Plugging in...
This the Tutor was told by a long-time client just yesterday, May 30, 2007. The Tutor spent two hours working on fixing a Treo phone to sync properly with Outlook using Microsoft's Active Sync software, followed by using Outlook categories to create a specialized folder for merging with Word to print mailing labels for an annual newsletter, diagnosed why the internet-based Mozy backup couldn’t connect and perform the backup, changed Mozy’s settings to a daily backup schedule, changed the resolution on the digital camera to produce web-friendly sized photos and demonstrated how to reduce the file size of a digital picture already stored on the computer. Whew.
As the Tutor gathered the tools (really just the brain), the client let out a deep breath and stated “now that was better than a massage, I feel so much better now”. The Tutor laughed, flattered. Mind, body, computer. Who knew?
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Unplugged
Plugging in...
Tutor caveat: when a client calls with an inoperable device (computer, camera, scanner, laptop, phone, ipod), the Tutor always ask “is it plugged in, is it turned on, is it charged” before making a house call. It is distressing for both the Tutor and the Tut-ee to realize the ONLY problem is a power source problem. The Tutor still must charge for the time to make the house call and the knowledge to look at the power sources; the Tut-ee is grateful the problem is small and quickly fixed but also chagrined that they didn’t check every power source before calling in the “professional”.
In fairness to all power-challenged people, some devices have multiple cords that connect together; some have batteries, some have infra-red connections that are out of line, some have secondary devices that require a button to be pressed to be activated, some have switches on the wall to turn the power on, some are “dead” outlets, some are connected to power strips, that although plugged in, are in fact not turned on.
So for all of you out there who had to write a check to have someone plug something in for them: POWER to the people!
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Tutor caveat: when a client calls with an inoperable device (computer, camera, scanner, laptop, phone, ipod), the Tutor always ask “is it plugged in, is it turned on, is it charged” before making a house call. It is distressing for both the Tutor and the Tut-ee to realize the ONLY problem is a power source problem. The Tutor still must charge for the time to make the house call and the knowledge to look at the power sources; the Tut-ee is grateful the problem is small and quickly fixed but also chagrined that they didn’t check every power source before calling in the “professional”.
In fairness to all power-challenged people, some devices have multiple cords that connect together; some have batteries, some have infra-red connections that are out of line, some have secondary devices that require a button to be pressed to be activated, some have switches on the wall to turn the power on, some are “dead” outlets, some are connected to power strips, that although plugged in, are in fact not turned on.
So for all of you out there who had to write a check to have someone plug something in for them: POWER to the people!
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Animal Tails
Plugging in...
I’m perfectly happy to work on someone’s home computer – alone. Sometimes our schedules don’t click and I am trusted to be at their home, unaccompanied. Except for maybe the rogue cockatiel, dog or ferret.
Not being a current pet owner, I’m uncertain how much run of the house a pet is given while the owner’s are away. I found out at one house just how much leeway the precious pets had.
I was working on a young man’s computer, the son of a client, who had an entire floor to himself for his bedroom. Envious? Me too. So there I sat, focused solely on the project at hand, eradicating a virus, installing a new printer, doing some system maintenance. I’d worked on this computer before, so I was aware of the pets in the household and in particular, the birdcage in this room. The bird cage door was not closed, nor was the bird in it. Mr. Bird was peering at me from across the room. And for awhile I was left alone. For some reason, the bird decided I’d overstayed my welcome and proceeded to repeatedly dive bomb my head. Though it was annoying, I held my ground and after several flight patterns, Mr. Bird went back to peering at me from the top of the cage.
Safe. Good, I still had more work to do. Focusing once again, both hands now free from swatting a flapping bird at my head, I continued. It wasn’t long before I felt the weirdest little tug at my pant leg. My attention was quickly diverted, but not before the dang ferret crawled up inside my pant leg! I knew the young man owned a ferret, I didn’t know that it was loose and in the room with me. The little guy didn’t make a peep when I came into the room, or when I cursed the dive-bombing cockatiel. No, he waited for his own, personal chance to assault an unsuspecting stranger. They are cute, but I still had work to do.
