The following are guidelines
developed for conducting orals under the MEO 1998 Examination
Rules.
GUIDELINES ON
CONDUCTING ORALS ( MEO 1998 Rules)
Orals are conducted to test
the candidate for the following. These are with reference to and
in relation with the functions spelled out in STCW 95 Code.
1. Under standing of an incident,
system of work or its procedure - Comprehension and Interpretation.
2.Knowledge of Equipment, Fittings,
Methods, Systems
3.Logical analysis of events
and procedures Application, Evaluation.
4.Clarity of expression. Communication,
Synthesis.
5.Reaction and behavioral interaction
to a situation adverse or symptomatic Proficiency, Analysis.
Levels of Orals
The above mentioned, specifics
must constitute all the competencies. The questioning should be
conducted at the following levels.
Level A (1) Basic or Fundamentals
Levels. (Elementary)
Level B (2) Operational Levels.
(Means of Implementation)
Level C (3) Responsible Levels.
(Strategy for Implementation)
Switching between levels is
akin to adjusting the difficulty levels. The candidate however
must fairly score at all three levels.
The Basic level is generally
descriptive.
The Operational Level is generally
based on concepts of How and What.
The Responsible Level is generally
based on Why and When. These are not rigid concepts and a
pragmatic approach is to mix the levels of questioning, to get
the desired effect.
Levels A, B & C must be judiciously
used for all candidates. A suggested ratio of questioning in level
A:B:C should be around 1:6:3 . Question should be asked preferably
in at-least two ways out of the given three.
(1) Direct (2) Indirect (3)
Leading.
If the candidate is unable to
answer, he should be given an alternate question of equivalent
importance and nature. The Level C is generally meant for candidates
at the Management Level.
Example at Class IV Level.
Direct : How would you discharge
a D. C. P. portable fire extinguisher to extinguish a small fire
on a cylinder head of an auxiliary engine.
Indirect : What means are available
to deal with small fires on auxiliary engine cylinder heads.
Leading : If there was a small
oil fire on the cylinder head of an auxiliary engine, suggest
the type of portable extinguisher you would use and the practice
of doing so, or any other means you would use to extinguish it.
If the candidate fails to answer
a safety questions such as the above, an alternate question of
safety must be asked.
Questioning is done at the following
levels.
Basic Levels - deals with fundamental
questions.
Example : - explain with a sketch
what is rankine cycle. - how is a B. E. bearing clearance measured.
- Why is turbocharger necessary. - When does an over speed trip
come in to play in a Main Engine.
Operational Levels - deals with
actual operation.
Example - explain how crosshead
bearing is dismantled. - what are the indications of low gas in
refrg. system or air in a refrg. system. - Why are the M.E. tie
rods tightened in a particular fashion.
Responsible Levels - deals with
responsible tasks typical for Management Level.
Example - How would you prepare
to run an engine with a damaged turbocharger rotor. - What drills
would you carry out for accommodation fires. - Why would you instruct
to keep a sharp lookout on double bottom tank soundings after
a reported grounding. - When is it absolutely necessary to check
timing chain tension.
Orals Assessment
A typical orals assessment sheet
would have the following areas of competence.
QU (1) Question of Under standing
- Ask the candidate to relate an accident or event and probe him
on what he made out or learned from it.
QK (2) Question of Knowledge
Ask the candidate to test whether he is aware of fittings, systems,
processors commonly used in ships, engine rooms, deck machinery,
steering.
QLA (3) Question of Logical
Analysis - Ask candidate to give a logical sequence of a procedure,
for say a engine starting, a compressor stopping, a boiler blow
down, etc.
QCE (4) Questions of Clarity
of Expression Ask the candidate to describe in a few words a
handing over taking over of watch, an overhaul of a purifier,
etc.
QR (5) Questions of Reaction
Ask the candidate some typical question of reaction such as
what would he do if the M. E. stopped suddenly, slowly or intermittently
slow down and speed up. What would he do if he suddenly saw bilge
water above floor plate level?
QE (6) Question of Evaluation
Ask the candidate to evaluate a particular watch process, action
or incident.
Some donts
1. Do not ask a confusing or
misleading question.
2. Do not ask a question whose
answer is vague in your mind.
3. Do not ask intimidating questions.
4. Do not scare the candidate.
5. Do not dispose off the candidates
without a fair time of questioning.
6. Do not totally co-relate
the orals with what he has done in writtens.
7. Do not base orals on the
candidates general conduct or overall bearing.
8. Do not have a pre-disposition
towards the candidate before the orals.
Conduct of Orals :
The orals for all examination
under 1998 MEO examination rules shall be independent of the candidates
written examination. Some salient points are noted below
(1) A team comprising of atleast
two people one being an examiner of MMD/ DGS and the others are
representatives from the IMarE, LBS, MERI empanelled as an examiner.
(2) All the examiners will be
active participants in the orals examination and decide the results
jointly.
(3) Use of slides, projectors,
transparencies must be encouraged. Reference to TAR books and
competencies must be made.
(4) Every effort should be made
to hold the orals as early as possible after completion of written
examination and the complete orals process should be completed
within two or three days.
(5) Orals for function 4B will
contain all ingredients of function 3, 4A, 4B, 5, and 6. If the
candidate fails in a particular function the same must be indicated,
so that he can reappear again, only for that function.
(6) If a candidate chooses to
appear for orals of a particular function seperately then he should
be examined only for that function.
(7) Record of orals results
and use of function is given in Orals Form2, Form3 & EXN37BC Rev.
1.
(8) Examiners may prepare their
own marking system for individual questions but the orals ratings
for five scales spelled out in the guidelines must be adhered
to.
(9) Examiners may mutually decide
on individual question marking system, but arrive at a common
rating point by averaging, mean or any other means of moderation.
Rating Scale
Use a rating Scale as follows
Poor 1
Fair 2
Good 3
Very Good 4
Excellent 5
The total marks allocated for
6 stages of orals is 30 which means that a candidate gets a maximum
rating of 5 and minimum of 1 for each stage. The following procedure
is to be evolved in the case of orals ratings in the first seating.
Point 1. Upto and including
six Failed
Point 2. More than Six and Upto
Twelve - Refer to Second Examiner team / Examiner of Engineers.
Point 3. Twelve and above
Passed
In Point 2, if the Second Examiners
Team concurs with the First Examiner Team then candidate Fails.
If they disagree, refer to Local Examiner of Engineers. Generally
the First Examination Team should be able to dispose off the cases.
Reference to the candidates
Examination papers is not necessary. Orals is to be conducted
by any empanelled Examiner, not necessarily the one who has corrected
his papers.
(1) Result sheet of orals objectives
and assessment are given in
Annex
1.
(2) Illustrate verbs in Orals
for Expressing General and specific objective
Annex
2.
(3) Competence
Annex
3
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