1. Decide where to start.

If you are new to SCARF, you will probably find it best to start at the beginning of Module One. If you already have some knowledge and/or experience of SCARF, and are just starting to use the SCARF tools, you will find sections covering the various tools in Module Two. You will find exercises to prepare you to use the tools, and review exercises so that you can check back after you have used a particular tool for the first few times.

Each page header will always identify your current position within the three modules. See the sample below.



This is the header for Module 2 Section 6. You will notice at the end of the header there is the following symbol:

This symbol indicates that this section is broken in to 2 pages and that we are currently looking at page 2 of 2.

The sections themselves are also identified with their module, section and page numbers at the top using the format '2.6.2' which refers to Module 2 - Section 6 - Page 2.

If you are working through the modules from start to finish you will also find the large blue arrows at the bottom of each page particularly helpful.

The 'NEXT' arrow always takes you to the next page in the natural order of the current module. As expected the 'PREV' arrow will always take you back to the previous page in the modules chronological order. Alternatively you may like to make use of the 'CONTENTS' button. This button will always take you to the current module's Table of Contents. In the case of this Help page the PREV button at the bottom will take you to this site's homepage and the NEXT and CONTENTS button will both take you to the Table of Contents for Module 1. Use the buttons at the top of the page to navigate your way between the three modules.

This Help page is accessible from every page on this website using the HELP link in the menu at the top.

You can choose to use whichever section is relevant, depending on the work you are doing with a particular family. Starting with Action Plans is strongly recommended, as these are used with families right through the duration of their involvement with an agency.

2. Work at your own pace

Each section will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Your pace will depend on your own learning style, and your work place demands. Some workers may complete several sections at a time, while some will find just one is enough.

You may find it helpful to establish a plan, so that you make time in your diary to work through the relevant sections of SCARF On Line Learning.

3. Follow the instructions

You will be guided through each section with clear instructions. All the resources you will need are provided. Mostly you will make choices at the click of a button, but some exercises will ask you to respond in other ways, such as reflecting on your own work experience, or listing your own ideas or examples.

You will notice throughout each module the presence of small yellow arrows like the three below. These arrows indicate the presence of hidden content. Clicking on the text alongside each of these arrows reveals this hidden content. Try the three examples below. You will notice that you can click once to reveal the hidden content and click a second time to hide the content. Clicking on another example reveals new content as well as hiding the content previously revealed.

Sample hidden content

	(a)	Click here to reveal the first example of hidden content. This content can be hidden again by clicking once more on the original link.
	(b)	There is more content to be viewed by clicking here. Notice that now if you click on either links (a) or (c) their content is revealed while this content becomes hidden again.
	(c)	And here. All the links alongside these yellow arrows operate in this fashion.

Exercises

From time to time SCARF Online Learning will present you with exercises to allow you to assess your knowledge of what you have learnt so far. These exercises are designed to be intuitive in their interactivity and enjoyable to complete. For the most part you will be asked to answer questions or to make associations between elements of the module you have been learning about. You will usually then have the option to click on an 'answer box' to see how you faired. These exercises are not an examination. No record is kept of the number of questions you answered correctly. In fact as soon as you navigate away from the page your results will be lost. Returning to that page will allow you to recommence the exercise anew.

4. Receive feedback when responding to tasks and challenges.

Throughout SCARF Online Learning choices will be requested in response to a range of situations. Each time you make a choice, you will see a screen that will give you immediate written feedback. Where there was a preferred answer, you will be told that either your response was correct, or given some suggestions and asked to try again. Where there is no one preferred answer, feedback will respond to the strengths and implications of your choice.

SCARF On Line Learning will not keep a record of your responses, so you do not need to worry about making mistakes. SCARF On Line is not a “pass or fail” training! You may choose to print out a record of your completion of the SCARF On Line Training exercises, or your supervisor may request that you do so as you progress through the training. SCARF On Line Training enables you to make multiple intervention choices if you are interested in gaining a variety of feedback to particular responses to family situations.