3.5 BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING
Candidates troubleshoot basic software and hardware problems common in digital learning environments.
The Infinite Campus handout artifacts were given to me by Dekalb County Schools Instructional Technology Department to use when introducing the new student information system to the teachers at my school. Two years ago Dekalb County Schools rolled out a new student information system, Infinite Campus. I was chosen, along with one other teacher, to act as the point person for the new system. These handouts were used by us, when teaching the faculty how to use the new system, to help with troubleshooting some basic features of the system. The help tickets artifact is a document containing a screen shot of help tickets I have submitted this school year. I created this document to show that when a hardware or software problem arises that I can not troubleshoot on my own I escalate it to the proper people so it can be fixed.
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These artifacts demonstrate mastery of standard 3.5: candidates troubleshoot basic software and hardware problems common in digital learning environments. When I worked in Dekalb County I was one of the go to tech people for my principal. So, when the new student information system was rolling out, and she had to pick two people to lead the staff in learning how to use it, I was one of the people she chose. I attended training on the new software, and then led learning sessions for the teachers at my school. These handouts were given to those of us who attended the district wide training to share with the other teachers at our schools. The handouts explained step by step to the teachers how to perform basic functions in the program, such as taking attendance, and creating assignments in the grade book. In addition to leading the training on the new system and providing the teachers with these troubleshooting handouts I also helped individual teachers throughout the school year when they were unable to navigate certain features of the new system. I also helped teachers when they trouble with their email, internet, computer audio, and Promethean boards. I included the screenshot of the help tickets I have entered so far this school year to demonstrate that when I can not solve a technology related problem myself I know the procedure to get help with it. It also demonstrates that not only do I know the procedure, but that I am willing to go that route when necessary.
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When leading the training for the new student information system I learned that many people are very apprehensive about utilizing new technology. I found that many of the teachers in my school did not like that we were having to use the new system, even though the system was far superior to our old one. When learning the new system many of the teachers were very easily confused by the new system, and wanted very detailed step by step instructions regarding what to do. I enjoy exploring new technologies and discovering what they can do on my own. Helping to implement this new system at my school showed me that many people do not share that same affinity for exploring technology and its capabilities. One thing I would change about this artifact is I would like it to include screenshots from me actually helping the teachers in my school with the new system when they needed it. Unfortunately, I didn't think to do that at the time and now I am at a different school, in a different county, with a different student information system.
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Leading the training for this system had an impact on faculty development. Because of the training sessions I held, and the one on one support I gave, the teachers were able to start learning and using the new system. This impact can be measured with a survey asking the teachers how effective the training was.