The
Education Connection Project
Workforce Development Technology Support
Computer Repair and Technical Support
Approach: Once the students receive their computers, they must be supported. And the area high school interns are very familiar with the computers used by the middle school students since they are the ones who built and configured them. Throughout the year, a high school intern will spend an average of 3 hours per week supporting a class of 30 students.
Partners: Electric Schoolhouse, DCANet, Americorps Kickstart Program, Urban Technology Project, Public Allies of Delaware
Technical Support Activities: In order to provide the students with the best possible technical support, the technical support person will be given at least a pager, a computer and Internet access for one year ( a second phone line or cell phone might be necessary if the technical support person is responsible for multiple classrooms) at a cost of about $5 per computer. During the year, the technical support person is expected to respond promptly to questions and problems. In addition, the technical support person is expected to visit the classes at least once per week in order to fix the computers on-site, pickup computers or replace computers. It is estimated that this will take 4 hours per week per class for a class of 30 students. It is estimated that the cost of this service will be no more than $30 per computer at an hourly rate of between $7.5 and $10 per hour plus an additional $5 per computer for technician equipment, supplies and materials. Lastly, a supervisor is expected to meet with the technicians 10 times throughout the year to discuss technical support activities in addition to being accessible through email and phone throughout the year and will receive an additional $5 per computer.
Suggestions & Questions - Support must take place at least weekly during the course of your program. There needs to be a place where the computers can be repaired. Would your students reliably go to a local school or center, or would the technician need to repair the computers at your site? Do you have a place were a technician could work that has access to a phone line for Internet access? Can the technician safely store computer parts nearby?
Timeline Technical Support |
August |
Order pagers and second phone line for Interns |
Sept-June |
Arrange schedule and workspace with schools for technical support visits. Weekly technical support visits to schools. |
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Page last updated on 08/13/00
Send comments to the Education Connection Project Director, Jay Cohen
