Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks

Primary ICT Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks Introduction For a school to use ICT effectively, sound technical support is vital. BECTA recommend and promote a system of technical support that is both reactive to faults and proactive in preventing them. Within Redbridge there are various models of technical support ranging from very competent Network managers to full support from an outside provider. The model that is most popular and seems to work best is where a school has both an in house person alongside a contracted technical support company. The role of the in-house technician relates to the day-to-day issues of technology admin and maintenance, while the outside provider takes care of the more complicated network administration.

The following guidance notes have been written in response to requests from a number of head teachers who have asked for some suggestions for proactive tasks for their in-house technician. They have been put together by the Redbridge Primary ICT team and amended in consultation with a number of ICT coordinators. They are not a definitive an all-embracing manual and should be amended for your context (if necessary). We would of course welcome your feedback, and use your suggestions to review this guidance

Extract from Element 7 of the Self Review Framework https://selfreview.becta.org.uk/

Administration: 

Keep record of all requests for support (this can be classroom log-books or a central request book). Write down the date the request was made, and the date when it was resolved/closed. Make sure the member of staff the job most impacted by the problem is told of the completion.

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Report back to ICT Coordinator tasks that are taking longer than a week to resolve. Keep the initiator of the request updated with progress too.

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Keep record of all requests for external support made. Report back to ICT Coordinator tasks that are not being resolved within the support companies Service Level Agreement.

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Support the school administrator by maintaining records of all ICT equipment owned by school, including identifying serial numbers (for insurance purposes) and date of purchase (approximate if necessary

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The „McDonalds Toilets‟ Principle – It is a good idea to place a card near the door of each classroom to show when the room was last checked.

Written and complied by: Anthony Evans, Alex Rees, Nicholas Hughes, Gary Jelks 1

Primary ICT Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks

Proactive: Consider reviewing support requests and work out whether putting on an after-school 20-minute workshop would stop the problems (e.g. frequent requests to orient/calibrate interactive whiteboards, how use the visualiser, access the shared work folder on the network). Twenty minutes of planned workshop time can save much repetitious tasks and will be appreciated by staff. Put clear information cards on equipment that is known to be faulty and awaiting external support, explaining when it is expected to be working again. Where possible put replacement equipment in place if it impacts on many people. Put notices on the staff room notice board for known issues affecting everyone (e.g. “Internet is out, engineer has been informed”, “Projector in hall broken replacement with us by end of the week”,) Be careful of: 

Starting a new project that takes time away from maintaining the functionality of normal school ICT systems.

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Installing/reconfiguring any software without planning for the potential knock-on effects.

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Ensuring the school is licensed for any software used on school systems.

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Fixing a problem with a work-around that is only temporary. If you have to do this keep the job „open‟ and look for a more permanent solution.

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Allowing an enthusiastic or vocal member of staff to side-track you from solving an issue that has big impact on the class

Recharging batteries while downloading media to a common folder on the server.

Written and complied by: Anthony Evans, Alex Rees, Nicholas Hughes, Gary Jelks 2

Primary ICT Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks

Suggested Regular Tasks

Task

Complete

Comment

 Weekly Visit classes to check: -

Whiteboards, projectors, computers and printers are working

-

Projector image is crisp and clear

And then amend and complete incident/log book when necessary Regularly meet with Subject Leader to check/sign off on issues: -

Agree further progress

-

Update on any new issues (monthly longer meeting)

Meet with Support Company: -

Go through incident log, prioritise, explain any tasks that are unclear and sign off responses/ actions

-

Keep notes and review what they are doing

Check ICT resource requests and: - Ensure batteries and charged for cameras/ Beebots or other -

Discs/SD cards are cleaned/empty

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Projector set up for assembly

Retrieve and download: - Any digital images from Foundation Stage cameras (profile /evidence pictures -

Store in common/shared „media‟ folder on server use sensible naming conventions

-

Erase memory cards, discs for reuse

Written and complied by: Anthony Evans, Alex Rees, Nicholas Hughes, Gary Jelks 3

Primary ICT Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks

Backup data: -

Changing Backup Tapes/ Drives

-

Checking & Notifying of Backup failures

(Liase with Support Company, if necessary)

Check for UPS failures (Liase with Support Company, if necessary)

Insert you own tasks here Weekly (as necessary) -

Change Projector Bulbs

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Change Printer Toners

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Basic troubleshooting (changing /plugging in network/VGA cables)

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Printer maintenance (paper jams)

Insert you own tasks here Insert you own tasks here Monthly Clean projector filters (This task may be delegated to a caretaker)

Updates Check latest version of browser software is stored across the curriculum network: -

Java

-

Flash

-

Shockwave

-

Adobe Reader

(Liase with Support Company, if necessary)

Written and complied by: Anthony Evans, Alex Rees, Nicholas Hughes, Gary Jelks 4

Primary ICT Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks Regularly meet with Subject Leader to check/sign off on issues: -

Agree further progress

-

Update on any new issues

Insert you own tasks here Termly Cleaning: -

Cleaners are cleaning computers particularly dust accumulating in fan area

-

Clean keyboards and mouse balls (if appropriate)

Server Housekeeping: -

Delete expired files/folders/photographs

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Create new / Disable old users on the server (liase with Support Company, if necessary)

Virus Prevention Ensure all teacher laptops are running the latest version of Norton/ Symantic Antivirus (Contact: [email protected] if support is needed)

Insert you own tasks here Ongoing – if you have done all above! Be familiar with school software Help Sheets Create or source help sheets or help videos for new applications or tasks e.g.: - Smart Notebook 10 - Activ primary 3 Insert you own tasks here

Written and complied by: Anthony Evans, Alex Rees, Nicholas Hughes, Gary Jelks 5

Primary ICT Technicians Suggested Regular Tasks

Written and complied by: Anthony Evans, Alex Rees, Nicholas Hughes, Gary Jelks 6