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17-3021.00 · Learning planner

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians: a task-based learning plan

Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, position, and evaluate air and space vehicles. May record and interpret test data.

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Understand the profile before choosing priorities

The table shows the ten highest importance ratings among 35 skills with usable ratings. Skills tied on importance can share a rank. Importance (1–5) and level (0–7) describe different dimensions. A level of 4 is not 4/7 of a course, and neither scale is your personal score. Source dates refer to the underlying rating, not the database release date.

SkillImportance / 5Level / 7Rating date
Critical Thinking3.884.0008/2019 · Analyst
Reading Comprehension3.753.7508/2019 · Analyst
Quality Control Analysis3.753.6208/2019 · Analyst
Operations Monitoring3.753.5008/2019 · Analyst
Active Listening3.623.8808/2019 · Analyst
Speaking3.623.1208/2019 · Analyst
Complex Problem Solving3.503.3808/2019 · Analyst
Judgment and Decision Making3.253.2508/2019 · Analyst
Troubleshooting3.253.1208/2019 · Analyst
Science3.123.7508/2019 · Analyst

Anchor the plan in an actual task

Choose one reported task you want to understand better. Then choose one to three skills and describe an appropriate learning activity, evidence you will review and a date. For practical work requiring authorization, choose relevant coursework, observation or supervised training.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses

Level 2: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late

What assumption could change your conclusion, and what evidence would you check first?

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Understand an email from management describing new personnel policies

Level 2: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form

Which instruction, constraint or exception in a document would you need to explain accurately?

Quality Control Analysis

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Assess new parts for precision and accuracy to specifications

Level 2: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)

What is being checked, what defines a defect, and what evidence would be retained?

Operations Monitoring

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Monitor machine functions on an automated production line

Level 2: Monitor completion times while running a computer program

Which indicator would you observe, what is its expected range, and how would you record an exception?

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Answer inquiries regarding credit references

Level 2: Take a customer's order

What would you ask the other person to clarify, and how would you confirm you understood?

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Interview applicants to obtain personal and work history

Level 2: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions

How would you explain the task, audience needs and next step in a short conversation?

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Redesign a floor layout to take advantage of new manufacturing techniques

Level 2: Lay out tools to complete a job

How would you separate the problem into parts and compare possible explanations?

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Evaluate a loan application for degree of risk

Level 2: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow

Which options, constraints and consequences would you compare, and what could change the choice?

Troubleshooting

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Identify the circuit causing an electrical system to fail

Level 2: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine

Which observations would distinguish two possible causes before changing anything?

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Read the scale examples

These generic examples illustrate the level scale. They are not required activities for aerospace engineering and operations technologists and technicians.

Level 4: Conduct product tests to ensure safety standards are met

Level 2: Conduct standard tests to determine soil quality

What observation or comparison would help you test an explanation, and what would remain uncertain?

Review the result

Your plan should explain why the selected skills matter for your chosen task, what you will do next and what evidence you will examine. Revisit the plan after that activity. Completing a worksheet or matching an occupation’s ratings does not establish professional competence.

Keep your worksheet

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.