useraaron321 Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Hello people, just joined on here and just started a new career as an ICT Technician in a School. I was told to join this website as it was a good place for information but I wondered if anyone could direct me to any other websites that offer any training or info on any of the things I may be covering. I'm totally new to IT so any acronyms may confuse me. I would like to learn more about the network side of things like windows server, and I would like to know more about switches and cabling or anything you may recommend. Also one of the things that bug me a little is when teachers come to me with an issue about not being able to play a video, a file corrupting or just something everyday that end users seem to have trouble with. Just so you know I am going to be enrolled on a course in september but it would still be valuable to have some good websites to help someone who its just starting out. Regards Aaron
Norphy Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Microsoft Virtual Academy That's a very good place to start for Microsoft stuff. Welcome, have fun in your new job.
hardtailstar Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Welcome to Edugeek! Also one of the things that bug me a little is when teachers come to me with an issue about not being able to play a video, a file corrupting or just something everyday that end users seem to have trouble with. You will be getting a lot of that in schools and as the technician they will come to you.
elsiegee40 Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) Hello and welcome If you can't find the answers you need on here, I would be very surprised! As for training, it would be worth trying to get yourself on a course of some sort to cover the basics of server management. Also one of the things that bug me a little is when teachers come to me with an issue about not being able to play a video, a file corrupting or just something everyday that end users seem to have trouble with. Learn to smile and get on with it. If you are going to have a career in school network management you will find that the following tasks feature far too regularly: The mains electricity isn't switched on, I've forgotten my password, There's no paper in the printer, The cable isn't plugged into $device, I didn't listen to you the last $number times you told me how to do this. Honestly though, as much as it annoys you, the reason for being there is Teaching and Learning and, while we mutter and moan, if the children can't learn then that is the most important thing for you to deal with. You are also now responsible for everything else in the school that has a plug attached to it, except the sinks (except the plugs were probably lost long ago for those)... and even then don't be surprised if you end up dealing with a blocked sink. Edited July 4, 2014 by elsiegee40
Danp Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 We all like an eager beaver, it's a raging growler you should worry about.
Novalee Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Welcome! I was in your position nearly two years ago. I haven't had any official training but have been very lucky that my boss and other tech are both very clever at their jobs and always have time to show me how to do things and explain stuff. I actually like the 'little' jobs sometimes, the teachers really appreciate it and puts you in their good books!
useraaron321 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 That's good to know. I'm lucky to be in the same position as you and I have cleaver manager who finds time although he didn't notice that I swapped his big comfortable leather chair with mine ;p. Id like to do some training on some courses I think just to speed up my progress really. I guess you're right though I'm going to be learning 80% or my knowledge right here in the School.
Novalee Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 That's good to know. I'm lucky to be in the same position as you and I have cleaver manager who finds time although he didn't notice that I swapped his big comfortable leather chair with mine ;p. Ha! Well done! I've been after my boss' fancy chair for a while... how did you manage it? :-p
useraaron321 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 Big cardboard box at the side so he didn't notice the shiny chrome on his chair as he walked in and swapped our jackets over. He was wiping the crumbs and dust of my my one wondering why his had got so dirty. I had to leave the room!! ;p
Norphy Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Knowledge comes with experience and experience comes with time. Don't rush things, you'll be fine. That said, take up every opportunity for learning, look at the MVA courses that I linked earlier. Ask for training, the worst thing that they can say is "no" but they might say yes. Play with things, ask questions, find out how things and done and why they're done like that. Also, when it comes to training don't focus exclusively on the technical side of things. See if you can get some project management, management or ITIL training.
foofighterjim Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Learn the acronym PEBKAC and you should be fine!
useraaron321 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 Im actually on the MVA website now so thanks for that. I'm being really inquisitive and learning things all the time. If I don't understand it I'll ask and if I do understand it i'll ask about the next thing I don't understand that's related to that. I cant help wanting to know more I think I really am turning into a geek. Haha. But I do understand that I have only just scratched the surface of what there is to learn and I think its important to keep listening and instead of trying to sound like I know it just keep asking questions. I think I'm almost exhausting my colleges to be honest but I'm sure it will work in all our favors in the end.
visioN Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Also one of the things that bug me a little is when teachers come to me with an issue about not being able to play a video, a file corrupting or just something everyday that end users seem to have trouble with. Just so you know I am going to be enrolled on a course in september but it would still be valuable to have some good websites to help someone who its just starting out. Get used to those issues teachers have - if your first line that will be most of your job! But like others said, your job is to enable Teaching & Learning, without that, you wouldn't have a job! What course are you enrolling on?
witch Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Take notes. I have a "How To" folder on my computer with brief notes on how to do all sorts of things. Very useful when you come to do something that you haven't done for a long time. You can google it of course but having your notes "in your own words" really helps, I find 1
useraaron321 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 Good advice. I'm looking at a course run by CISCO called IT Essentials Cisco Networking Academy Program Its CISCO but its really just as the title suggests and its just the basics really. After that my manager said we'll have a look at some other ones most likely Microsoft accreditation's. But any other courses you may suggest would be great. I was also directed to this page MCTS 70-640 which seems to be a free course on windows server 2008. I'm always a little weary of free things nowadays though.
Tesla Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Follow that up with the Comptia A+ qualification maybe, that's how i started...
useraaron321 Posted July 4, 2014 Author Posted July 4, 2014 I'm definitely going to do that it seems like a good idea.
Novalee Posted July 4, 2014 Posted July 4, 2014 Take notes. I have a "How To" folder on my computer with brief notes on how to do all sorts of things. Very useful when you come to do something that you haven't done for a long time. You can google it of course but having your notes "in your own words" really helps, I find I second this - things can seem really easy the first time you're shown, but if you don't do it again for 6 months, it's easily forgotten.
gtg93 Posted July 7, 2014 Posted July 7, 2014 Welcome! Microsoft Virtual Academy That's a very good place to start for Microsoft stuff. Welcome, have fun in your new job. That and Professor Messer, CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux, Microsoft Certification Training has some very good (free) A+, N+ and MS training videos that cover proper course material... Wish he'd do more tbh.... Other than that, you'll pick more up by doing the job.
useraaron321 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Posted July 7, 2014 Good one, anywhere I can get free training would be great. I was looking at doing the CompTIA A+ too so this might come in handy for that. Its got a lot of videos on windows OS as well which is really useful. Thanks
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