Module 4 Progress Report

This week has been particularly demanding. With the ongoing search for a new superintendent, the district organized three staff and community forum nights for the finalists. I was asked to handle the audiovisual (A/V) setup and be on-site to address any technical issues that might arise. With some of these people making six figures, you would think that they know how to turn on a projector and cast wirelessly to a screen or turn on a mic, but I digress...  As a result, I worked overtime for three days, bringing my total hours for the week to 48. This brings my cumulative hours for the quarter to 184. Balancing this workload with my Python coursework and other responsibilities has been stressful, but I am looking forward to a fresh start next week.

Despite the challenges, I was able to accomplish a lot. One major issue was the lack of preparation for the WEDA state testing. As expected, many teachers did not ensure that student laptops were updated and ready for the test. I had instructed them two weeks ago to send me any computers that were not connecting to the testing program so I could update them in advance. However, on the morning of the test, I walked into the building to find 30 laptops piled up, all with various issues. Given the urgency, I decided that the most efficient solution was to factory reset the devices rather than troubleshoot each issue individually.

Summary of Progress

  • Hours Worked: 48 hours this week, bringing the total for the quarter to 184 hours.
  • Expected vs. Actual Progress: The goal was to manage daily technology support and ensure testing readiness. While I made progress, last-minute issues with student laptops caused setbacks.
  • Challenges & Solutions:
    • A/V Support for Superintendent Forums: Although not part of my primary role, I ensured all technical aspects ran smoothly.
    • WEDA Testing Readiness: Due to inadequate preparation, I had to factory reset 30 laptops last-minute. In the future, I will send more frequent reminders to teachers and possibly implement a deadline for laptop submissions before testing days.
  • Next Week’s Goals: Continue handling ongoing IT issues, assist with resolving any post-WEDA testing concerns, and maintain progress on other district technology needs.

Overall, this week was challenging, but I navigated the issues effectively. Moving forward, I hope to find ways to prevent last-minute technical emergencies and improve overall workflow.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Module 7 Journal Entry

Although I didn’t work this week due to the school’s mid-winter break, I’m reflecting on my previous week to address this journal prompt. Easiest Accomplishment: One of the more straightforward tasks was handling two teacher laptops before the break. The first involved a Surface laptop infected with ransomware. After disabling the teacher’s accounts and notifying the system admin, I performed a fresh Windows installation and reinstalled all necessary drivers. The process went smoothly since I’ve done similar resets before. The second laptop was outdated, running Windows 10 21H1, which prevented system updates and Outlook from working properly. I manually upgraded it to Windows 10 22H2 and then to Windows 11. Although the install took time, the process itself was routine. Hardest Accomplishment: The most challenging task was dealing with a middle school student misusing the school’s network. Investigating their actions revealed they were sending malicious scripts through SharePoint, all...
Read more

Journal Entry: Internship Overview and Goals

 My internship as a Technology Technician at a school district involves maintaining and supporting the district’s IT infrastructure. In a nutshell, I troubleshoot hardware and software issues, assist with network maintenance, and ensure that the technology used by staff and students operates smoothly. This role demands both technical problem-solving and effective communication, as I often work closely with educators and administrators to address their needs. What I know about my role is that it’s pivotal for the day-to-day functioning of the district’s technology systems. My tasks so far have included repairing devices, resolving connectivity issues, and providing user support. I understand the basics of troubleshooting, maintaining hardware, and following best practices for IT operations. To fully excel in this position, I’ll need to deepen my understanding of network administration, learn more about advanced system configurations, and refine my ability to manage multiple tasks ef...
Read more

Module 10 Progress Report

I worked 40 hours this week, bringing my total hours for the quarter to 360. This week was packed with tasks, and honestly, it’s hard to keep track of everything I did. There’s never really a set list of things to tackle — issues pop up randomly, and I handle whatever comes my way. I started the week with 28 more laptops that needed either the DRC testing software reinstalled, Windows updates, or a full reset. After that, I helped a teacher at the other high school who was having Wi-Fi issues. I suggested using a USB-to-Ethernet adapter to hardwire her computer for a more stable connection. She wasn’t a fan of that idea since she wanted to keep using her external keyboard and didn’t want to be "tethered." I explained that it was either this or continue dealing with Wi-Fi drops until we could figure out what’s going on in that room. Later, I teamed up with our tech specialist to troubleshoot a middle school projector that wasn’t displaying anything. Aside from the rack being c...
Read more