Welcome to training With retail institute

Kia ora!Welcome to your Retail Institute training programme.

Reading this booklet will help you get started and let

you know what to expect.

Workplace training is about developing new skills and achieving

qualifications related to your job. Gaining a qualification in the workplace

is just as valid as gaining a qualification by studying full-time in a tertiary

education organisation. Training is essential in today’s workplace.

Qualifications recognise what you are capable of, and can help you in

your current job and future roles.

The Retail Institute is New Zealand’s Industry Training Organisation for

everyone working in retail and retail related wholesale and distribution

industries. We work closely with our industries to develop NZQA approved

qualifications and training materials for employers and employees ranging

from entry level to senior management.

Throughout your training programme Retail Institute will keep in touch

with you and help you stay on track. We may contact you in person,

by phone, email, mail or text message.

You can also contact us if you need to:

Free phone: 0800 486 738

Email: info@retailinstitute.org.nz FolloW us on FaCeBooK!

Now that you have received your training

resources you are ready to make a start.

Here are some things you can do to help

yourself to succeed:

1 Read through the introduction at the front of your training resource. This provides you with information about the resource, the key people involved as well as some planning tools and study techniques to help you along the way.

1 Identify the key people who will be involved in your success. They will be people like your trainer, manager, verifier, and your Retail Institute Training Adviser.

1 Read through your training resource. Use a highlighter to highlight any key words or information, or use post-its to make notes. Complete the activities in your resource or workbook as you go. These will prepare you for your assessment.

1 Read through your assessment. Use it to identify what you will need to know before completing it, and to arrange dates and times with your verifier.

1 Write your answers in draft form on paper first before completing your assessment.

study tips

neW Words

Word Meaning

describe Write or draw the appearance of something; to give details about what someone or something is like.

discuss To write or talk about a subject in detail.

Calculate To make a judgement about what is likely to happen or likely to be true using the available information.

illustrate To show what something is like or to show that something is true.

analyse To study or examine something in detail in order to understand or explain it.

Here are some ideas to get you on the way to study success.

1 Set goals. Then reward yourself when you achieve them. Decide what you are going to have completed by a date and mark it on the progress tracker. Then stick to the deadline.

1 Have a place to study so you get down to work straight away in your study sessions. You need good light, your training resources and no distractions.

1 Plan your study sessions. Most people can easily concentrate for 20 minutes so break your sessions up into 20 minute slots with short breaks in-between. Get up and stretch or have a glass of water and then get back into it.

1 Do a little bit of study regularly. Small study sessions spread out over the week is better than one large study session.

1 Be proactive and ask for support if you need it. Use your progress tracker to mark in dates for meetings with your supervisor and verifier. Remind them when the dates are coming up.

1 Use the free Internet services offered at local libraries throughout New Zealand. Check out www.aotearoa peoplesnetwork.org/content/partner-libraries to see if you have one near you.

getting started

What if i need more time to complete my training programme?

If you need more time to complete a training programme for personal or other reasons, please contact Retail Institute as soon as possible.

1. Complete a Retail Institute Training Agreement and send to Retail Institute for registration.

3. You will receive a welcome letter to confirm we have received your Training Agreement. Please check your contact details are correct.

The following chart outlines the steps you will go through during your training

programme.

2. You will be issued a code which will give you access to the Pre-training Snapshot. You have one week to complete it.

The Snapshot will determine the level of support you require to complete your training programme.

4. You will receive your training resources from Retail Institute or your employer. We will call you to confirm you have received it.

Frequently asKed questions

about the process

the process

WHaT’S neXT?

When you have completed your qualification you might want to move onto the next level. Check out our website for a list of qualifications and talk to your employer to see if they are supportive and eager for you to progress. Once your training has been given the green light, contact us on our free phone number: 0800 486 738. One of our Training Advisers can make a time to sit down with you and your employer to discuss training options and sign you up to the next level.

What if i am unable to complete my training programme?

You must complete a Retail Institute withdrawal form. The form must be signed and dated and give a detailed reason for withdrawal. Withdrawal forms can be found on our website. The completed withdrawal form must be submitted to Retail Institute.

7. When you have completed your assessments and verifications, you will need to send these to Retail Institute to be marked. remember to photocopy your work before you send it in case it goes missing in the mail.

Please contact us if you need envelopes to send your assessments in.

8. When we have marked your assessments we will return these to you with either a) instructions for further evidence needed before you are completed, or b) a letter confirming you have completed.

