Skilled Trades 1201: Unit 2 Topic 1 Technology and the Workplace Part 4

SCO Students will be expected to: – 2.04 identify troubleshooting as a critical technological capability for a skilled tradesperson [2.405]

Why? The purpose of this outcome is to help students examine the concept of troubleshooting and relate its importance to the skilled trades workplace.

Troubleshooting This is inevitable. On any jobsite you will regularly encounter problems which must solved. These problems will often be unpredictable.

Unexpected events can and will happen, and it is the responsibility of the tradesperson to be able to “think on their feet” and solve problems. – Equipment failures occur on a job site. – Human resource issues may require troubleshooting skills, ie: labour unrest, wage issues, etc.

Troubleshooting is also called problem solving which is an integral part of technology. The key elements to troubleshooting are – Being able to identify opportunities, problems in scenarios – Posing appropriate solutions to those problems. – Suggesting appropriate means of evaluating the suitability of the solutions.

For many systems, troubleshooting strategies are well documented. Typically the documentation will say something like “if this symptom occurs, check these items”.

Problem Solving Strategies An IDEAL solution – Identify the Problem – Define the Problem – Explore Strategies – Apply a Solution – Look at the Effects

Example Identify the Problem: – My instructor has just finished explaining how to use a piece of equipment. I was paying attention, but I’m unsure about one part of a procedure. What do I do? – %20prototype2.pdf %20prototype2.pdf Page 5

Assignment You will be assigned one of the following situations, you must apply an IDEAL solution.

Three Problems 1.Identify the Problem: – You are on a freelance job. You think that things are going along well, everything is pretty much on schedule and there hasn’t been any major delays or mishaps. Yet the owner of the residence/business is continually complaining about the quality of work, the noise, the timing, the mess... just about anything you could think of.

2.Identify the Problem: – You are on a commercial construction job. While installing some third floor windows, you need a scissor lift that you have booked for rental. The company that has agreed to rent you the equipment informs you on the day that you need the lift, that they have overbooked. – You are on a deadline, and need the windows installed today. There are no other available lifts in town.

3.Identify the Problem: – You have just finished framing the first floor of a house, and have found out that all of the wood that was used for the framing is 2x4, and the owner requested 2x6. Knowing that scrapping the 2x4 would significantly impact your budget, what do you do?

Assignment Set up an IDEAL solution for the problem which your group has been assigned. – An IDEAL solution Identify the Problem Define the Problem Explore Strategies Apply a Solution Look at the Effects