Teachers, do you ever feel like this?
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The vast majority of classroom computer problems have simple solutions that can be sorted out in less than five minutes - or could have been avoided in the first place by the application of a few commonsense guidelines. With the growing utilization and integration of technology in the classroom, teachers need to understand basic troubleshooting procedures. Being aware of some basic steps, teachers will be able to fix many of the problems they are having in their classroom which will result in less downtime of computers and a more effective use of the technology. This knowledgebase will contribute to the empowerment of teachers. This webquest is designed for a workshop or faculty development type environment with around 10 participants.
You will be faced with 5 situations in which you will research the problems that the teachers are having with their computers and decide how to resolve them. After completing this web quest, you will have a guide to assist you in troubleshooting problems with computers in your classrooms.
The Technology Coordinator at your school is going to have a baby and she will be out for two months. You and another teacher have been "asked" by your principal to take over her position while she is out. As an incentive, he has offered to relieve you from lunch duty and carpool duty. You have little knowledge of troubleshooting computers, but your principal was very persuasive. Since you can't pass up a break from either lunch duty or carpool duty, you decide to challenge yourself.
After a week of solving problems such as there is no picture on the monitor because it is not turned on, you have 5 problems that require some time in troubleshooting. Your task is to investigate and determine what is causing the problems so that you can decide how to repair it or request further help for major hardware problems. When you have solved the problems for your computer, you should complete the corresponding worksheet and submit it to the School Board Help Desk. Also, you should complete the Inspiration Web to print out and present to the group. These printouts will be compiled in a booklet for each teacher to take back to their classrooms to use as a reference guide.
Before beginning, test your troubleshooting skills. Click on the link below and complete the quiz as a self evaluation.
In this WebQuest you will be working together with a partner teacher. Each pair will choose a station from 1 -- 5 to work at. You will research five hardware/software problems per group. (Each group will have the same five problems) When you have completed your research, you and your partner will present your findings to the other groups. After everyone has presented their findings, you and your partner will complete the Inspiration Web assigned to your station.
PHASE 1 - BACKGROUND
PHASE 2 - RESEARCH PROBLEM
PHASE 3 - PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION
PHASE 4 - INSPIRATION WEB
PHASE 1 - BACKGROUND
Click on the pictures below to listen to the problems as the teachers describe them.
Mrs. Stewart
Mr. Cooper
Mrs. Nelson
Ms. Swamp
Use the tables below to complete Phases 2 -- 5
PHASE 2 - RESEARCH PROBLEM
Scroll down to your corresponding table and use the resources provided to troubleshoot each problem and complete the worksheet.
Read through the resources provided for each problem. Use the websites to define the steps you should take to solve each problem.
Station 1
Error Messages
Resources
Worksheet
Inspiration Web
Station 2
Error Messages
Resources
Worksheet
Inspiration Web
Station 3
Station 3
Error Messages
Resources
Worksheet
Inspiration Web
Station 4
Error Messages
Resources
Worksheet
Inspiration Web
Station 5
Error Messages
Resources
Worksheet
Inspiration Web
PHASE 3 - PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION
With your partner, outline the steps you would take to solve the problem assigned to your group. Each group will have the chance to present their findings. When your group finishes your discussion, the other groups will have the opportunity to refute your findings. Use the worksheets to take notes during the discussions.
PHASE 4 - INSPIRATION WEB
After the discussion, create a flow chart using Inspiration software on the problem assigned to your group. These webs will be printed out and compiled into booklets that you will be able to take with you to use as guides in your classrooms.
Directions: Create a flow chart that would follow the steps you would take to resolve your problem. Click on the link below to view an example.
INSTRUCTOR'S NOTES
Materials Needed:
Internet
Inspiration Software
Microsoft Word
Printer
This webquest was designed as a culminating activity for a workshop on troubleshooting computers in the classroom. The Background Questionaire should be given at the start of the workshop for the Instructor to see where the participants are in their knowledge of troubleshooting. This questionaire is also used for the evaluation of the webquest and workshop. This type of evaluation is a self evaluation for both Instructor and participant to see whether knowledge was gained.
If Inspiration is not available, Word may also be used to create a concept web though the drawing tools.
EVALUATION
Now that you have paroused the resources provided and created your own troubleshooting guides for your classroom, click on the link below to complete the background knowledge quiz. Use this quiz to evaluate what you have learned from this webquest.