5. You can get started on your training programme!

6. Your Retail Institute Training Adviser will visit your store every six weeks to ensure you are progressing with your training and getting the support you need to complete.

Can i transfer my training agreement to a new employer?

If you change employers and your new employer is willing to support your training, a new training agreement will need to be completed with your new employer’s details.

10. When you receive confirmation that you have completed Snapshot we’ll let you know when to expect your certificate which will be sent to your workplace or to your workplace head office.

9. Once you have completed you are likely to be issued a code which will give you access to the Post-training Snapshot. This will identify your progress as a result of your training programme. This will not affect your assessment result.

Before you start your assessment remember to read

through all the questions and activities to make sure

you understand what you need to do and prepare for.

The assessment is a way of collecting evidence to show what you know and can do in your job role at a national level in your industry.

If you see a question or activity that does not make sense or is not common in your job role, talk to your Training Adviser. Your Training Adviser could offer other options of how the question or activity could be assessed or different types of evidence that could used.

During your assessment you can always ask questions or seek clarification about a task.

You should keep your Training Adviser informed of your progress so they can support you completing the assessment and your programme.

After you have sent in your completed assessment and the evidence has been assessed, the achieved unit standards are reported to NZQA and your Record of Achievement will be updated. Your actual assessment will be sent back to you. Remember to keep a copy of your assessment for your own records. The assessment could also be required for moderation at some stage.

referenCing

If you have copied any sentences or paragraphs, or used any ideas out of any text books you will need to source these references.

Referencing is when you acknowledge the sources, (ideas, words and information) you have used. Failure to acknowledge your sources is known as plagiarism (taking or rewording of another person’s words, ideas and writings and claiming them as your own).

If you are completing a Level 2 or 3 qualification you do not need to reference your sources. If you are completing a Level 4 qualification or greater, you need to reference your sources. The Retail Institute’s preferred method of referencing is APA (American Psychological Association) referencing – an author-date system that involves you:

1 referencing the text in your work

1 providing a reference list at the back of your assessment in bibliography format.

To find out more about APA referencing, take a look at the ‘Pocket Guide to APA Style’ by Robert Perrin, Third edition or check out www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/index.php?p=quickcite ?

your assessment

Who is an assessor?

An assessor is a person that reviews your assessment evidence and makes judgements about whether you are competent and meeting the unit standard requirements. This will most likely be your Training Adviser. You can them if you need any additional guidance about the assessment.

Who can be my verifier?

Your verifier can be anyone in your workplace that has worked with you and is able to confirm your evidence about what you know or can do. You can have more than one verifier if you need to.

What does the term ‘evidence’ mean?

Evidence is proof of what you know and can do in your role. The evidence you include will help us make judgments about whether you can meet a national standard.

What do i do if i make a mistake on the assessment?

Draw a line through your error and continue to complete the question or activity. If you feel you need to add a new sheet, just attach it with your signature and date to show the new evidence is your own work. It is good to show your mistakes, because we can see and understand your thought process.

Why do i need to photocopy my assessment?

Keep a copy of your assessment in case your assessment is lost in the mail and you need to send a copy. Sometimes the assessor might call you to discuss your evidence. Having a copy of your assessment in front of you will make it easier to follow.

about assessmentsFrequently asKed questions

What does it mean if i receive a ‘further evidence required’ letter?

Don’t worry if you get one of these. It just means we need some extra evidence to help make a judgement about whether you are competent to a national standard.

is there a final grade at the end of the assessment?

There is no grading with your assessment. You are working towards receiving ‘competent’ for each of the unit standards. ‘Competent’ means you have met the unit standard requirements.

More queSTionS?

If you have other questions, you can contact Retail Institute by:

1 phoning 0800 486 738

1 emailing info@retailinstitute.org.nz

1 visitng www.retaiilinstitute.org.nz?

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0800 486 738 www.retailinstitute.org.nz info@retailinstitute.org.nz

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Postal address P O Box 24 341 Manners Street Wellington 6142

Physical address Level 2, CMC Building 89 Courtenay Place Wellington 6011

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Postal address P O Box 91 264 Victoria Street West Auckland 1142

Physical address Level 1, 1 Beaumont Street Auckland City 1010

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Postal address Level 1, Poynton House 68 Oxford Tce Christchurch 8011

Physical address Level 1, Poynton House 68 Oxford Tce Christchurch 8011

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