Standard 3.

5 Basic Troubleshooting
Candidates troubleshoot basic software and hardware problems common in digital learning
environments.

The Unstructured Field Experience Log for ITEC 7430 reflects mastery of standard 3.5. The log
documents time spent troubleshooting hardware and software issues for my grade level peers.
Promethean Board installation took place school wide in October of 2012. Teachers received
only one day of training from the county office on how to operate and maintain the new
technology tools that had been given to each classroom teacher. Many of my peers had not only
not ever used a Promethean Board, but they had also not been utilizing their classroom
computers in order to reteach and redeliver content materials that were not mastered by their
students. The expectation from administration was that all teachers would start using technology
in daily lessons immediately. Further training was needed in order for teachers to feel proficient
using the new technology that had been rolled out.
There were many issues with the installation and use of the Promethean Boards. Some issues
were as simple as when there was a power outage or a power surge, the board went into a safe
mode. I was able to assist the classrooms on my hallway after the first power outage to reset the
boards and get them up and running again.
Other trouble shooting issues I addressed were how to use the document camera. How to register
the ActiveVote devices for data collection purposes, how to download and use a flipchart, and
how to hyperlink shortcuts for frequently used programs on the desktop. I had previous
experience using a Promethean Board when I was a special education paraprofessional for
Cherokee County Schools. The school I worked at was one of the first to join the 21
st
Century
Technology Initiative. The special education teacher I worked with trained me on the use of the
board and how to create projects that were engaging, yet met content standards at the same time.
The experience I received was a priceless resource when I began teaching and had my first
classroom.
The role of troubleshooter is one that I will continue in the future at Mt. Carmel Elementary.
There were issues when our school was first outfitted to be Wireless. The future goals for
technology integration include the adoption of the Bring Your Own Technology that Douglas
County Schools has adopted. I will need to be proficient in a variety of software programs and
familiar with hardware issues in order to help my students achieve successful mastery of grade
level technology integration standards.
Future implications of the Bring Your Own Technology initiative will help give more students
access to digital tools. Currently we have only one computer lab with twenty four laptops for the
entire classroom to share. In the resource classroom, there are only three desktop computers. I
will look for additional grants and funding opportunities to see if there is a possibility of
acquiring more laptops computers for increased technology integration. This impact may be
measured by the increase in the number of desktop computers.