He finally stopped crawling all over me, inside the pant leg, across my shoulders, on my lap, across the keyboard. He eventually gave up and sat on the bed behind me. If a dive-bombing bird couldn’t stop me, a wandering ferret didn’t stand a chance.
I finished my work, success on all fronts. I packed up my tutoring tools and thought I was going to walk down the stairs, close the door and go on to the next tutoring job. But nooooo. Ferrets are fast, and they are playful. The ferret kept racing me down the stairs, sitting in front of the door. That door, I knew, needed to be closed because, yep – you guessed it – more pets on the floor below. Two dogs. The two dogs and the ferret were not the best of friends. I lost count how many times I grabbed the ferret, walked back upstairs and attempted to run down the stairs before you-know-who got there first. Clearly I had to do something else. I grabbed the ferret one more time and brought him back upstairs. I put him in the spare bed, under the covers, where I knew he liked to hide (don’t ask how I knew this). I “tucked” him in and ran like crazy down the stairs and slammed the door. I laughed like a dope behind the door, caught my breath and left through the front door, dignity intact, no bird droppings in my hair and no ferret attached to my leg.
Yes, I got paid for all this, no extra charge for the entertainment.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
I’m perfectly happy to work on someone’s home computer – alone. Sometimes our schedules don’t click and I am trusted to be at their home, unaccompanied. Except for maybe the rogue cockatiel, dog or ferret.
Not being a current pet owner, I’m uncertain how much run of the house a pet is given while the owner’s are away. I found out at one house just how much leeway the precious pets had.
I was working on a young man’s computer, the son of a client, who had an entire floor to himself for his bedroom. Envious? Me too. So there I sat, focused solely on the project at hand, eradicating a virus, installing a new printer, doing some system maintenance. I’d worked on this computer before, so I was aware of the pets in the household and in particular, the birdcage in this room. The bird cage door was not closed, nor was the bird in it. Mr. Bird was peering at me from across the room. And for awhile I was left alone. For some reason, the bird decided I’d overstayed my welcome and proceeded to repeatedly dive bomb my head. Though it was annoying, I held my ground and after several flight patterns, Mr. Bird went back to peering at me from the top of the cage.
Safe. Good, I still had more work to do. Focusing once again, both hands now free from swatting a flapping bird at my head, I continued. It wasn’t long before I felt the weirdest little tug at my pant leg. My attention was quickly diverted, but not before the dang ferret crawled up inside my pant leg! I knew the young man owned a ferret, I didn’t know that it was loose and in the room with me. The little guy didn’t make a peep when I came into the room, or when I cursed the dive-bombing cockatiel. No, he waited for his own, personal chance to assault an unsuspecting stranger. They are cute, but I still had work to do.
He finally stopped crawling all over me, inside the pant leg, across my shoulders, on my lap, across the keyboard. He eventually gave up and sat on the bed behind me. If a dive-bombing bird couldn’t stop me, a wandering ferret didn’t stand a chance.
I finished my work, success on all fronts. I packed up my tutoring tools and thought I was going to walk down the stairs, close the door and go on to the next tutoring job. But nooooo. Ferrets are fast, and they are playful. The ferret kept racing me down the stairs, sitting in front of the door. That door, I knew, needed to be closed because, yep – you guessed it – more pets on the floor below. Two dogs. The two dogs and the ferret were not the best of friends. I lost count how many times I grabbed the ferret, walked back upstairs and attempted to run down the stairs before you-know-who got there first. Clearly I had to do something else. I grabbed the ferret one more time and brought him back upstairs. I put him in the spare bed, under the covers, where I knew he liked to hide (don’t ask how I knew this). I “tucked” him in and ran like crazy down the stairs and slammed the door. I laughed like a dope behind the door, caught my breath and left through the front door, dignity intact, no bird droppings in my hair and no ferret attached to my leg.
Yes, I got paid for all this, no extra charge for the entertainment.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Multi-Generational
Plugging in...
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Tutoring does not age discriminate. It certainly does challenge.
