Day 3 in the Lab

 Wow! What a long day!!!!

    Today seemed to go on forever. The lab was slow. I think it is a little of the mid-quarter blues sneaking up on me. The deadlines for assignments are approaching and my students are also getting stressed out and needing extra time. Yesterday, the movers came to Grover to help me get all of my nursing lab supplies that we had stored upstairs into the lab. I came in early today to unpack and sort through boxes prior to coming here. I need to change my mindset!

    My excitement today involved assisting 2 grad students with getting their computers to print. I had to go to the website of the home computer and obtain the address for the printer and the host name. I then had to go into the computer and remove the existing printer that did not work. I went through the steps multiple times to add the computer and it would not work. Scott was sitting beside me working on the second computer and it worked great. We tried together many times and it would not work. The students agreed that they would not need both printing that if one would work then that would be all right.

   Another task of the day involved assisting another student in the lab with creating tables on a document. She wasn't sure what to do after she opened it. I was glad to be able to show her something. I really was wondering if I knew more than anyone else. My nursing background has limited me from the technology experiences beyond what I was required to do for my employers. I am now learning from assisting others and surprising myself about what I do actually know. I have learned a lot from my second course this quarter EDCT 501. I hope to continue to grow by leaps and bounds.

    One final task for today as assisting my friend with her adobe connect. I showed her how to check black board for her browser check. We then found that her adobe had become disabled. We then enabled it and through much trial and error were able to get it to work. Thankfully, Scott happened to be here when we started having headphone issues. It seems that my headphones work but only if I use the headphones without the attached microphones. My computer has a built in microphone and that is how I am working.

  Overall, today was productive. I am learning and absorbing more than I thought I would. I am looking forward to more.... next week.  

Day 2 in the lab

 

Well grad school is starting to get the better of me. I forgot to make my post last week after lab so I am doing it now prior to my third lab. Week 2 was a little smoother. I wasn't as nervous. I started my day with downloading software on a grad student’s computer. The task itself wasn't too overly challenging but after getting into the room and finding they had other issues for me to resolve really made me think about all the times I grabbed our computer guy over in Grover to help with one thing and ended up asking for way more. I sure do appreciate him (Mark- if you are viewing this- it is you). Anyway, I was able to assist with installing a printer. It wasn't like when you install a printer at home where you just plug it in and run a cd. I had to search on the internet for the correct model of printer and get the number to initiate the printer. I then printed a test page. It felt like when I had just finished my first 5k run. Although, I stumbled through it at times, I was proud I was able to finish it and in this case the grad student was happy and able to get back to work.

     My entire day wasn't so blessed. I was asked to assist the grad student that was working to go offer help to an instructor who was having computer difficulties. We were unable to get the correct password to open her system. Scott had a meeting and since he is the brains in the lab, we had to wait to finish the task. When all was said and done, the issue was resolved.

    I was hungry so imagine my relief when Scott asked me to go on a fishing trip for him. I was to go to Baker and search for an instructor or his student who needed to borrow a computer for a coaching program. I went (drove because I still cannot handle the walk from Grover to McCrackin) to baker.  I said a little prayer, as I do before all of my fishing trips, and was relieved that I didn’t fish too long without getting a glimpse of some coach type people sitting at a table. I went over to them and started asking; sure enough they were coaching students. They didn’t know the student I was looking for so I still needed to look around. Eventually, I was able to find the student who needed the computer. I had time to grab a quick bite to eat while I was there as well.

    The remainder of my day involved cleaning. I was just making sure the monitors were clean. I really didn't have anything to kill the germs that must be larking on the computer key boards and mouses'. Ugh, as a nurse I need to wash my hands to feel safe and I was watching students repeatedly tough their face, pens, keyboards over and over. I just wanted to scream, GERMS really big but decided against it. I have decided to just do my part in keeping the germs down and hopefully prevent someone from getting ill this flu season. I am looking forward to my next five hours and wondering what adventures I may get in.

Day 1 in the Lab

                                                              Nurse Out of the Water        

Day 1 in the lab was a little challenging with the experience being new. It reminded me of the very first day I went to a new hospital to work when I was an agency nurse. I had gone through an orientation phase in my mind but had no idea what the reality of the situation would be until I got there. Due to an extremely heavy schedule this quarter with working 12 credit hours at Ohio University Athens,  helping out this quarter at Ohio University Chillicothe, having and being a student myself with 11 credit hours, and having a family I feel very privileged to have found 5 hours per week that I could commit to this lab experience. 
     My computer experience is somewhat limited. Although I use a computer on a daily basis I am limited to my comfort zones. Over the past few weeks my techno world has exploded. Today, in the lab I was able to install software- I mean without reading the step by step directions that I have previously done at home. I loaded the CD, had to unfreeze and freeze the computer back when I was finished- which I have never had to do at home. I was then able to perfect my skills as we had a list with multiple computers to load. I was grateful for the opportunity.
     Another adventure today lead me to the bottom of the sea- the basement. It was a little scary and brought me back to my childhood of going to my grandmother’s basement with her, but only when my grandpa wasn't around to disapprove. The musty aroma was almost breath taking at first. I had to go on a deep sea dive to try to locate a monitor and computer for a student worker. I was taken aback by all of the used equipment. I guess I assumed we always got new as opposed to recycled equipment. We were able to find the monitor and retrieved the needed key board, mouse and cords however; the basement was void of any computer towers that met the needs of this student. A new one would need to be ordered. 
    Throughout the day, I was joined by others of my classmates who were also getting in their lab hours. Between us and the GA we were almost stepping on each other as we cleaned the monitors and tables. I cleaned the microphones and used the Swiffer. I almost felt ill with this task, not that it was below me by any means but because I know how much my own home needs this kind of a cleaning. I understand from a healthcare perspective the importance of cleanliness but also from a technologic view point of the dust interfering with the equipment. 
    Overall, I feel my day was well spent. I was really nervous about the adventure I was going to undertake for the day but found it to be a very useful and productive day. There have been changes made to the schedule for next week so there will not be so many of us fish swimming in the sea of knowledge at the same time or walking around the computer lab. I am happy with my decision to jump in feet first and not look back. I am looking forward to next week’s adventure as I hope you are.