I found my time on my work placement very enjoyable I learnt a lot covering a range of topics including, Networking, Hardware and Software. For Networking I ensured access points were setup correctly and tracing ports back to their relevant switches. Hardware tasks included changing printer parts, setting up machines and swapping hard drives. For Software I installed Windows XP, imaged machines and upgraded software. In addition to this I spent a fairly substantial amount of time supporting the users of the system directly.
I found some of the procedures such as logging laptops for repair slightly overwhelming and confusing to begin with. As time went on I found it easier to carry out these routines to the point when they became second nature. I think this helped me a fair amount as I felt I could carry out the routines as if I had always been there.
It also taught me that when dealing with equipment such as projectors it is very important that a paper trail is maintained. As this helps ensure that it is possible to know what equipment is available to the department, its location and if any of it is out for repair.
In addition I found out that warranties are important to any business as they allow them to get their equipment repaired for free when it breaks. Before this point I never thought of warranties as important but seeing them being used almost daily has made me realise how useful they actually are. For example the Q1’s and HP laptops were dealt with under warranty on an almost daily basis. Whilst I personally arranged a service under warranty for a broken printer. These warranties save the school a fortune in repairs, which the school would surely not be able to afford any other way.
I do have to say out of all the tasks I did I found those involving hardware to be the most enjoyable. I feel this is because it is different to just running a computer and requires an understanding of the different parts involved. I f I had a chance to go back to the beginning I would have probably asked Edd to show me how to solve hardware issues on the laptops, and shown more thoroughly that it is my area of interest.
I enjoyed working as a team when I did tasks such as room & tablet checks, I feel that these help a team become stronger so that they can cope when something more major such as a network failure occurs. When working as a team it almost compulsory that everyone does their part correctly, otherwise the project on the whole could fail.
Further to this I also worked independently on the wireless access point task, when I was helping users over the phone and when logging damaged equipment. I feel that by working as an individual I was challenged more as there was no one else who was partly responsible for the project. In addition as there was no one who was more experienced I was forced to think differently and try new methods to fix the problem.
I feel that my project involving the displays was fairly poor, in terms of both final result and operation. In my opinion this was due to a poor understanding of the task, as not having the end result that the school wanted clarified to me before starting. The idea of adding a box to show the latest news is undoubtedly a good idea, however one area I feel the project was let down in was the fact they had no idea what size they wanted the video window to be. In addition to this the content already on the screens had been designed to be full size, consequently I was not able to move some of the designs without the content being barely visible. It taught me to be sure of what is expected of my product before I begin.
However on the whole I feel the placement went well, with both the school and me personally benefiting. I feel one of the schools major benefits was with the access points, as their normal staff would most likely not have the time to carry out such a task. By doing this I feel that the school benefited in having a more secure and widespread wireless network. Whilst I personally benefited by gaining experience in managing a wireless network of that size. In addition I feel that by personally fixing the printer in s11 this took a considerable amount of work away from their team allowing them more time to focus on other issues, It had a positive effect on me as well as I was required to liaise with a company to check if an item was still in warranty and arrange a repair.
I feel that my experience at the Cornwallis will be relevant to my future, as it has allowed me to see the network from a technician’s point of view whereas I previously saw it as a user. This has enabled me to get a greater understanding of the challenges involved in operating a network of this size. In addition to this although schools may offer low pay for ICT Technicians; I feel that as you actively work on all aspects of the system you become knowledgeable in a range of systems which is great for advancing my career.