Linda's Learning Adventure

This week, we started shadowing different senior consultants. My first shadowing session was with Victoria and Sharon. Victoria started off first by checking which parts I went over and which parts I still needed help on. We went over things such as Mac basics,WiFi, 25live, etc. Then, Sharon taught me the art of scheduling by showing me her senior consultant email inbox and asking me to sort the consultants requested hours on a Google Sheets document.  At first it was a bit overwhelming, since I was trying to give people block shifts while accommodating them. However, Sharon told me scheduling them for block shifts is unnecessary, so I gave a few people single hour shifts.
On the same day, I shadowed Glen in CRR. In the late night, people do not usually call or ask for help, so Glen also started teaching me information I previously went over. This time, it was mainly Blackboard.
My last shadowing session of the week was with Adrienne. I shadowed her on Friday morning so there were a lot of people that needed assistance. She allowed me to write a response email and also an ITSM. She showed me that if I had to revise something, I can always go back to the ticket but I would have to jot the ticket number down.
This week we took a tour of the Networking Operating Center (NOC). There we saw phone cables, expensive technology, ways they safe guard their computers, how WiFi works, etc. The most interesting part was that I got to learn that you can track a student down by just getting his/ her NetID if their technological device is connected to the WiFi. My NetID was used as a test. Embarrassing but worth the learning experience!

Hello folks, no interesting posts this week since it’s Spring Break. Hope everyone has a great week off but check back next week for my weekly scheduled posts!

This was my last week shadowing with my current mentors! Jessica ended our session with how to edit blackboard pages. She also went over TLT supported labs, workshop information, google doc shortcuts, MAC shortcuts, Pharos, and ITSM. Jeff continued to allow me to respond to messages or answer the phone. Steven also went over Blackboard, Pharos, and ITSM.

This week the senior consultant Frank introduced software found in the Fine Arts SINC Sites. The class met in the Hybrid SINC Site briefly learned about the computers and projector in the room. I learned that there is one computer that controlled the projector and where the consultant computer is located. One big take home message was that the bulb for the projector is expensive, so always turn the projector off if not being used! After that, we headed down to the e-media SINC Site, where Rich and Tara tagged along. In my opinion, this SINC Site is more complicated because of the equipment that they offer. When I first sat down, I was faced with headphones, a piano keyboard, multiple rectangular boxes, and wires everywhere. Luckily, Frank explained the functions of the knobs and the software that they are correlated with. For example, we got to use Garage Band. Frank also talked about the big box in the front that controlled the projector.

This week I continued shadowing my mentors, but I had more hands on experience with Jeff. For example, he allowed me to update clickers and answer phone calls in TLL. We had some complications with updating the clicker so I restarted the computer and continuously disconnected and reconnected the clickers until the software was able to detect the clicker. Steven and Jessica went over past material to make sure I got it. This included blackboard, staff, and what not to do as a senior consultant.

For class, Rich substituted for Tara, who had a flu. Rich had us write down characteristics of a good or a bad presenter in groups. Then, we had to find a picture in five minutes and do an improvised presentation of it. Rich said this may be the hardest thing he would make us do. It was hard, not because of the content, but because I wasn’t prepared to talk about my topic. Some of my peers had informative presentations, and others had amusing ones, but it allowed me to learn more about what they liked. So, not only was that exercise good practice for presentations, it helped me get to know my classmates.

Rich had to leave early, so at the end of class, Rose guided our class to LLRC where we had a walk-in tour. The area was really quiet and an ideal study spot. There seemed to be some language classrooms in there as well. What interested me about this room was that not only did it have MAC’s and PC’s, it had these very old looking computers. Rose said we do not support them because they’re so old but some professors insist on using software contained in those fossils.

Jessica started out my week, as usual, by reviewing the staff members, affiliates, poster printing, and basics of print from anywhere.She also taught me the basics of holding a site meeting, which she would make me do on Thursday!

On Wednesday, Jeff started teaching me about MAC keyboard shortcuts but we were interrupted by a phone call. It was a professor calling from room 3321 in Staller wanting the toner to be replaced. Before doing anything, Jeff went to Blackboard to search up if that location was a TLT supported lab, which it was. The next step was to create an ITSM for toner replacement, which he allowed me to create.

The next day, I went to the SBS Site meeting where Jessica had me lead a site meeting. It was pretty nerve wrecking. I wasn’t confident and my voice was shaky. However, Jessica and my fellow workers consoled me and assured me that next time I’ll be better. Luckily, one consultant was late so I was able to hold a site meeting for the second time.

Steven went over the four different Wolfie-Nets with me as well as the Newtowrk System foudn on Blackboard. He taught me features ofPharos Remote and reasons why an ID card may not be able to swipe. The most interesting fact that I’ve learned was that if you were to lose a file on a SINC Site computer, you could recover it using a very complex procedure.

That week for class, Richard Stein came in to share a Prezi about support documentation. To short, the acronym PARTD can be used to create support documentation. P stands for point, the point you want to make to your audience. A stands for audience. Who is your audience, and how skilled are they? R stands for role, where if you are creating support documentation, you have to make sure the document is both facilitating and instructing your audience. T stands for type, which can include outlines, user-guide, KB article, and technical documents. Lastly, how would you deliver your documentation, D. This can include video, power point, word document, and other mediums.