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Readings
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Setting up a local area
network (LAN) and the
Internet in a technical
service centre is described
in the document called
IT
in the organisation.
Firewalls, viruses and
virus protection are
also covered.
-
It is advisable to set
up a programme for volunteers
to work in your refurbishing
workshop – unemployed
youngsters gain computer
skills and knowledge
from being involved
in refurbishing computers,
and leave the refurbishing
workshop with the confidence
to use their skills
in the future. The SchoolNet
Namibia (see page
8 – The Workshop
Team) and Computers
for Schools Kenya
(see page 5 –
The Workshop) case studies
both describe the use
of volunteers in their
refurbishing workshops.
-
A helpdesk is important
for efficient maintenance
of the PCs. It should
be the first source
of assistance for any
problem an existing
site is having with
its computers. Here
is a document on helpdesk
concepts. SchoolNet
Namibia has a helpdesk
which is described in
the case
study on page 11.
- There
are various components
that make up a computer.
This is a list
of the components.
-
Workshop
processes comprise
all the steps in refurbishment
and production that
are involved in receiving
equipment and preparing
it for shipment to a
client.
- It
is important to have
an inventory management
system to keep track
of stock movement. Both
the case studies on
SchoolNet Namibia and
Computers for Schools
Kenya (CFSK) describe
their ways of tracking
stock. This document
on inventory
looks in-depth at inventory
management.
- Thin
client solutions vs.
fat (thick) client solutions
-
This is a document describing
the thin
client model
-
Choosing the operating
system
that is most appropriate
for the PCs is important
to avoid problems with
usability
-
This is a press
release for a comparison
study of Open Source
and Proprietary Software
in an African Contex
-
Copyright and legal
aspects have to be taken
into consideration when
the operating system
and application software
is proprietary software.
Page 1 of the CFSK
case study describes
their relationship with
Microsoft
-
You can protect yourself
against viruses with
a few simple steps listed
in the document called
virus
protection
-
The importance of including
educational
content on PCs destined
for schools.
- Educational
software is useful content
and resources to install
on the PCs. This is
a document which describes
the criteria
for evaluating education
software.
- Once
the PCs have been refurbished
and passed the performance
assessment test, they
are ready for rollout
and installation.
-
Providing ongoing support
after delivery of the
computers is essential
for sustainability.
The CFSK
(page 7) and SNN
(page 6) case studies
describe their maintenance
programmes.
Back-up resources/Additional
Info
A depiction of workshop
processes is given in
the following three diagrams
provided by Bridges.org.
They demonstrate how equipment
passes through each stage,
as well as helps to show
the integration of inventory
with workshop processes.
It also depicts the process
of evaluation that goes
into deciding which equipment
should be kept for re-use,
which pieces should be
kept aside for replacement
stock, and which should
be recycled:
Diagram 1: Workflow
– inventory and
testing
Diagram 2: Hard
drive workflow
Diagram 3: Assembly/Configuration/Burn-In
Workflow
Refurbishing
the computer
- Staffing
the workshop is
a detailed document
on using volunteers
in the workshop and
what is required for
the system to work efficiently.
-
Before computers are
sent for testing, their
insides need to be completely
cleared of dust. This
process is discussed
in the document called
cleaning.
-
All refurbishing workshops
need a set of boot disks
so that computers can
be started using a floppy
disk. It’s useful
for testing processes,
and essential in cases
where hard drives and
operating systems have
been corrupted. This
document discusses boot
disks in technical
terms.
-
Testing
hardware is a major
part of the refurbishment
process. This document
describes the testing
process in detail and
in technical terms.
Page 2 of the document
looks at the importance
of data destruction.
- PC
Assembly is a document
describing the process
where tested equipment
is assembled according
to a set of outlined
specifications.
-
Configuration
– BIOS and drivers
are discussed here in
technical terms.
-
Here is a guide to single
installations of
operating systems and
application software.
- The
Linux Terminal Server
Project (LTSP) is
computer software developed
by the open source community.
The software allows
many low-specification,
cheap computers known
as clients, to connect
to a more powerful server
computer across a network.
-
Simultaneous installation
of an operating system
onto a number of similar
computers is described
in this document called
multiple
installations in
technical terms.
-
The final step in the
refurbishment process
is networking the PCs.
Network
setup describes
this process.
-
Quality
Assurance testing
is an exhaustive set
of tests designed to
detect failures in equipments
hardware or operating
system installation
before the equipment
is delivered to the
customer.
-
This is an example of
a quality
assurance checklist.
-
The Microsoft
Authorised Refurbisher
programme is open to
any organisation in
Europe, Middle East
and Africa that refurbishes
computers for Eligible
Recipients. Members
must meet the terms
and conditions of the
Refurbishment and Re-Installation
Licence Agreement to
join the programme and
while participating
in the programme.
Teacher
Training Programmes
This
draft list
of African teacher training
programmes in ICT
is being compiled by SchoolNet
Africa to assist schoolnets
to identify suitable ICT
training content for teachers
in Africa. This list is
still in the process of
being modified and added
to, but it already provides
an extensive insight into
the software that is available
for teacher training.
Online
Educational Resources
- Direqlearn
is a Technology in Education
solutions provider,
supporting education
ministries, school networking,
community organisations
and schools, with the
integration of technology
in the teaching and
learning process in
Africa
http://www.direqlearn.org/
-
Imfundo is the team
within DFID (Department
for International Development)
which creates partnerships
to deliver ICT-based
activities supporting
gender equality and
universal primary education
in sub-Saharan Africa
http://imfundo.digitalbrain.com/imfundo/frontpage/home/
-
Online educational resources
to assist in looking
for schools, learning
materials, past exam
papers, help with research
projects, background
information on educational
matters or a job in
teaching in South Africa
http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/education/eduonline.htm
-
The portal offers thousands
of resources –
all free. dThis website
delivers information,
curriculum and support
materials to the South
African schooling community!
www.thutong.org.za
- Mindset Network -
A far-reaching project
aimed at uplifting all
South Africans through
better education, Mindset
delivers free educational
material via satellite
broadcasts, with supporting
multimedia material
in print and on the
internet.
www.mindset.co.za
- The Acacia initiative
is an international
program to empower sub-Saharan
communities with the
ability to apply information
and communication technologies
(ICTs) to their own
social and economic
development.
http://www.acacia.org.za
Other useful
websites
http://seedsforchange.org.uk
www.techsoup.org
www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/mmtk/refurbished.shtml
http://computer.howstuffworks.com
www.how-computers-work.com
http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/
www.tufftest.com
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