The NZ Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation (NZSTITO) has a range of documents and resources available for you to download.

You’ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open these PDF files. If you don’t have it, you can download the application here.

1156-Drainage.pdf ( 193 KB ) 1163-Fertilising.pdf ( 61 KB ) 1166-Irrigation.pdf ( 196 KB ) 1167-Pests.pdf ( 64 KB ) 1168-Weeds.pdf ( 68 KB ) 1169-Diseases.pdf ( 64 KB ) 1171-Supervise-staff.pdf ( 148 KB ) 1172-Budget.pdf ( 147 KB ) 4-Hand-tools-and-small-engines.pdf ( 55 KB ) Draft-replacement-for-4271.pdf ( 32 KB ) Literacy-and-Numeracy-Brochure.pdf ( 252 KB )

 

Numeracy Training with the ITO

After running a pilot programme last year, we have embarked on our first year of embedded numeracy support for our trainees. This is all part of a Government initiative aiming to raise the literacy and numeracy levels of our workforce. The New Zealand Sports Turf Industry Training Organisation (NZSTITO) has focused on Numeracy and in particular ‘measurement ‘as this is part of everyday life in our industry e.g. setting mowers, calculating areas and product applications. All trainees will be assessed at the beginning of their study using a purpose built on line assessment tool. The information gained from this allows our tutors to focus the extra numeracy support around the knowledge gaps shown by the class as a whole. It also provides the NZSTITO an opportunity to identify those trainees that would benefit from extra numeracy support, either via the tutors or specialist Numeracy and Literacy providers. Literacy Aotearoa offer up to 30 hours free support to those trainees assessed as having a higher literacy need. This one-to-one tuition is ideal because the support worker focuses on the trainee’s own assignments. Additional reader/writer support can also be arranged for trainees at block courses for cases such as trainees with Dyslexia.

The NZSTITO is currently embedding numeracy into their training to enable trainees to build the numeracy skills they need for their work at the same time as they are learning other technical industry skills. In other words, they will teach the math strategies trainees will need to perform the calculations carried out every day in our industry. This will primarily take the form of extra numeracy sessions that have been built into the first days of the Level 4 stage one and three block courses, allowing the NZ Sports Turf Institute tutors to concentrate on the basic numeracy skills that will be required in the proceeding course content. This is where the tutors will focus on gaps in knowledge that have been identified in the numeracy survey that all trainees will complete at the start of their training.

Of course this is not all new territory for us. The tutors have been teaching sports turf unit standards for a number of years and are well aware of what areas students struggle with, so they have always embedded extra numeracy around these knowledge gaps. Therefore we are embarking on this project from strong foundations.

In our industry things have changed.  Less time is allowed for each job. We now have a greater range of products to work with and need to understand new environmental legislation. All these changes are placing higher literacy demands on staff. Low levels of literacy can contribute to error, wastage and re-work. They can also lead to a poor health and safety record and a high staff turnover.

 

 

“It made the calculations much clearer and now I understand how to break down the technical information with fertilisers.” (Sports Turf apprentice)

"Maths problems that I would have glossed over before and turned the page, I will now have a crack at.” (Sports Turf Apprentice)

 To view an example of the on line assessment tool follow the link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDfcGasFrWA

 

Kellie Rose
Level 5 Training Co-ordinator
Auckland
Ph 09 420 9690
Cell: 027 201 2684
krose@nzstito.org.nz

The NZSTITO Fertiliser Calculation Poster

This large (594mm x 841mm) wall poster is designed to assist Turf Managers and Trainees to quickly interpret soil test results and accurately calculate fertiliser inputs in 6 EASY STEPS. Posters are available from the NZSTITO at a cost of $25.00 each including GST and postage. To order your poster today and follow the six easy steps to fertiliser success, contact the NZ Sports Turf ITO.  Phone: 06 356 8090 or Email: turftraining@nzstito.org.nz

Recognition of Prior Learning

Trainees with greater than ten years experience in the turf industry can apply to the NZ Sports Turf ITO for Recognition of Prior Learning to receive credit into the National Certificate in Sports Turf Management (Level 4) for the knowledge and skills that they already have. The NZ Sports Turf ITO offers this 'Recognition of Prior Learning' (RPL) service and will (if appropriate) award credit into the National Certificate qualification on the basis of evidence supplied by the applicant.
View or download a copy of the NZ Sports Turf ITO’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) application policy (PDF, 49Kb)