3.5 Basic Troubleshooting
Candidates troubleshoot basic software and hardware problems common in digital learning environments. (PSC 3.5/ISTE 3e)
Artifact: Gmail: Tips & Tricks Presentation / UFE Log
Reflection:
Standard 3.5: Basic Troubleshooting
The Gmail: Tips and Tricks PowerPoint Presentation and accompanying Unstructured Field Experience log artifacts were created during the Professional Learning and Technology Innovation course. Both artifacts provide supporting evidence of a professional development session that occurred in September of 2014. Google Apps for Education was rolled out at Buford City Schools in July of 2014 with less than adequate professional development to introduce the entire suite of its productivity tools. I was directed by my administration to conduct a refresher session devoted to teaching our faculty the ins and outs of Gmail.
The artifacts demonstrate mastery of the Basic Troubleshooting standard. In order to facilitate the development of the session, I really had to employ the principles of backward design and begin with thinking about common problems and questions that my colleagues had in the first two months of Gmail’s implementation at Buford City Schools. By starting with troubleshooting common problems associated with Gmail, I was able to design and develop a professional learning session that was tailored to my colleague’s needs. The topics covered in the session included how to use the toolbars, enhancing signatures, creating labels and folders, creating contact groups, dragging and dropping attachments, keyboard shortcuts, search strings, and how to unthread conversations. All of the aforementioned topics involved meticulously troubleshooting and much thought went into ensuring simple, clear, logical, and concise directions were extended to session participants. For these reasons, I feel that the artifacts clearly represent my knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the areas of troubleshooting basic hardware and software problems.
Through the creation of the Gmail session, I not only learned a lot about Gmail, I also learned a great deal about troubleshooting Web 2.0 software. My troubleshooting process involves exploring all aspects of the software and also watching video tutorials to reach a greater understanding of how to use the product. Unfortunately, the Gmail session was optional and thus the session’s impact was less far reaching than I would’ve liked. If I were in a theoretical scenario where I was again rolling out how to use Gmail, I would have the administration require the refresher session. I feel that a lot of my colleagues missed a great opportunity to revisit some of the basics and a few really great tips about how to leverage Gmail towards more effective daily use.
The impact of the Gmail session was assessed using a Google Form exit survey where session participants indicated their level of engagement and successes and or concerns with the session. The overall feedback from the seventeen survey respondents indicated that the session was successful in increasing overall knowledge of how to effectively use Gmail.
Standard 3.5: Basic Troubleshooting
The Gmail: Tips and Tricks PowerPoint Presentation and accompanying Unstructured Field Experience log artifacts were created during the Professional Learning and Technology Innovation course. Both artifacts provide supporting evidence of a professional development session that occurred in September of 2014. Google Apps for Education was rolled out at Buford City Schools in July of 2014 with less than adequate professional development to introduce the entire suite of its productivity tools. I was directed by my administration to conduct a refresher session devoted to teaching our faculty the ins and outs of Gmail.
The artifacts demonstrate mastery of the Basic Troubleshooting standard. In order to facilitate the development of the session, I really had to employ the principles of backward design and begin with thinking about common problems and questions that my colleagues had in the first two months of Gmail’s implementation at Buford City Schools. By starting with troubleshooting common problems associated with Gmail, I was able to design and develop a professional learning session that was tailored to my colleague’s needs. The topics covered in the session included how to use the toolbars, enhancing signatures, creating labels and folders, creating contact groups, dragging and dropping attachments, keyboard shortcuts, search strings, and how to unthread conversations. All of the aforementioned topics involved meticulously troubleshooting and much thought went into ensuring simple, clear, logical, and concise directions were extended to session participants. For these reasons, I feel that the artifacts clearly represent my knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the areas of troubleshooting basic hardware and software problems.
Through the creation of the Gmail session, I not only learned a lot about Gmail, I also learned a great deal about troubleshooting Web 2.0 software. My troubleshooting process involves exploring all aspects of the software and also watching video tutorials to reach a greater understanding of how to use the product. Unfortunately, the Gmail session was optional and thus the session’s impact was less far reaching than I would’ve liked. If I were in a theoretical scenario where I was again rolling out how to use Gmail, I would have the administration require the refresher session. I feel that a lot of my colleagues missed a great opportunity to revisit some of the basics and a few really great tips about how to leverage Gmail towards more effective daily use.
The impact of the Gmail session was assessed using a Google Form exit survey where session participants indicated their level of engagement and successes and or concerns with the session. The overall feedback from the seventeen survey respondents indicated that the session was successful in increasing overall knowledge of how to effectively use Gmail.