Blog 16: Advisory Meeting #2

EQ

Answer #2 The best way for a computer technician to provide service to a small business is to elicit answers.

1. The job of a computer technician is to obviously fix a computer so in order to do that, he must let the customer explain the situation and their experience without any interruptions. Interrupting the person you are trying to help will only slow down the process.

2. After hearing about the situation from the person you are assisting, you must ask appropriate questions where they help you understand the situation better and to clear up any confusion that came from their explanation and without accusing them because they are already, most likely, defensive about it.

3. Ask follow up questions that would help you find the source of the problem. Questions like "What did you do?" need to be avoided because it sounds as if you are accusing the person and holding them responsible for the malfunctioning computer. Instead ask open-ended questions such as "Has it ever acted like this?" "What programs were you running at the time it began to malfunction?"

The research source (s) to support your details and answer:

CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 8th Ed.(Exams 220-801 & 220-802)

Eliciting answers the proper way, asking non-accusatory questions, open ended questions, and letting them answer without any interruptions, will help to providing service to a small business.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

LITERAL
(a) I, Lionel Arellano, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
(b) 1. CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 8th Ed. - Mike Meyers 2. Upgrading and Repairing PCs. 18th Ed. - Scott Mueller
(c) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtPbi-xgbclwdEl3OGhLZXEzRnRTeWhpU1pyRnc0bUE#gid=0

(d) What I did for my Independent Component 1 is study to get an A+ Certification. Basically how I got this done was first off I practiced of prior knowledge that I know from research done prior to Independent component, by assembling a PC together and afterwards installing the Operating System and all other software such as drivers to make sure the all the functions are working correctly, such as the integrated graphics, network connection, USB ports, and so on. Afterwards, I continued to study by reading the one of the two books I cited above (CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, 8th Ed. - Mike Meyers) and wrote down notes of stuff I found important as I read so it would stick and to provide evidence of work.

INTERPRETIVE 

APPLIED

-Well when I first started off with my independent component, I thought, it was basically just fixing computers, setting up stuff for being, not talking to anyone, rarely, only to the customer, and it honestly made me hate my topic. I was wrong at many levels luckily. I found out through my research that communication is such a big key in providing these services. What I learned about my topic is that when ever technicians go and do their jobs, they are already arriving at a customer that is saddened, stressed, worried, anxious, frustrated, angry about their system not working properly, and knowing how to handle those customers, how to ask questions, what kind of questions to ask is extremely important. The answers to those questions is what a technician needs to be to solve the issue. The outcome if the technician fixes the system or not is not only in his/her's hands, but also of the customer, and of course, the technician must guide the customer.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

Content:

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?
-I'm not exactly proud of anything from it. I got in done in time, but I wanted to make it entertaining because I have a very boring topic and I didn't succeed in making it fun to watch.

2. Questions to Consider
a. What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE >>P<< AP CR NC

b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.
-I deserve a P because I made all the meet all the P requirements. I got my Rough draft typed lesson plan in, in time and also the final one.I had everything prepared and set up on time and so on. I also meet the time requirement I believe.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?
-I got it done it time, in other words, I didn't stay up past 12 am like other times.

4. (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?
-I wanted the presentation to be more entertaining, but couldn't find the way to do it and didn't have enough time left.

5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?
-With the book I am currently reading, it provides a list of traits a technician should have for the customer's benefit. I might reference that chapter as an answer.

January Post

Ah hello there, how are you doing today? Good? Good. Well I'm doing alright. I've just been working on Independent Component 1. Speaking of Independent Component 1, what I am doing for it is studying to receive an A+ Certification (not to get, testing cost money and I'm not rich) and well what the certification represents is an all around understanding about computers. To start it off, I first practiced what I know, as a refresher kinda, regarding handling hardware, installing it and OS and so on. Here are three of the many pictures I took:

 A10-5800K CPU PLACED ON THE SOCKET

 

 IT'S ALIVE! OF COURSE THE SOFTWARE GAVE ME PROBLEMS THOUGH.

 

 MOTHERBOARD BEFORE PUTTING ON ANYTHING.

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

1. Do you work independently? Or are you employed by a specific business?
2. What are the most common problems people ask you to approach? 
3. How do you approach the person with the problem?
4. How much time on average is put into in a certain situation?
5. Since businesses often spend little money, is researching new hard/software necessary? 
6. Once the solution is found, do you explain to the customer how to fix it themselves if the same problem occurs?
7. Do the task involve hardware or software more often?
8. If you work independently, about how often do small businesses call you in?
9. If you work under an employer, how often do you spend managing the computers?
10. Is there ever a situation where there is an immediate way to solve the situation and please the person you are assisting?

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hours check

1. Where are you doing your mentorship?
- At my dad's company in the offices maintaining the computers.

2. Who is your contact?
- Tomas Arellano, 1(310) 345-6739

3. How many total hours have you done?
- 19.5 Hours

4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.
- I completed the construction of the new computer, there were some problems where it wouldn't turn on, but it was just a matter of making sure all the power cords were put in properly. The fun part was installing the OS and all other software. Unfortunately, the CD-ROM we were going to use initially wasn't of the correct type, outdated you can say, so I had to make a bootable USB with Windows 7 on it so I wouldn't have to have the disc. After a long time, I was able to create it and got the set-up running. Afterwards it gave me an error about drivers not found, I researched it and finally found the solution. Next was installing the drivers for the motherboard and chip-set, but it was on a disc, so I had to get them online, but I couldn't because I needed one to get on the internet, so I got on a different computer, downloaded that specific one and installed it.Then I downloaded the rest of the drivers which took forever that it make me work past midnight.

Blog 10: Senior Project, The Holiday

1. It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school. What did you over the break with your senior project?
- Well the parts for the new computers for the office came in during the first week, so I spent my time assembling them and putting all the software on them.

2. What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why? What was the source of what you learned?

- The problem solving skill is needed. First time around, I had no experience in doing this, I didn't feel I needed too since its basically a plug it in where it fits type of thing, and it is for the most part. I had two cables that fit in the same place though. At the beginning, I plugged it in there, and didn't notice the other. Once I tried to turn n the computer, it wouldn't. The only way to turn on the computer is obviously with the power button on the case, so I thought it was the Power-/+ LED etc. connectors then it went on to the power supply, and then the motherboard being fried. It obviously wasn't and it took me hours until I attempted an approach of testing the cables, and making sure everything is properly working. 

- Second time, it was all software problems. I wasn't able to install the OS on the Hard drive via USB (CD Drive was pushed aside in the purchasing). I attempted to research the error, I spent hours on it, but nothing. I tried using different USBs, changing settings in the BIOS. The solution to it was pretty simple and pathetic, but once that got done I just installed all the drivers and it was ready to go.

3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

- I don't know who I would ask, because I don't know anyone specific enough to be eligible to answer the questions.

1. Do you work independently? Or are you employed by a specific business?
2. What are the most common problems people ask you to approach? 
3. How do you approach the person with the problem?
4. How much time on average is put into in a certain situation?
5. Since businesses often spend little money, is researching new hard/software necessary? 
6. Once the solution is found, do you explain to the customer how to fix it themselves if the same problem occurs?
7. Do the task involve hardware or software more often?
8. If you work independently, about how often do small businesses call you in?
9. If you work under an employer, how often do you spend managing the computers?
10. Is there ever a situation where there is an immediate way to solve the situation and please the person you are assisting?