Difference between revisions of "Merit Badges (Thrift Store)"

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Merit Badges are an experiment in volunteer/staff training being rolled out in the Thrift Store. It is in its beta stage, but we are going to start using it and develop the program on the fly. Individuals' progress will be tracked on [[The Sash]].
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{{Delete}}
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 +
 
 +
Merit Badges are an experiment in volunteer/staff training being developed in the Thrift Store.
  
 
[[Image:2600.png|thumb|
 
[[Image:2600.png|thumb|
 
You Know You Want It.]]
 
You Know You Want It.]]
  
−
==The basic idea==
 
  
−
A four-tiered path to mastery based loosely on the Cub Scouts' model, where there are four milestones, each requiring a subset of training, education the the demonstration of skills.
+
==Purpose==
 +
Merit Badges are an experiment in volunteer/staff training being rolled out in the Thrift Store. It is meant to allow for training duties to be shared among store staff, and to ensure nothing is missed and that training proceeds in an orderly fashion.
 +
 
 +
==Structure==
 +
A four-tiered path to mastery based loosely on the Cub Scouts' model, where there are four milestones, each requiring a subset of training, education and the demonstration of skills.
  
−
The first implementation will be rather unattractive and scrappy, as we prototype the tiers/steps. Once we settle on a workable model, we will put work into making the system more usable and attractive.
 
  
−
==The Tiers==
+
==The Four Tiers==
  
 
<!--Start of table definition-->
 
<!--Start of table definition-->
Line 31: Line 36:
  
 
<!--Start of individual cell details for the second row-->
 
<!--Start of individual cell details for the second row-->
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|width="100"|'''Rubber Band Ball'''
+
|width="100"|[[Rubber_Band_Ball | '''Rubber Band Ball''']]
−
|width="100"|'''Pricing Gun'''
+
|width="100"|[[Pricing_Gun | '''Pricing Gun''']]
 
|width="100"|'''Atari 2600 Game Controller'''
 
|width="100"|'''Atari 2600 Game Controller'''
 
|width="100"|'''The Whistle'''
 
|width="100"|'''The Whistle'''
 
|}
 
|}
  
−
The basic framework is as follows:
 
  
−
===Enter the program===
+
==Program Elements==
  
−
The first step to working in the store is to go through the basic orientation. This includes tiny, fussy steps such as:
+
===Badges===
−
*signing a [[Volunteer Agreement (Thrift_Store) | volunteer agreement]]
 
−
*getting on the store email list
 
−
*Printing out a merit badge sheet (the doc that would be used to track progress. may be physical, may live here)
 
−
*Arranging a schedule
 
  
−
===Milestones===
+
Badges represent specific areas of learning. They may require full understanding of a particular area, or could be further broken into basic, intermediate and advanced levels.
  
−
These represent the four major leaps forward. Each milestone would have a set of four required badges, and four elective badges. Once the appropriate badges have been received, the final step to advancing to the next milestone is to effectively train another person in x-amount of required badges (2?).
+
===Tiers===
  
−
===Badges===
+
These represent the four major leaps forward. Each milestone would have a set of required badges, and possibly. Once the appropriate badges have been received, the final step to advancing to the next milestone is to recite a stupid oath; a trinket may be involved, as well.
  
−
Badges represent specific areas of learning. They may require full understanding of a particular area, or could be further broken into basic, intermediate and advanced levels. Each Milestone would have four critical badges that would be required. Additionally, there would be a list of potential elective badges, representing useful, non-critical skills that we need to have around, but don't need every single person to accomplish.
+
===Application===
 +
Each badge would have a corresponding "worksheet," essentially a Teachers' Guide to help track the fussy details of training. These will most likely being simple .txt files that are linked to from the badge's page, to be printed out and checked off on paper, of all things. The cadet won't really see these, as they're mainly tools to help store folks with the training process.
  
−
===Worksheets===
+
The worksheets gauge small steps and ensure all areas are covered.
−
 
 
−
Each badge would have a corresponding "worksheet," essentially a list of specific skills that need to be trained in order to earn the badge.  
 
