[FreeGeek] Day 1 rough notes

[sean]

Jump right in there David!

Something to note about the receiving area is that with the computers
themselves, both the outer shell of the case and the front are numbered.
This is important as these pieces are later separated and can be
difficult to match up later on.

"have students make list of goals"

I really like this idea for the teaching portion. It's easy to imagine
that we know what a person needs to do, but it just isn't necessarily
the case. Leaving the goals up to the student will allow us to
facilitate what they already know they want. Perhaps we could then
present a grand list of what we consider important skills and our
reasoning and let students pick their way through what they feel up to.
It'd be kind of like university, but even more self-directed and not
hierarchical.

sean  :o)


David Repa wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> Below are some notes I jotted down while getting dirty at the
> mothership...
>
> **************
> Receiving Area
>
> area includes keyboard, mice, and speaker testing room
>
> goods are sorted into bins, and larger objects taken back after being
> numbered
>
> examples of bins are pwr cables, coloured cables, cd's floppies, stuff
> for the store, laptops, metal, pure plastic, toner, mouse pads, ribbon
> cables, stuff bound for adv. testing(routers, modems etc), loose
> cards, to name a few.
>
> there is also a bin for CBM(copper bearing materials), things like
> floppy drives, old speaker etc go into it.  Also there is a shopping
> buggy for cables to be destroyed(fills up quick)
>
> monitors are only kept if a)they are from 1998 and up, and are a min.
> of 17 inches.  There are gaylords outside for instant disposal.  4
> gaylords in total.  One for monitors, one for scanner, one for
> printers, and one for keyboards.
>
> Mac items are all put into one area for later testing and sorting.
>
> area includes tools, and 3 hand carts receiving area also includes
> bins for paper waste, garbage, cardboard
>
> Some improvements could be made like - adding a tool wall(tools were
> always being misplaced or on floor), perhaps having a covered outside
> receiving area(rain), better signage example - keep all epson scanners
> or keep IEEE 1284 marked
> cables
>
> area could be closer to processing area, keep down travel time
>
> need different databasing program.  Something that prints
> numbers as they are needed not vice versa.  a system similar
> to that found in scrap yards.  the need for this is to track
> what comes in and out.  also it enables to guarantee working
> parts in store(as long as they have a number).  Very similar
> to scrap cars.
>
>
> *********************
> General Thoughts/Observations
>
> NO stairs!  Must be handicap accessible.  On Saturday there was
> three wheel chaired folks working there.  They has access to
> all areas.
>
> Keep procedures simple and clear so new volunteers can start
> working right away with out much training.  Signage  with
> clear pictures etc.
>
> *************
> Dismantling Area
>
> Tools!  Lots of them.  Sturdy work benches(wood).  Gaylords for
> cords, pure plastic, motor items(not including HD), power
> supplies(cords cut), coloured wire, steel
>
> Improvements - better tool selection(hammers, pry bars, eye
> protection)
>
> it was mentioned that if the steel was compacted they would
> get more money.  Perhaps design simple crusher?
>
> Look into assembly line style procedure??
>
> Current system seemed not efficient.
>
> Visible first aid station
>
>
> *****************
> Education!
>
> Don't let the geeks teach!  Can "over talk" and lose peoples
> interest.  Have separate class for more advance people that
> want to geek out.
>
> Must be ready to teach people who possible have very little
> education or can't read.  Was given example of 70 yr old woman
> who did even know what a space bar was.  Time to empower
> people not talk down to them.
>
> Simple class out line -
>
> cover inside hardware(mobo, pwr supply etc)
> cover outside hardware(what diff. cables look like, where they
> plug in etc)
> first boot, login name, power up and down a couple of times
> have students make list of goals(I want to... with my
> computer)
> take them over to the store, do some shopping(printer, DVD
> player etc)
> setup new hardware, run apt-get type program achieve goals
> run automatix to make realplayer, java etc work, box must be as
> usable as a winbloz box
> before they leave make sure their ISP works if they have dial
> up
>
> Ubuntu seems to be the distro of choice, many positive things
> about it, very user friendly, stable.
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