"Here, fix it."
I was chatting with a friend, who is a "computer guy" at his company. We were exchanging "computer guy" stories. He was telling me about how people walk up to his desk and, although he's busy doing something, they'll ask for some computer help. Usually something not work-related or important.
I was telling him how one student brought her computer in for me to fix. She didn't bring any of the CDs that came with the computer, or any information (such as serial numbers), or even a screw driver to open the case. She said "I figured that since you know a lot about computers, you'd have all the tools to fix them." redundant note: I'm a TEACHER! I imagine someone walking into an anatomy class, "Great, you guys are going over the abdomen... I need my appendix removed."
Anyway, I tell her that I'll look at it during my lunch. I find a screw driver, open the case, and WHOA! I find a lot of dust bunnies, a GOOD handful. Plus, about thirty or so cockroaches, two of which were still alive. One big, meaty one was encrusted to the motherboard. It looked like the board was trying to digest the roach. The inside of this case was disgusting. I could tell someone once spilled some liquid (I pray someone spilled some liquid) inside the case a while back. The fan was so full of dust and grime and "stuff" that it almost couldn't spin.
End of story... I tell her I couldn't do much except clean it out, tell her to add some memory, recommend some tips (clean out every six months, uninstall some programs, etc..) and wish her well. I cringe when she says "Okay, if I have any problems, I'll bring it back." I tell her there's not much I can do, but to call the manufacturer to see if she had purchased the extended warranty, which means they will have to service it, FOR FREE. She liked that idea.
It's been about three months and she hasn't brought it back (me happy), so I guess either it's working, or she got the manufacturer to fix it.
Monday, March 15, 2004
"But we always get a 20 minute break!"
Today a new teacher started working and, of course, the students in her group tried to take advantage of her naivetè.
They told her that they always get a break. And, of course, the "15 minute break" turned into a 22 minute break. Even longer for a few who didn't come back until almost 30 minutes. Most of these students came in late, more than an hour late. And the ones who are very late are usually the biggest proponents for a break.
Today a new teacher started working and, of course, the students in her group tried to take advantage of her naivetè.
They told her that they always get a break. And, of course, the "15 minute break" turned into a 22 minute break. Even longer for a few who didn't come back until almost 30 minutes. Most of these students came in late, more than an hour late. And the ones who are very late are usually the biggest proponents for a break.
Wednesday, March 03, 2004
"But I need this right now!"
Today, we had a job fair for the students. So, of course, almost everyone was rushing at the last minute to get their resumes finished and printed, even though we've been telling them to be ready. One girl came in in jeans and a t-shirt, NOT dressed for an interview. When asked why she wasn't dressed properly, she said she "didn't feel like meeting with people." and "didn't want to work with those people." (Her mom works for one of the companies, and doesn't like her job) So I said "They have lots of jobs, not just the one your mom has. And, there are other companies there." I couldn't believe she didn't think about that. So, knowing she lives nearby, I recommended she go home and change, whcih she did.
Another student decided that she didn't have to work on her resume in class, because her mother "has a computer at home and she can do it for me." Today, she showed up with a CD and asked me to print it out. When I went to open the file, there was no resume. She called her mom, and I suggested her mom e-mail it to me, instead of faxing it so I can print a clean copy. I waited for about 15 minutes, no resume. She tells me that she wants to go, and have I printed out her resume yet. I tell her that her mom still hasn't sent it. She called her mom again, who said "What? You need it right away? Can't you wait?" The student asked her to e-mail it now because she can't interview without it. So the mom says she'll do it in a few minutes. I tell the student to go ahead, and I'll wait for the resume, print it out and bring it to her. An hour later, I get a phone call. "I'm sending it now. As soon as I hang up, I go on the internet and send it."
Approximately TWO minutes later, I get another call. "Did you get it? Were you able to print it out? Is it fine?" I'm amazed that this person who originally took her time to send the resume, is now RUSHING me! I tell her that I need to fix it a bit, and she asks "Why? What's wrong with it?" I have to tell her that she mispelt a bunch of words (like "New York") a few times, and that I'm trying to fix the format to make it look neat. She goes on to tell me about her program not having "those advanced functions". The asks me to hurry, because her daughter called her to ask her to hurry.
Reminds me of the old saying "An emergency on YOUR part, does not consistute a reason to rush on MY part."
Today, we had a job fair for the students. So, of course, almost everyone was rushing at the last minute to get their resumes finished and printed, even though we've been telling them to be ready. One girl came in in jeans and a t-shirt, NOT dressed for an interview. When asked why she wasn't dressed properly, she said she "didn't feel like meeting with people." and "didn't want to work with those people." (Her mom works for one of the companies, and doesn't like her job) So I said "They have lots of jobs, not just the one your mom has. And, there are other companies there." I couldn't believe she didn't think about that. So, knowing she lives nearby, I recommended she go home and change, whcih she did.
Another student decided that she didn't have to work on her resume in class, because her mother "has a computer at home and she can do it for me." Today, she showed up with a CD and asked me to print it out. When I went to open the file, there was no resume. She called her mom, and I suggested her mom e-mail it to me, instead of faxing it so I can print a clean copy. I waited for about 15 minutes, no resume. She tells me that she wants to go, and have I printed out her resume yet. I tell her that her mom still hasn't sent it. She called her mom again, who said "What? You need it right away? Can't you wait?" The student asked her to e-mail it now because she can't interview without it. So the mom says she'll do it in a few minutes. I tell the student to go ahead, and I'll wait for the resume, print it out and bring it to her. An hour later, I get a phone call. "I'm sending it now. As soon as I hang up, I go on the internet and send it."
Approximately TWO minutes later, I get another call. "Did you get it? Were you able to print it out? Is it fine?" I'm amazed that this person who originally took her time to send the resume, is now RUSHING me! I tell her that I need to fix it a bit, and she asks "Why? What's wrong with it?" I have to tell her that she mispelt a bunch of words (like "New York") a few times, and that I'm trying to fix the format to make it look neat. She goes on to tell me about her program not having "those advanced functions". The asks me to hurry, because her daughter called her to ask her to hurry.
Reminds me of the old saying "An emergency on YOUR part, does not consistute a reason to rush on MY part."
Tuesday, March 02, 2004
It's amazing what people think you don't know.
The other day, I was covering a class that didn't have a teacher. The subject was some basic math. The students thought that because I taught computers, I didn't know this subject. As I was explaining it, I heard one of the students say "He knows this stuff!", I laughed, and she said "I thought you didn't know math! I thought you just knew about computers." So I replied, "I know all about computers and math, I just don't know how to read and write!" That got a few laughs, as well as a few strange looks from a few who thought I was serious. But the students actually think that a teacher knows what they teach, nothing else. One told me that she thought another teacher was the smartest because he teaches basic math, reading and writing. "That's THREE things." Funny.
The other day, I was covering a class that didn't have a teacher. The subject was some basic math. The students thought that because I taught computers, I didn't know this subject. As I was explaining it, I heard one of the students say "He knows this stuff!", I laughed, and she said "I thought you didn't know math! I thought you just knew about computers." So I replied, "I know all about computers and math, I just don't know how to read and write!" That got a few laughs, as well as a few strange looks from a few who thought I was serious. But the students actually think that a teacher knows what they teach, nothing else. One told me that she thought another teacher was the smartest because he teaches basic math, reading and writing. "That's THREE things." Funny.
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