  
−
The worksheets gauge small steps and ensure all areas are covered.
+
Volunteer Interns would be trained in the first two tiers of the program.
  
−
==How it works together==
+
As time goes on, we will develop the higher-level tiers to aid in training store staff.
  
−
A basic layout of the proposed tiers. Each title refers to a "tier." Each sub-category refers to a specific, required merit badge. Each merit badge would have a corresponding wiki page detailing the steps of learning that particular area/badge. (Names are proposals. Not yet naming the badges, but will most likely be animals).
+
==A Closer Look At the Tiers==
  
−
===The Rubber Band Ball===
+
The skills required to run the store properly are divided into four tiers with an ascending level of difficulty. The first two tiers are applicable for all volunteers and workers in the store. Volunteers will hopefully be trained up through the first two tiers. The remaining tiers are for staff only.
−
Please complete [http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php?title=Store_Training_Orientation&action=edit Oreintation] first.
 
  
 +
===[[Rubber Band Ball | The Rubber Band Ball]]===
 
[[Image:RubberBandBall.png|thumb|
 
[[Image:RubberBandBall.png|thumb|
 
Represents an ability to perform basic support tasks in the Thrift Store.]]
 
Represents an ability to perform basic support tasks in the Thrift Store.]]
−
Please note that the degree of understanding expected is in parenthesis
 
  
−
*Processing (100%)
+
*'''Orientation'''
 +
:See [[Store Training Orientation]]
 +
*'''Processing''' (100%)
 
**Determining what goes in which bin
 
**Determining what goes in which bin
 
**Cable wrapping
 
**Cable wrapping
Line 79: Line 79:
 
**System Badges/Price tags
 
**System Badges/Price tags
 
**Which items get price tags/which don't
 
**Which items get price tags/which don't
−
*Neatening (100%)
+
*'''Neatening''' (100%)
 
**printing labels
 
**printing labels
 
**location of tape, tags, paper, pens, rubber bands, other basic supplies.
 
**location of tape, tags, paper, pens, rubber bands, other basic supplies.
 
**taking out trash and recyling
 
**taking out trash and recyling
 
**cleaning floor, glass, and counters
 
**cleaning floor, glass, and counters
−
*Putting things away in the store (100%)
+
*'''Putting things away in the store''' (100%)
 
**Bargain Bin
 
**Bargain Bin
 
**Network devices
 
**Network devices
Line 90: Line 90:
 
**Cables of all kinds
 
**Cables of all kinds
 
**The free box
 
**The free box
−
*Stocking the store from other areas of FG (80%)
+
*'''Stocking the store from other areas of FG''' (80%)
 
**Returning stuff to Receiving
 
**Returning stuff to Receiving
 
**Shopping from Basic testing
 
**Shopping from Basic testing
Line 97: Line 97:
 
**Shopping from the Warehouse
 
**Shopping from the Warehouse
 
**Location of Paper, Tape, Credit Card paper, and Staples reloads
 
**Location of Paper, Tape, Credit Card paper, and Staples reloads
−
* Recite Rubber Band Ball Oath
+
**Print out Ubuntu FAQs, Spanish FAQs and Advanced.
 +
* '''Recite Rubber Band Ball Oath'''
  
 
===The Price Gun===
 
===The Price Gun===
 +
 +
*Prerequisite:  Complete Rubber Band Ball
  
 
[[Image:PriceGun.png|thumb|
 
[[Image:PriceGun.png|thumb|
Line 106: Line 109:
 
Badges are based on Simpsons characters.
 
Badges are based on Simpsons characters.
  
−
*Basic Pricing (80%) (Comic Book Guy)
+
*'''Basic Pricing''' (80%) (Comic Book Guy)
 
**All items that can be priced using basic price guide.  
 
**All items that can be priced using basic price guide.  
 
**Bargain Bin items.
 
**Bargain Bin items.
 
**Tested by pricing a set basket of items.
 
**Tested by pricing a set basket of items.
−
*Basic Till Operations (80%) (Apu Nahasapeemapetilon)
+
*'''Basic Till Operations''' (80%) (Apu Nahasapeemapetilon)
 