The oldest client to date was a retired lawyer of 94. I did not transpose the numbers (he was not 49). Did he have some challenges? Sure. Did the Tutor? Yes. Every client teaches me how to tutor better. I'm sure you're very curious what he wanted tutoring in, yes? His word processor of choice: Word Perfect for DOS. (That should tell you this was some time ago we worked together.) When he was given a newer computer, ALL his shortcuts and customized options for Word Perfect didn't make it to the new computer. He couldn't remember what they were, a backup didn't exist and the Tutor didn't know what he didn't know. But we persevered and painstakingly put together a workable group of shortcuts that were also documented on paper and he went happily about his word processing. He needed each shortcut written on an index card, which he filed in a box next to his computer. He was an intelligent man, and at 94 knew he needed some memory enhancers and wasn't afraid to ask for them.
The youngest client to date was a boy of 9 who refused to use a pencil or pen to write. Aside from this one idiosyncrasy, he was a normal child. No, really, he was. He already had a computer and was very literate in its use, including knowledge of the keyboard. Watch most children on a computer, they have little trouble mousing around, even if they can't read! They learn quicker because they don't know that every action has a consequence. Plus, they don't have to pay the computer repair person, do they?
So what was the Tutor's role in this tale? The Tutor was hired to buy and install a typing tutor software program, and to tutor him in correctly using his word processor. Think 9 years old. Think short attention span. He no more wanted to learn using his word processor than he wanted to go to bed early. He wanted to show me drawings, talk about his swimming, anything but do what the Tutor was hired to do. To work with someone this young required compromising. The Tutor had to talk about dinosaurs and the young lad had to write about what he did on his summer vacation. We worked it out - some fun, some work. Balance. It's always about balance.
The oldest client to date was a retired lawyer of 94. I did not transpose the numbers (he was not 49). Did he have some challenges? Sure. Did the Tutor? Yes. Every client teaches me how to tutor better. I'm sure you're very curious what he wanted tutoring in, yes? His word processor of choice: Word Perfect for DOS. (That should tell you this was some time ago we worked together.) When he was given a newer computer, ALL his shortcuts and customized options for Word Perfect didn't make it to the new computer. He couldn't remember what they were, a backup didn't exist and the Tutor didn't know what he didn't know. But we persevered and painstakingly put together a workable group of shortcuts that were also documented on paper and he went happily about his word processing. He needed each shortcut written on an index card, which he filed in a box next to his computer. He was an intelligent man, and at 94 knew he needed some memory enhancers and wasn't afraid to ask for them.
The youngest client to date was a boy of 9 who refused to use a pencil or pen to write. Aside from this one idiosyncrasy, he was a normal child. No, really, he was. He already had a computer and was very literate in its use, including knowledge of the keyboard. Watch most children on a computer, they have little trouble mousing around, even if they can't read! They learn quicker because they don't know that every action has a consequence. Plus, they don't have to pay the computer repair person, do they?
So what was the Tutor's role in this tale? The Tutor was hired to buy and install a typing tutor software program, and to tutor him in correctly using his word processor. Think 9 years old. Think short attention span. He no more wanted to learn using his word processor than he wanted to go to bed early. He wanted to show me drawings, talk about his swimming, anything but do what the Tutor was hired to do. To work with someone this young required compromising. The Tutor had to talk about dinosaurs and the young lad had to write about what he did on his summer vacation. We worked it out - some fun, some work. Balance. It's always about balance.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Mistakes Happen
Plugging in...
Oh yes. And a biggie, too. It was more the lack of tutoring that got the tutor into trouble. Call it a scheduling snafu. One client, an educational institution who books classroom training regularly, called to cancel a workshop. In my haste, I did not notice the TWO days of training this client had scheduled.
Perhaps what happened is obvious? NO? I canceled the wrong DATE! (That's why cancellations are NO LONGER taken over the telephone). This left 18 people sitting in a classroom wondering what in the world happened to the always punctual tutor.
To say I was mortified is an understatement. I re-scheduled the class at no charge. I had wasted 3 hours of 18 people's time. Doing the math: I owed 54 hours of time to the group. I must admit, they were incredibly forgiving, gracious, and still work with me today.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Oh yes. And a biggie, too. It was more the lack of tutoring that got the tutor into trouble. Call it a scheduling snafu. One client, an educational institution who books classroom training regularly, called to cancel a workshop. In my haste, I did not notice the TWO days of training this client had scheduled.
