Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

Content:

1. What is your working EQ?
- "What goes into becoming a valued Computer Technician?"

2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. Examples:
-A Computer technician must be able to prove he has the knowledge and skills needed for the job, a way to prove this is acquiring certifications, for example CompTIA's A+ Certification, a general vendor certification that covers hardware, software, networking, etc.

3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ? 

-It will have to be the interview with Michael Kunz, a Technician Manager at Orange County Children's Hospital. I had this answer in mind before the interview, but during the interview, I intended to ask about it to him and he started talking about it before I was able too so it confirmed it as a possible answer.

4. Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

-I was planning on doing mentorship with my cousin at my dad's work where he works as the computer technician, but he has been out for a while now due to health issues. Although I am volunteering taking over his duties while he is out. And it relates to my EQ because I'll be taking on the job of an actual computer technician.

Blog 7: Independent Component 1 Approval

Content:

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
- I think it will be pretty cool if I attempt to get the A+ Certification from CompTIA. Someone having this certification would be recognized as someone who knows how to handle hard ware which includes printers along with obviously computers, and software that includes Operating Systems. 

2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
- Obviously to get the certification I would need to pass the test, so studying will be required. So other than the actual test taking, I could complete the 30 hours by studying for it.

3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
- In my research that a technician would be considered valued more if they have certifications, specifically the A+ Certification. Me getting the certification would allow me to experience first hand the process of getting it and what one would have to go through and know.

Additional Post #2

So now were back from where we began, my supposed mentor hasn't contacted me in a long time, I've tried to call and email him, but I would get more replies. Instead of trying to keep reaching him, I think it'll be best to move on and find someone else considering it's time sensitive. Luckily I do know two, three people in my topic, but I'm not going to limit myself to it and I am open to what ever comes my way, I just need to ask around. For example, my best friend's mom owns a sort of type of novelty shop at the Montclare Mall, it's pretty cool, so I'm probably going to ask.

Considering I do go on with my current topic, I've been doing a lot of research on the A+ Certification after the first interview.

^How the 2013 A+ Certification looks like.

Where was mentioned that the A+ Certification is a good start for like a high school senior. My interviewee also lended me a text book specifically made to study for it. So I am strongly considering getting it, depending where I go from now.

Blog 6: Second Interview Questions

1. Who is your mentor and where do they work?

• Bryan Gielen is a computer technician, he owns his own Computer Repair Shop named "Computer Parts Inc" at the Claremont Village.

2. What five questions will ask them about their background?

• Where and what did you study in College?
• How did you learn to fix computers? (College courses, High School courses, self taught, etc.)
• For how long have you been repairing computers and been interested in it?
• What made you want to repair computers?
• In my research I have read about certificates like the A+ and was mentioned in my last interview, do you have the A+ or any other certificates?

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?

• Well, I have chosen a topic, which is computer repair, computer technician, something in that sort, I just need to narrow it down. Over the summer I was expecting to do Film Production but things didn't work out. Luckily I was able to get things started with my new topic.

(2) EQ Content: Pick a piece of research or your interview. How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?

• Its not just one piece of research, multiple articles I picked mentioned a specific situation which was competing against large companies like Best Buy/Geek Squad when owning a small repair shop. "Work from Home Businesses - Computer Repair" mentioned this first, and looked up more on it and found an article titled "Computer Shop vs National Chain Computer Repair Service." I'm planning in narrowing down my topic to this, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?

• Being able to find a potential mentor within one day of completely changing my topic.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?

• Finding valuable research that contains good and useful information. I haven't really been able to find anything good. I may just need to use better key words, but I hope to find a book on it.

(5) Finding Value: 

• What is a potential question you would like to study this year? (working EQ)
• "How does one successfully compete against big named computer services?" or "What goes into becoming a valued computer technician?"
• What do you plan to do for mentorship? If you haven't found a mentor yet, then discuss where you are currently looking and who you are talking to to find it. 
• I contacted a local computer technicial named Bryan Gielen that is stationed in the Claremont Village. I have yet not started mentorship with him but he seems very willing to help me out, hopefully I would begin soon.

Additional Post #1

 First of all, I hope I am doing this correctly by basically giving an update on where I am in my Senior Project. To get into it though, I am currently waiting for a call or to call a computer technician who runs his own computer repair shop at the Claremont Village. Right off the top you can tell my senior project is going ta have to do with computers. It was actually supposed to be in Film Producing initially. At the end of last year, I found a mentor, whom I meet in the ROP Film class, that offered me and another fellow student internships. Unfortunately because of communication difficulties the end of the summer was approaching and we weren't able to get our mentorship started in time, so I did my ten hours else where. I didn't think I would be able to find another producer easily so I decided to email and call the local computer repair shops and see if any could help me out. Thankfully on the 22nd of August I received a call back with someone willing to help me out but mentioned he will at San Francisco for a week. What I am mostly focused on right now is being able to get a interview scheduled with him. That's where I am so far now.

When it comes down to a specific topic, I probably will like to follow through with the business running a computer repair shop because a lot of the research that I've read mentioned that advertising and getting your name out there for your shop is hard, and that the biggest obstacle that gets in the way of your success are the big guys. By big guys I mean like Best Buy/Geek Squad. Of course there's some advantages over the big guys, such as when someone recommends you by the word of mouth, the person who received the recommendation follow through with it because it is more likely they will get similar if not exactly the same service. With the big guys, they have squads of many technicians and not every one of them are the same. I just want to look more into this situation.

Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?

- The person I plan to interview is called Bryan Gielen, my soon-to-be mentor. Bryan is a computer technician who repairs computers, desktop and laptops, and also some cell phones, but mainly computers. He does all this in his repair shop which is located in the Claremont Village.

2. You have to ask 5 questions. What additional questions do you plan to ask? Ask open-ended questions.

- What would you say is the most common challenge you come across while working?

- Do you prioritize your work in any way? If so, how?

- The typical computer repair shop charges per hour, you charge per repair though. Is there any particular reason why you decided to do it per repair instead of per hour?