New job, I start tomorrow

[dobbyit]

Hello all, i am starting a new role tomorrow as the only IT technician in the primary school, my back ground is 1st line support in IT with media support in a secondary school. The new role is managing the network, providing all kids of support to staff and students.

My question is where do I start with the system?

[rad]

Ensure you know how the backups work, test them.

After that, learn who does what so you know who to ask for advice

[admars]

good luck

 

it may seem obvious, but make notes on what does and doesn't work at the moment, how it's all configured, so when you go to fix/improve things, you don't make something else worse, and if you do, you can go back

 

Network diagrams of what connects to what and how.

 

What servers are there, what do they do, physical and virtual, or if it's a primary is some-one's desktop also used as a server

 

See if there's working backups, if they don't take some

 

Chat to staff, see what they use, and don't use, like and don't like, some will want the moon on a stick, but some will hopefully warm to the new kid showing an interest

 

FInd out what MIS is used, do you support it, and if so, how much do you support it? Likewise other systems, cashless catering etc

 

there, that should getyou started, again, good luck

[elsiegee40]

Congratulations on the new job

 

Make being in the staff room every lunch and break time a priority for the first week or so. Make a point of introducing yourself to everyone with a friendly smile.

 

Listen to their moans. You will rapidly cone to your own conclusions on who is/isn’t tech savvy and what the problems are whether tech or training.

[dobbyit]

Thank you for the advise - do you know of any free networking diagram programs or is it just a case of using office.

[admars]

i've used the free version of this in the past https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/

[Ditto]

Exciting times - congratulations! Use Edugeek lots - get as much detail as you can with anything you need help with. Chances are others will benefit from the threads. See if you can build some local school contacts to get further support. Are you in a standalone school, MAT or with a local authority? Any third parties involved? Call any early and build up the partnership.

[dobbyit]

A LA school primary i believe there are other schools in a cluster which i have heard is amazing support so will contact them. Used edugeek before which has been fantastic

[DrBeaker]

Good luck!

 

Let us know how your first day goes. We've all been there

[mavhc]

Fix the easy stuff first, go to each class and ask if everything's working, if something can be fixed in a minute do it then, make a list of the rest.

 

Make sure no one has admin rights. Backup the backups, make sure there's an offline copy. Make sure filtering works. Observe pupils in class using computers, find out what their main problems are.

[dobbyit]

Fix the easy stuff first, go to each class and ask if everything's working, if something can be fixed in a minute do it then, make a list of the rest.

 

Make sure no one has admin rights. Backup the backups, make sure there's an offline copy. Make sure filtering works. Observe pupils in class using computers, find out what their main problems are.

Sounds easy lol

[TriggerHappyUK]

Thank you for the advise - do you know of any free networking diagram programs or is it just a case of using office.

 

https://www.draw.io/

[hardtailstar]

Congrats!

 

Make sure you tell HT/LM your plan of action for the first couple of weeks.

 

but I'd do the following -

 

- Get to know the servers and what is on them

- site walk with caretaker to find any hidden equipment

- set up helpdesk for teachers to email so you can log all issues

- check the set up of classrooms

- speak to teachers in their classrooms to find any weird issues that may happen time from time.

- Say hello to kids when they say hello!

 

That isn't in order but Id be covering those points in my first few weeks

[dobbyit]

First day done, jobs done

Admin permission in exchange

Looking around my PC files and folders

Reorgansied my desk

Checked I understood the school backups

School policies and induction

Home time already

 

All in all had a good day

[mavhc]

They're still running their own exchange server?