Shadowing a Computer Resource Specialist… Carsyn Lassiter Due: November 12 th, 2014 Career Skills Bell 2 Ms. Gulliford

A computer Resource Specialist?  On Friday, October 31 st, I job shadowed a computer resource specialist. A computer resource specialist, or CRS, is a person who is trained to help and solve problems with technology. Whether it be computers, smart boards, smart phones, or anything program to do with technology, the CRS is the person that you would come to. I job shadowed Mr. Hardin, the CRS for Princess Anne Middle school which was quite interesting in many ways.

Mr. Hardin’s work Place: Princess Anne Middle School 2323 Holland road Virginia Beach, Virginia 23453

Mr. Hardin inside and out  No home work  Easy job  Teacher pay  Interactive work sometimes  Mr. Hardin mainly has to manage the school website than do anything else so there isn’t a lot of homework.  His job is more of a different teacher  Not a computer guru  Teaching degree  Used to be a computer math teacher

Personality and skills needed  Approachable  Trust worthy  Honest  Not grumpy  Communication skills  Multi task  Positive and cheerful  Problem solver  Trouble shooter

Life styles and work values  Being trustworthy  Honest  Being able to be a resource  Life is not surrounded by work  Average guy  Lot of free time  Job pay(48-51 thousand a year)

Daily tasks throughout the day…..  Meet teachers  plan lessons that incorporate technology  fix technology  Trouble shoot problems thrown at him

Job environment and working conditions:  Lots of free time  Lunch whenever he is hungry  Not stressful  Teacher without teacher problems (bad kids, grading, parents, etc.)  Has to be a resource to those who need help  Responsible

Job satisfactions and rewards:  No kids to deal with  Good pay for what he does daily  Fun  Lots of free time

Education/certification needed:  Teaching degree  Five years of being a teacher, minimum  A computer/ technological degree (got his job with a minor in computer applications)

Best things about being a CRS: in two points of view: Mr. Hardin’s opinion  Lots of free time to do whatever  Can eat whenever he feels like it  No bad kids to deal with  No parent teacher conferences with parents who think their children are little angels.  Works with technology and likes the change he has to deal with. Carsyn’s opinion:  Free time  Deals with technology  Don’t have much work to do  Gets to teach in some from of way  Gets to persuade people

What I learned from the job shadow/advice (I just interviewed him so…)  Likes to try new programs  Wants February breaks during school  Shoot for the star  Make no limits  Use high school to your advantage  Learn many languages  Open your eyes to other cultures  Love to learn about learing

Where will this job be in the “food chain” years from now, And where will technology be?  A very important job needed for society  There will be no job that is not surrounded by technology  Implants instead of phones  No bid desk tops  No cables needed

What I learned during the experience and what surprised me the most:  Mr. Hardin does really like his job  You have to be a people person  It’s not a bad or hard job to do  You have to learn to be open to suggestion  It’s still a teaching position  He gets paid the same amount as a teacher

Summary:  After hearing all the things that Mr. Hardin had to do and learn, I think the career path I want to take is down the same general road. I think the best thing about this career is being able to learn and experience new things and then be able to teach them to the people who want to know. The only bad thing is, not being able to actually teach a whole class things as much. I learned that you should always excel towards you goal and never give up because eventually you will reach it. Without Mr. Hardin's advice, I would not have thought that this job would be that exciting but without him, this school would not be leaning towards technological learning.