Build Instructor Guide

Buildteacher duties

Before the shift begins:

1. • Check the signup sheet at the front desk to see who's expected and note how many slots are open. There are usually walk-ins and you should have some idea of how many stations are available.
   • Check the whiteboard for today's special instructions. Also check in with the staff Production Coordinator for any updates.
   • Make sure supplies are available:
     1. RAM: Replenish supplies from the Tardis.
     2. Hard drives: See what size hard drives will be needed for the build shift and get the appropriately sized wiped drives from the Tardis. Do imaging throughout the session as you get a chance, mark imaged drives with a red marker dot, place in the hard drive box for builders.

During the shift:

1. • Greet people as they arrive, get their name, introduce yourself as their instructor and identify the build assistants.
     1. If a person is new to build, make sure they have already gone through Hardware Identification and System Evaluation. If not, direct them to the System Eval instructor.
     2. Persons starting their first QC should have their own Builder's Status Sheet available in the build room binders. If their sheet isn't there, it may still be in System Evaluation. If at all possible, start the first QC with a very ordinary box that is unlikely to have interesting problems. We don't want total puzzlement to be the student's first experience with build.
     3. When graduating a volunteer from QCing to building consider whether the builder is comfortable moving on and has the skills to start assembling. Also consider what Free Geek's needs are in terms of QC v. Assembly.
     4. Persons who have finished their QC's need to be orientated to the Build assembly process. Be sure to show them what to look for on the whiteboard and how to choose computers from the warehouse. Also be sure to identify the Build Checklist and where supplies are located.
     5. During the session, keep an eye out for people, especially new ones, who look lost or troubled. Help gently. Try too, to make sure that people are going through the Checklists and following proper procedure.
     6. Make sure to show builders how to problem solve instead of just fixing things for them.
     7. Let builders know if you are leaving momentarily and always encourage them to turn to their neighbors for help.
     8. Remember that computer knowledge does not equal intelligence. Treat everyone with respect and realize that builders will have different learning styles.
     9. LCD Moniters should be tested throughout your build shift if you have the time.

At the end of the shift:

1. • Start cleaning up for the next shift, perhaps 15 minutes in advance. This is especially important at the end of the morning session if there are no empty stations for any early arrivals for the afternoon shift, to minimize the chaos of two flows of builders moving in contrary directions. It's also important at the end of the afternoon shift to get the builders out on time so the staff can go home too. Always announce when ther is 15 minutes left in a build shift.

Howto Checkout QCed Boxen

• Make sure all of the slots and bays are covered and that the cards and slot covers are not loose
• Check the box over carefully both for specs and cosmetics. Make sure that any Microsoft certification stickers and their glue gunk are removed.
• Check if it rattles when you shake it
• If you haven't seen it boot up fine, reboot it (some people see that it says press F2 to continue, so they do it with out ever fixing it)
  • tip - Unplug all power to the box before doing that reboot to see if it retains BIOS settings. -- MW 14:40, 27 March 2008 (PDT)