**Entering transactions.
 
**Entering transactions.
 
**Entering CC transactions.
 
**Entering CC transactions.
Line 119: Line 122:
 
**Processing exchanges issuing and applying store credits.  
 
**Processing exchanges issuing and applying store credits.  
 
**Tested by ringing up set baskets of items.
 
**Tested by ringing up set baskets of items.
−
*Basic Customer Service (80%) (Gil Gunderson)
+
*'''Basic Customer Service''' (80%) (Gil Gunderson)
 
**Engagement (greet, help, thank)
 
**Engagement (greet, help, thank)
 
**Managing expectations (know when to fold 'em/LWIA)
 
**Managing expectations (know when to fold 'em/LWIA)
Line 127: Line 130:
 
**Explaining Policies without conflict
 
**Explaining Policies without conflict
 
**Deferring all exceptions/questions to 2600s and Whistles.
 
**Deferring all exceptions/questions to 2600s and Whistles.
−
*Advanced Gathering (20%) (Bumble Bee Man)
+
*'''Advanced Gathering''' (20%) (Bumble Bee Man)
 
**TARDIS (RAM, HDDs, systems), optical drives, the Treehouse, other items from recycling (pc fans, heat sinks, etc.)
 
**TARDIS (RAM, HDDs, systems), optical drives, the Treehouse, other items from recycling (pc fans, heat sinks, etc.)
 
*Plus two elective badges
 
*Plus two elective badges
Line 137: Line 140:
 
Represents an ability to perform full range of support, customer service and cash-handling tasks in the Thrift Store.]]
 
Represents an ability to perform full range of support, customer service and cash-handling tasks in the Thrift Store.]]
  
−
(Badges named for charismatic mega-fauna?)
+
(Badges named for classic video games)
  
−
*Advanced Customer Service (20%)
+
*'''Advanced Customer Service''' (20%)
 
**Selling systems
 
**Selling systems
 
**Enforcing policies (saying "no").
 
**Enforcing policies (saying "no").
 
**When to fetch (special trips to get items from "the back").
 
**When to fetch (special trips to get items from "the back").
 
**System returns/tech support intake.
 
**System returns/tech support intake.
−
*Advanced Till Operations (20%)
+
*'''Advanced Till Operations''' (20%)
 
**Searching for sales
 
**Searching for sales
 
**Credit Card snafus
 
**Credit Card snafus
 
**Closing and Counting the till
 
**Closing and Counting the till
 
**Processing Store Returns over $10
 
**Processing Store Returns over $10
−
*Advanced Pricing (20%)
+
*'''Advanced Pricing''' (20%)
 
**Researching high-end and oddballs (not on the list)
 
**Researching high-end and oddballs (not on the list)
 
**Pricing Systems and Laptops
 
**Pricing Systems and Laptops
 
**Maintaining price list (spotting what's out of date)
 
**Maintaining price list (spotting what's out of date)
−
*Advanced Stocking  
+
*'''Advanced Stocking'''
 
**Displaying wares/creating signage
 
**Displaying wares/creating signage
 
**Printing labels and store documents.  Filing them/putting them away.
 
**Printing labels and store documents.  Filing them/putting them away.
 
**Improving existing displays.
 
**Improving existing displays.
−
*Plus two elective badges.
+
*'''Plus two elective badges'''.
−
*Recite Game Controller Oath
+
*'''Recite Game Controller Oath'''
  
 
===The Acme Thunderer===
 
===The Acme Thunderer===
Line 166: Line 169:
 
Represents an ability to perform all duties required to run the Thrift Store in a Jedi-like fashion.]]
 
Represents an ability to perform all duties required to run the Thrift Store in a Jedi-like fashion.]]
  
