Observation Settings

Practical skills often require multiple attempts, formal learner validation, or controlled release timing. Nimbu's Observation Settings allow you to customise the operational "rules" for how a practical task is delivered, repeated, and formalised. Whether you need to record a skill being performed multiple times across a semester, require a student to formally accept terms before beginning, or control when the observation becomes available, these settings ensure your records are as robust as your training delivery.

What's Covered in This Article

• Overview: Operational Controls
• Key Observation Settings
  • Repeat Times
  • Agreement Declaration (Student Acceptance)
  • Trainer Activation Requirement
  • Apply to Class vs Individual
• How to Configure Observation Settings

Overview: Operational Controls

By configuring these parameters correctly, you provide your trainers with a clear framework for observation whilst ensuring students are actively engaged in the validation of their own competency.

This article focuses specifically on the settings that control observation behaviour, rather than the creation process itself. For step-by-step instructions on creating an observation, see: Creating a Practical Observation.

Key Observation Settings

Repeat Times

Location: Pre-practical/ Observation Information tab

This setting controls how many times a student can complete the same observation.

Configuration:

• Set a value between 1 and 100
• Default is typically 1 (single attempt)

Use cases:

• Progressive skill development: Allow students to be observed multiple times throughout a course as they develop competency (e.g., 3 times across a semester)
• Multiple opportunities: Provide additional attempts for students who need further practice before achieving competency
• Ongoing verification: Enable regular workplace observations throughout a placement period

Agreement Declaration (Student Acceptance)

Location: Pre-practical/ Observation Information tab > Other Settings

This setting requires students to formally accept terms and conditions before they can begin the observation.

Configuration:

• Toggle "Require student to accept Agreement Declaration"
• Students must read and accept before clicking "Start"

Use cases:

• Workplace health and safety acknowledgements
• Equipment usage agreements and liability waivers
• Code of conduct confirmations
• Risk assessment acknowledgements
• Confidentiality agreements for workplace observations

Trainer Activation Requirement

Location: Pre-practical/ Observation Information tab > Other Settings

This setting determines whether the observation is immediately available to students or must be manually activated by a trainer.

Configuration:

• Toggle "Manual Trainer Activation"
• When enabled, trainers must activate the observation in Class Management before students can access it

Use cases:

• Scheduled practical sessions: Observations that occur at specific times (e.g., weekly lab sessions)
• Equipment availability: Tasks that require specific resources or facilities
• Controlled release: Ensuring students have completed prerequisite work before beginning
• Workplace coordination: Observations that depend on external placement arrangements

Apply to Class vs Individual

Location: Edit Questions tab > Individual question settings

This setting only appears for Short Answer Questions and Online Submissions when "Require students to complete" is turned off (i.e., trainer-only questions). This setting determines whether a trainer's response applies to all students collectively or is recorded individually per student.

Configuration options:

Apply to Each Student Individually (Default)

• Trainer completes the question separately for each student
• Standard setting for most observations
• Each student receives individual assessment

Use when:

• Each student's performance is unique
• Individual evidence is required
• Students are observed at different times

Apply to Class as a Collective

• Trainer's single response applies to all students simultaneously
• Efficient for group observations
• All students receive the same recorded observation

Use when:

• Observing whole-class activities (e.g., fire drills, group demonstrations)
• Shared conditions apply to all students present
• The same outcome applies to the entire cohort

How to Configure Observation Settings

During Initial Creation

1. Navigate to Assessment/ Practical/ Observation Tasks
2. Click Add > Practical/ Observation
3. In the Pre-practical/observation Information tab:
   • Set Repeat Times (1–100)
   • Configure Agreement Declaration if required
   • Enable Manual Trainer Activation if needed
4. In the Edit Questions tab:
   • For each Short Answer or Online Submission question:
     • Toggle "Require students to complete" on/off
     • If off, select "Apply to class" or individual marking

After Creation (Draft Only)

All observation settings can be modified whilst the observation remains in draft status.

Related Articles

• What is a Practical Observation?
• RTO Settings (organisation defaults)