Perhaps what happened is obvious? NO? I canceled the wrong DATE! (That's why cancellations are NO LONGER taken over the telephone). This left 18 people sitting in a classroom wondering what in the world happened to the always punctual tutor.
To say I was mortified is an understatement. I re-scheduled the class at no charge. I had wasted 3 hours of 18 people's time. Doing the math: I owed 54 hours of time to the group. I must admit, they were incredibly forgiving, gracious, and still work with me today.
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Saturday, May 19, 2007
12:00 Blinking
Plugging in...
So you know I'm a computor tutor. And yes, I spell computer, COMPUTOR, because it looks better with TUTOR. No, the Tutor doesn't need a spellchecker either. My spell checker has that word added to it so it doesn't think it's an error. But I digress from the telling of the tale.
The tale. An electronics tale. Does the Tutor look like an electronics technician? A geek from the world of Tweeter who can lay 50 feet of cable in a single bound? A plasma HD TV expert who knows why the gold tipped cables are the best to use? It must be the aura of confidence exuded upon the Tutor's arrival, for why else would a client, a computor tutor client, ask the tutor if I could program their VCR to stop blinking 12:00?
Did the Tutor fix it? Of course. The Tutor also opens boxes, puts paper in copy machines, makes coffee, programs thermostats, and even "does Windows" - but you probably knew that one, right?
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
So you know I'm a computor tutor. And yes, I spell computer, COMPUTOR, because it looks better with TUTOR. No, the Tutor doesn't need a spellchecker either. My spell checker has that word added to it so it doesn't think it's an error. But I digress from the telling of the tale.
The tale. An electronics tale. Does the Tutor look like an electronics technician? A geek from the world of Tweeter who can lay 50 feet of cable in a single bound? A plasma HD TV expert who knows why the gold tipped cables are the best to use? It must be the aura of confidence exuded upon the Tutor's arrival, for why else would a client, a computor tutor client, ask the tutor if I could program their VCR to stop blinking 12:00?
Did the Tutor fix it? Of course. The Tutor also opens boxes, puts paper in copy machines, makes coffee, programs thermostats, and even "does Windows" - but you probably knew that one, right?
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Auto De-Tales
Plugging in...
Computor Tutor-ing is generally not an amusing vocation. Helfpul? Yes. Educational? Yes. Surprising? Yes. Laugh out loud funny? Not usually. OK. Sometimes, but never in a hurtful way. Unusual? All the time.
This tale, as most will be, is short and as most do, has a happy ending.
What do you say when a client tells you that their child has stuffed a favorite, prized even, matchbox car into the tape backup unit on the computer? And of course it won't come out. Not with praying, banging, tipping upside down, or throwing a complete hissy-fit.
How much is a little matchbox car worth, exactly? Apparently enough to pay a considerable amount of money to watch the tutor use surgeon-like precision when operating on the computer and the tape drive unit - both of which made a full recovery; the matchbox was retrieved unscathed. I'd like to think it was later sold on eBay to pay for the "operation".
Tell me, where do you go to school to learn the fine art of extracting alien articles from inside computers?
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
Computor Tutor-ing is generally not an amusing vocation. Helfpul? Yes. Educational? Yes. Surprising? Yes. Laugh out loud funny? Not usually. OK. Sometimes, but never in a hurtful way. Unusual? All the time.
This tale, as most will be, is short and as most do, has a happy ending.
What do you say when a client tells you that their child has stuffed a favorite, prized even, matchbox car into the tape backup unit on the computer? And of course it won't come out. Not with praying, banging, tipping upside down, or throwing a complete hissy-fit.
How much is a little matchbox car worth, exactly? Apparently enough to pay a considerable amount of money to watch the tutor use surgeon-like precision when operating on the computer and the tape drive unit - both of which made a full recovery; the matchbox was retrieved unscathed. I'd like to think it was later sold on eBay to pay for the "operation".
Tell me, where do you go to school to learn the fine art of extracting alien articles from inside computers?
ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it turned on?
Unplugged
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