−
(Badges named for things you wanted to be when you grew up?)
+
The equivalent of knighting someone. The whistle requires the unprompted handling of a store [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobayashi_Maru Kobayashi Maru] scenario.
 +
 
 +
These aren't so much trainable skills/tasks, but qualities that need to be observed under fire; once you get so far, we start to keep an eye out for potential "whistletude." Obviously, the hardest thing to codify.
 +
 
 +
Basic idea is to create badges based on Star Trek Captains from the original series, and assign a different attribute to each.
 +
 
 +
Example:
 +
 
 +
;Kirk
 +
:Brinksmanship
 +
 
 +
;Spock
 +
:Analysis
  
−
The equivalent of knighting someone. Someone with a whistle can be scheduled to work a shift, solo. It's hard to imagine a sitch where a whistled person wasn't getting paid, frankly. Existing subs would likely get a fast-track through this stage, given the demands of their regular positions. Easy to test-out, as any paid position here requires similar attributes...
+
;Scott
 +
:Resourcefulness
  
−
These aren't so much trainable skills/tasks for volunteers, but qualities that need to be observed under fire; once you get so far, we start to keep an eye out for potential "whistletude." Obviously, the hardest thing to codify.
+
;Sulu
 +
:Perfect Attendance
  
−
Possible areas for badges:
+
In the course of day-to-day shleppage, a store person may be nominated to receive one of these, based on something accomplished in the course of duty. This nomination would come before the Thrift Store Working group, and if agreed, the badge would be awarded.
  
−
*Demonstrate diplomacy and wit,
+
Just a thought for now.[[User:Tonyc|Tonyc]]
−
*project management.
 
−
*brush-fire extinguishing (making an angry customer leave happy, without capitulating
 
−
*creating effective signs
 
−
*suggesting and implementing procedural/structural changes that improve production/flow
 
−
*suggesting and implementing changes that improve customer experience and sales
 
−
*documentation (the scribe?), etc.
 
  
 
==Electives==
 
==Electives==
Line 191: Line 202:
 
**Package mouse balls
 
**Package mouse balls
 
**Burn Distros
 
**Burn Distros
−
**laminate 2032 cards
+
**[[Laminating|laminate]] 2032 cards
 
*File System development
 
*File System development
 
*Documentation
 
*Documentation

Latest revision as of 13:54, 24 September 2013

deletion

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Whenever possible, could an Admin please remove this page?



Merit Badges are an experiment in volunteer/staff training being developed in the Thrift Store.

You Know You Want It.


Purpose

Merit Badges are an experiment in volunteer/staff training being rolled out in the Thrift Store. It is meant to allow for training duties to be shared among store staff, and to ensure nothing is missed and that training proceeds in an orderly fashion.

Structure

A four-tiered path to mastery based loosely on the Cub Scouts' model, where there are four milestones, each requiring a subset of training, education and the demonstration of skills.


The Four Tiers

The Path to Mastery
RubberBandBall.png
PriceGun.png
Atari2600.png
AcmeThunderer.png
Rubber Band Ball Pricing Gun Atari 2600 Game Controller The Whistle


Program Elements

Badges

Badges represent specific areas of learning. They may require full understanding of a particular area, or could be further broken into basic, intermediate and advanced levels.

Tiers

These represent the four major leaps forward. Each milestone would have a set of required badges, and possibly. Once the appropriate badges have been received, the final step to advancing to the next milestone is to recite a stupid oath; a trinket may be involved, as well.

Application

Each badge would have a corresponding "worksheet," essentially a Teachers' Guide to help track the fussy details of training. These will most likely being simple .txt files that are linked to from the badge's page, to be printed out and checked off on paper, of all things. The cadet won't really see these, as they're mainly tools to help store folks with the training process.

The worksheets gauge small steps and ensure all areas are covered.

Volunteer Interns would be trained in the first two tiers of the program.

As time goes on, we will develop the higher-level tiers to aid in training store staff.

A Closer Look At the Tiers

The skills required to run the store properly are divided into four tiers with an ascending level of difficulty. The first two tiers are applicable for all volunteers and workers in the store. Volunteers will hopefully be trained up through the first two tiers. The remaining tiers are for staff only.

