School I.T Technicians

[Doorman80]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advise. I'm starting a new job next week as a I.T Technican but dont really know what software i will be using. If there is someone out there that already does this role could you tell me what software i should be reading up on and common problems that you face on a daily basis so I can go in knowing what to expect. I've never had to deal with severs before so i'm a little worried!


Thanks

 

[A[L]C]

How did you get the job

I wouldnt mind working in a school, but whats the wage like?

 

[tom_e]

How did you get the job

I wouldnt mind working in a school, but whats the wage like?

Talking to my tutor at uni and apparently not that great

 

[greeny_fastcar]

It isnt great.

If its a Windows network you will more than likely be working with some idiots that have just strapped new things onto the already dated system. (Can you tell what my workplace network is like?)

But in all seriousness it will probably be a Windows Domain, more than likely running some sort of email system (Exchange 2000, 2003, 2007 etc.). If you do anything like I do then all you'll need to be able to use is Active Directory to reset passwords and user accounts!

 

[Stellios]

What school mate? If you dont mind my asking.

 

[something daft already!!]

Most school I work with employ RM networks and others use Active directory.If your very lucky, they will have Digitalbrain. Most school networks are poorly put together and have poor contention ratios and rubbish speeds. Most school ICT people I speak to, know very little about ICT. It usually left to the bloke "who has a computer at home". Some are very good, the London Grid for Learning has a fairly good infrastructure but poor ISP from one company. Other Grids are fairly good such as Kirklees or E2BN.

 

[Pottsey]

There is no consistency between schools and it could be a bad area to go in since the government is getting rid of IT tech in schools. 90% of problems will be between the keyboard and chair and chance’s are you will need MS word well all of Office. Find out what printers you have Epson or HP are the most common and learn the drivers and software

http://www.edugeek.net/index.php?name=Forums is a must see website for school IT techs.

The wage in schools is not that good but the work hours and holidays are fantastic better then most jobs. Finish at 4 unless it’s a Friday where most staff leave early. No, work to take home and what 2 or 3 months holiday a year.

 

[greeny_fastcar]

...holidays are fantastic better then most jobs.

Hehe I have to disagree with that comment!

I have to work all summer to do the jobs that can't be done during term time.

 

[Pottsey]

Do you at least get paid overtime? I almost never work summer and get paid extra when I do. I hear some IT techs are unlucky and don’t get the full 6 weeks off.

 

[chrislusty]

Depends on what network the school has. Could be RM, or could be using the Active Directory. Both have pros and cons.

Unlike businesses schools are not willing to throw vast amounts of money towards IT, so you have average machines running on below average Servers. this is what slows the network down, along with cheap switches etc.
Staff prefer to see what the money is being spent on, i.e. a new class full of PCs, rather than updating an old server.

Internet will probably be governed by the LEA, who will have filters left right and center.

Most common jobs will be adding users, resetting passwords.
simple things like "My printer doesnt work, when i click print, it prints to the one in the corner, not the one on my desk" so showing staff how to change printers in the drop down box etc.

Will you be in charge or is someone above you?

You may also have a online registration system, such as SIMS. this is used instead of pens and paper to mark the register.

You may have to look after the school website too.

Do you know how big the school is? how many staff? pupils?

Didnt you ask these questions at interview?

And make sure the backups work correctly too, that is important.

 

[Burnsy2023]

One of the places that I work, have a standard 52 week contract, none of this teacher holiday crap. It's standard in most of Hampshire from what I've been told.

Overtime is also not avaliable, it's all under salery.

Burnsy

 

[greeny_fastcar]

Do you at least get paid overtime? I almost never work summer and get paid extra when I do. I hear some IT techs are unlucky and don’t get the full 6 weeks off.

Dont even get paid overtime. Just the normal rate.

Stupid college and they don't even do things properly the senior tech doesnt trust ANYONE so I have to suffer with the mediocre "admin" account. I mean seriously I didnt do 3 years training to be just some scivvy without a domain admin account!

 

[bledd]

i'd never work in a school, can't stand teenagers

be prepared to replace cd/dvd drives because they'll constantly get jammed with coins

 

[Burnsy2023]

Unlike businesses schools are not willing to throw vast amounts of money towards IT, so you have average machines running on below average Servers. this is what slows the network down, along with cheap switches etc.

This isn't always the case, we've just had a new Cisco Aironet wireless infrastructure installed on top of Cisco switches, we also have dual quad core Dell servers with 8GB of RAM.

Internet will probably be governed by the LEA, who will have filters left right and center.

I wish I could disagree with this though

Burnsy

 

[Burnsy2023]

be prepared to replace cd/dvd drives because they'll constantly get jammed with coins

Coins, mini cheddars, pens, rulers, misc stationery, chewing gum and many more. They're getting inventive these days

Burnsy

 

[chrislusty]

This isn't always the case, we've just had a new Cisco Aironet wireless infrastructure installed on top of Cisco switches, we also have dual quad core Dell servers with 8GB of RAM.



I wish I could disagree with this though

Burnsy

I have just started as Network manager in a comp and the school has spent nearly £150k on PCs in the last three years, and the server they bought earlier this year cost a huge £3k

Im hoping to spend more on servers next financial year, and switches.

I know not every school doenst spend money on the backbones but in a lot of cases its true.

 

[waso_dude]

I work in a school.

We get called for anything from toner replacments to setting up projectors. Thats the massive thing with school its a massive range of jobs that you will have to do.

We run a Active Director Controlled network. with XP clients and server 2003 servers.

But a lot of places use the RM network ( read crap).

Last year we replaced 120 classroom comps - RM one c2d pcs and 50 RM ones with 20" screen e6600s and 2gb ram for heavey video/CS3 usage.

Our network runs on 12 servers. All HP servers, 75% quad core zeons 2/3 are dual quad core'd

Schools have a large budget generally for ICT.

The major pirk of the job is the flexability, you are always learning something new nothing is staying the same.

 

[waso_dude]

Coins, mini cheddars, pens, rulers, misc stationery, chewing gum and many more. They're getting inventive these days

Burnsy

Wanna do what my work has done

SFF comps no CD drive no floppy

Or the RM one comps

 

[greeny_fastcar]

Schools have a large budget generally for ICT.

Oh I actually laughed out loud!

 

[Deleted member 64478]

Working in a school aint all that exciting, you gotto clean up the mess the kids make with the drives and front bays e.t.c pulling things off the computers. Bare in mind depends what age range school your talking about.