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 Reuse Program 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.
     3. Optical Drives: Check the supply of various types of optical drives and acquire the needed drives from Advanced Testing. Watch the supply in Build and place any drives that are over-filling the bins on the Advanced Testing incoming shelf. Try to pay attention to color as well as type.

During the shift:

1. • Greet people as they arrive, get their name, introduce yourself as their instructor and identify your fellow build instructor/s and staff.
     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 a Builder's Status Sheet made up for them and placed in the build room binders. (Until Build goes paperless, systems must be signed off both on paper and in the database.) 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 QC to assembly, 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. Volunteers who have finished their QC's need to be orientated to the Build assembly process (refer to the Assembly Orientation Checklist, hanging on the wall between the research stations, for a complete guide.)
     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 issues for them.
     7. Let builders know if you are leaving the buildroom 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. Image drives throughout the shift to keep up with hard drive demand.

At the end of the shift:

1. • Announce when the shift is close to being over and ask builders to leave time for cleanup before the next shift arrives or before we close. It is also a good idea to remind people to log their hours on the way out.
   • Start cleaning up what the builders have missed. This includes putting tools and supplies away, bundling keyboards and mice at each station, bringing dishes to the kitchen, throwing stickers and other trash away, and putting any loose Builder's Sheets back in the binders.
   • If you are the Instructor for the afternoon shift, remember to turn off the printer, all power supplies and fans. Make sure that there are no lights left on any monitors or speakers (except for the server station).

Howto Orient New Builders

1. Welcome the Builder, introduce yourself and ask their name.
2. Give them a quick tour of the Build room, pointing out important things like the QC shelves, spec sheets, white board, tools/hardware locations.
3. Explain to them the Build process. i.e., starting to QC and then moving on to assembly.
   1. In QC, they are using the checklist to make sure that the computer is within spec, that the hardware and software are functional.
4. Have the Builder get out their volunteer status sheet and grab a checklist. Ask them to read through the introductory section.
   1. This may be a good time to make a comparison to System Eval: “When you were in System Eval you used flow charts, while here in Build you'll use checklists.
   2. Explain useful terms like “spec sheet” and “printme.”
5. Explain that they should go through the checklist as best they can and then feel free to use their resources to problem-solve.
   1. Point out resources, such as the volunteer next to them, Google, the wiki, help.ubuntu.com, the research stations and the Build instructors.
6. Remind them to take it slow and that they're here to learn.
7. Have fun!

Howto Checkout QCed Boxen

• Ask the builder how things went.
• Make sure all of the slots and bays are covered.
• Physically check that the case is secure, this includes pressing on the power supply, slot covers, etc. to make sure they don't move.
• Check the box over carefully both for specs and cosmetics. Make sure that any Microsoft certification stickers and their glue gunk are removed.
• When checking specs, please pay close attention to the optical drives and make sure the Intel 82845 graphic chipset is not being used.
• Make sure that everything necessary is included in the notes section of the printme.
• If there are 2 sound or video ports, make sure the non-functioning one is covered with electrical tape or the official plastic covers.
• 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).
• Be sure there is a Free Geek, GNU/Linux, and system ID# sticker.
• Thank the builder.

Howto Checkout Laptop QCs

1. Visually inspect the exterior of the case:
   • Are there any asset tags/Microsoft stickers?
   • Is the case fully assembled? Screws tightened?
   • Is there any cosmetic damage? (Take note)
   • Is there an FG-PDX/Uncovered sticker? (Take note)
   • Are there Free Geek, GNU/Linux, and login stickers?
2. Confirm that wireless works:
   • Disconnect or disable the ethernet controller, and try to browse to a webpage (http://nyan.cat is a good one >:)
3. Inspect the Printme:
   • Confirm the system is Covered/Uncovered/FG-PDX.
   • Confirm that the battery test has been run and is included under
   • Gizmo Info.
   • Check that only one storage device is installed (e.g., see if
   • there's any mention of a Compact Flash or SD card in addition to the Hard Drive).
   • Check the notes on the PrintMe:
   • Internal/External Wireless?
   • Wifi switch/soft key (e.g., Fn+F5)?
   • Is cosmetic damage mentioned?
   • BIOS key?
   • Ask the builder to explain anything else.
4. Reboot the system
   • Confirm it can boot without error/user input.
5. Sign-off on the system:
   • Sign-off on BOTH the physical Printme & in the FGDB,
   • Fold the Printme in half and keep it inside of the laptop,
   • Make sure the Keeper Label has been updated,
   • Make sure the Power Adapter is neatly wrapped,
   • Bring it back to Laptops.

Howto Disburse a Take-home Computer

• Make sure box is within FreekBox Spec.
• Fill out Disbursement info on builder's Printme.
• Encourage builder to QC their box, or to have someone else QC it for them (not required).
• Ask builder what peripherals they want and collect them from the warehouse and classroom.

Note: Please maintain the order of the peripherals in the classroom and let a staff member know if you take the last of something. If there is a class in session, please obtain the peripherals from the basic testing area in receiving instead.

• Give the builder our Ubuntu New User FAQ. It is ideal to spend time with the builder going over some basics and answering questions. Unfortunately this is not always possible.
• Encourage the builder to attend our New to Ubuntu class and give them a class flyer.
• Fill the builder in on our tech support policy and give them the policy to take with them.
• It is very important that the disbursement Printme gets to the Front Desk. It is preferable to walk with the builder to the front to turn in the Printme, remind them to log their hours and let the Front Desk staff know why the builder is walking out the door with computer equipment.
• Don't forget to congratulate the builder for completing the program and taking home their FreekBox. Ask them to take the Build survey: [1] and encourage them to continue building.
• Connect the builder with a Reuse Program Coordinator if they are interested in a post-build area.