The Rubber Band Ball

Represents an ability to perform basic support tasks in the Thrift Store.
  • Orientation
See Store Training Orientation
  • Processing (100%)
    • Determining what goes in which bin
    • Cable wrapping
    • Shrink wrapping
    • Cleaning monitors
    • System Badges/Price tags
    • Which items get price tags/which don't
  • Neatening (100%)
    • printing labels
    • location of tape, tags, paper, pens, rubber bands, other basic supplies.
    • taking out trash and recyling
    • cleaning floor, glass, and counters
  • Putting things away in the store (100%)
    • Bargain Bin
    • Network devices
    • What goes in the case
    • Cables of all kinds
    • The free box
  • Stocking the store from other areas of FG (80%)
    • Returning stuff to Receiving
    • Shopping from Basic testing
    • Shopping from Advanced Testing
    • Shopping from Receiving
    • Shopping from the Warehouse
    • Location of Paper, Tape, Credit Card paper, and Staples reloads
    • Print out Ubuntu FAQs, Spanish FAQs and Advanced.
  • Recite Rubber Band Ball Oath

The Price Gun

  • Prerequisite: Complete Rubber Band Ball
Represents an ability to perform basic customer service, sales and cash-handling functions.

Badges are based on Simpsons characters.

  • Basic Pricing (80%) (Comic Book Guy)
    • All items that can be priced using basic price guide.
    • Bargain Bin items.
    • Tested by pricing a set basket of items.
  • Basic Till Operations (80%) (Apu Nahasapeemapetilon)
    • Entering transactions.
    • Entering CC transactions.
    • Learning proper gizmo types.
    • Comments and Description fields
    • Recent Purchases (how to spot abusers and uphold policy).
    • Determining which items are "as-is" and which are exchangable
    • Processing exchanges issuing and applying store credits.
    • Tested by ringing up set baskets of items.
  • Basic Customer Service (80%) (Gil Gunderson)
    • Engagement (greet, help, thank)
    • Managing expectations (know when to fold 'em/LWIA)
    • Basic Scripts for FAQs
    • Managing and answering the phone
    • Learning Store Policies.
    • Explaining Policies without conflict
    • Deferring all exceptions/questions to 2600s and Whistles.
  • Advanced Gathering (20%) (Bumble Bee Man)
    • TARDIS (RAM, HDDs, systems), optical drives, the Treehouse, other items from recycling (pc fans, heat sinks, etc.)
  • Plus two elective badges
  • Recite Price Gun Oath

The Atari 2600 Game Controller

Represents an ability to perform full range of support, customer service and cash-handling tasks in the Thrift Store.

(Badges named for classic video games)

  • Advanced Customer Service (20%)
    • Selling systems
    • Enforcing policies (saying "no").
    • When to fetch (special trips to get items from "the back").
    • System returns/tech support intake.
  • Advanced Till Operations (20%)
    • Searching for sales
    • Credit Card snafus
    • Closing and Counting the till
    • Processing Store Returns over $10
  • Advanced Pricing (20%)
    • Researching high-end and oddballs (not on the list)
    • Pricing Systems and Laptops
    • Maintaining price list (spotting what's out of date)
  • Advanced Stocking
    • Displaying wares/creating signage
    • Printing labels and store documents. Filing them/putting them away.
    • Improving existing displays.
  • Plus two elective badges.
  • Recite Game Controller Oath

The Acme Thunderer

Represents an ability to perform all duties required to run the Thrift Store in a Jedi-like fashion.

The equivalent of knighting someone. The whistle requires the unprompted handling of a store Kobayashi Maru scenario.

These aren't so much trainable skills/tasks, but qualities that need to be observed under fire; once you get so far, we start to keep an eye out for potential "whistletude." Obviously, the hardest thing to codify.

Basic idea is to create badges based on Star Trek Captains from the original series, and assign a different attribute to each.

Example:

Kirk
Brinksmanship
Spock
Analysis
Scott
Resourcefulness
Sulu
Perfect Attendance

In the course of day-to-day shleppage, a store person may be nominated to receive one of these, based on something accomplished in the course of duty. This nomination would come before the Thrift Store Working group, and if agreed, the badge would be awarded.

Just a thought for now.Tonyc

Electives

A long list of things that scouts could pick and chose from according to their interests/skills. Offer a spread of crafty/tech/OCD/and easy.

A few suggestions:

  • Production
    • Package mouse balls
    • Burn Distros
    • laminate 2032 cards
  • File System development
  • Documentation
  • Making Ethernet cables
  • Safari Guide (the pith helmet)
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