Session 12 - Preventative Maintenance, feedback and knowledgebase

Preventative Maintenance

Just like we service our car regularly to keep it running smoothly, there are some basic maintenance tasks that you can do to help keep your computer running smoothly,

Read a couple of the following articles. The one at the top of the list has a good rundown of some basic routine tasks you can do to keep your computer in tip top running order.

https://www.howtogeek.com/school/pc-maintenance-for-beginners/lesson1/all/


https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/p/prevmain.htm

http://www.mapcon.com/preventative-maintenance-for-computers

http://www.911-computer.com/6-basic-preventive-maintenance-tips-pc/

http://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-systems/windows-10/how-do-windows-10-maintenance-tools-work/

Activity 1

Create a list of tasks that you can perform as part of a preventative maintenance routine.

The above lists are for Windows based computers. Can you find a list for a Mac?

Where to get help

Organisations that provide IT support will have a database or log of problems and the associated resolution. Many problems that occur with computers and technology are not unique to a single person or piece of equipment. Having access to a database like this can potentially save hours or even days of diagnosing and searching for a possible solution to a problem.

We don't have access to our own database of problems and solutions, but we do have the Internet!!

Activity 2

Locate 5 free online websites/forums/blogs that you can get help/support/solutions to the following:

• Computer reboots for no reason
• Need help on Microsoft Excel - Formula result has #value
• USB not mounting - unable to access any files
• Cannot access the internet in Windows 8.1 
• Screen freezes in Acer laptop

Activity 3

For each of the above, what are the top 3 suggested "cures"

Feedback

How do we find out whether our clients are happy with the service that we have provided?

A good way of determining whether our clients are satisfied with the response and result is to get them to provide feedback. A well designed feedback form will allow you to get both negative and positive responses as well as details on where and how you can improve.

Activity 4

Design and create a feedback form. You can use an online tool such as Survey Monkey or Google Forms, or you could create a well designed document in Ms Word.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/

https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/

Session 10 - Sourcing parts and components

We covered the basics of hardware and software in the first couple of weeks of this class. We went to some technology websites and compared the specifications of a range of different computers.

This week, we will be looking at where we can source parts and components from. I thought that a good exercise would be to source the required parts and components to build our own computer. I know - sounds like fun doesn't it.

What components do we need to build a computer?

Read at least one of the following articles/checklists

https://www.lifewire.com/desktop-pc-parts-checklist-832694

https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/How_To_Assemble_A_Desktop_PC/Choosing_the_parts

Where can we get parts from?

There are plenty of places where you can get computer pasrts and components. Here are a few to get you started.

https://www.msy.com.au/home.php

http://www.techbuy.com.au/

https://www.scorptec.com.au/

https://www.ple.com.au/

https://au.pcpartpicker.com/

https://www.pccasegear.com/

How do we know what goes with what?

Some of this is practice and some of it is just about reading all of the specification information. Below are some screen shots from the PC Case Gear website. You will notice that the components are clearly marked for which motherboard and/or the relevant information to source the right bits.

Motherboard, CPUs and RAM

You really can't go too far wrong. Read the specifications, decide on your price bracket/performance level!

Graphics Cards

Hard Drive

With the numerous Cloud Storage options available, having a huge hard disk is not necessarily a priority.  You need a drive with enough capacity to run your chosen operating system and whatever software you want installed on your computer.

Power Supply

Your power supply needs to have enough guts to run your components. For example if you run a high end graphics card, you will need a higher capacity power supply. The average is around the 700W - 800W, but always allow a bit extra for expansion.

Case

Cases come in all shapes and sizes. Desktop, small tower, large tower, gaming with fancy lights, perspex covers etc.

Monitor, Keyboard & Mouse

The important factors for your monitor are physical size, resolution, refresh rate and response time.

Keyboard and mouse will come down to features such as extra buttons, sensitivity, feel, speed and size.

Class Activity 1

Divide into 3 groups. Your task is to design a computer system within a budget. There is no right or wrong answer apart from making sure that the components will fit together.

Group 1 - Budget system. Maximum cost $1000

Group 2 - Mid range system. Maximum cost $2500

Group 3 - High-end Gaming. Maximum cost $5000

Example System

The following is an example of components purchased to create a mid/high range computer system. This does not include the case, keyboard or mouse as we used existing items.

Putting it all together

Here are some useful links for actually putting your computer system together.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Assemble-A-Basic-Desktop-PC/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2987057/computers/how-to-build-a-pc-a-step-by-step-comprehensive-guide.html

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-build-a-computer/

Or if you prefer a video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv18kTMMXWM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SevDe13XMnQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZLrJdenyk4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZUYymbCH1w

Session 9 - Service Level Agreements

What is a Service Level Agreement?

A service level agreement (SLA) is a contract between a service provider (either internal or external) and the end user that defines the level of service expected from the service provider. SLAs are output-based in that their purpose is specifically to define what the customer will receive. SLAs do not define how the service itself is provided or delivered.

The level of service definitions should be specific and measureable in each area. This allows the quality of service to be benchmarked and, if stipulated by the agreement, rewarded or penalized accordingly. An SLA will commonly use technical definitions that quantify the level of service such as mean time between failures (MTBF) or mean time to recovery, response, or resolution (MTTR), which specifies a “target” (average) or “minimum” value for service level performance.

https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/learning-center/what-is-a-service-level-agreement-sla.html

Read the article Service-Level Agreements 101: An Executive Guide to Service-Level Agreements (SLAs)

http://www.cio.com.au/article/268177/service-level_agreements_101_an_executive_guide_service-level_agreements_slas_/

CLASS ACTIVITY 1

Find an example of a Service Level Agreement within the IT industry

• What are the terms?
• What level of support does it provide for?
• Is there a specific process?

Environmental Impact of Technology and Sustainability

Read the following articles

http://www.carnegiecyberacademy.com/facultyPages/environment/issues.html


http://www.mindcontroversy.com/effects-of-technology-in-environment/


http://www.ewaste.com.au/ewaste-articles/how-the-materials-found-in-ewaste-can-affect-human-health-and-the-environment/

The Story of Stuff Project

http://storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-electronics/




http://storyofstuff.org/movies/story-of-stuff/

E-Waste

https://www.finance.gov.au/agimo-archive/better-practice-checklists/docs/Environment_Checklist.pdf



https://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/clean-up-australia---e-waste-factsheet-final.pdf



http://splash.abc.net.au/home#!/media/524521/e-waste-recycling-and-sustainability


http://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/story/e-waste-hell

Class Activity 2

Find out about e-waste disposal in your area/shire/council

Is there a special program for e-waste?
Is there an e-waste policy?
Where/how can you get rid of your e-waste
Is there a cost?

How do you personally deal with any e-waste that you or your family generate?

Session 8 - Assessment task 2

Click below for full details of your second assessment

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B7rTpEOsVpGeSGtpVUllTU0xOFE