron, aluminum and cement have significant embodied carbon even though they do not contain carbon. Other components that do contain carbon may have relatively little embodied carbon; this is the case for fiber composites.
Sample question
This question is presented as multiple choice. In an online assessment the user typically sees an explanation about a wrong answer and this helps them to learn. In a formative assessment can keep trying until they get it right. In a summative assessment only the first answer is likely to be accepted and “marked”.
Which of the following is not part of the embodied carbon of the life cycle (from manufacture to disposal) of a mobile phone:
A Energy used during mining of the raw materials
Not correct. Energy used to extract raw materials will have a carbon footprint and will be included in the embodied carbon of the end product.
B Power used to recharge the phone
Correct. Power used to recharge the phone has a carbon footprint, but it is used to operate the phone, rather than as part of the manufacture of the phone.
C Carbon in waste offcuts of glass
Not correct. Carbon from waste and offcuts produced during manufacturing is part of the embodied carbon.
D Fuel used during transportation to the retailer
Not correct. Fuel used to transport products contributes to the embodied carbon of the product.
E Energy used in making the packaging
Not correct. Energy used to create the packaging is part of the embodied carbon.
