1. Trouble Shooting Brian Nettleton
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No
Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF). (Sept 06)
Much of the information in the following slides was taken from the Invention and Innovations unit 7 reading material.

2. What is Troubleshooting ?
Troubleshooting is a problem solving method. Other problem solving methods are invention, innovation, engineering design, and research and development.

3. What is Troubleshooting ?
Troubleshooting is the systematic search for the source of a problem so that it can be solved.

4. Troubleshooting Process
Step 1
Get The Attitude
To begin the troubleshooting process, a person needs to prepare tools, documentation, the work area, and their attitude. A person must be confident that the problem will be solved.

5. Troubleshooting Process
Step 2
Get a complete and accurate symptom description
The more details that are gathered, the quicker and easier it is to diagnose the problem

6. Troubleshooting Process
Step 3
Make damage control plan
Take any safety precautions necessary to prevent injury to people or damage to the equipment being worked on.

7. Troubleshooting Process
Step 4
Reproduce the symptom
Reproducing the symptom can help narrow down and eliminate solutions.

8. Troubleshooting Process
Step 5
Do the appropriate general maintenance
A problem is often fixed by performing general maintenance.

9. Troubleshooting Process
Step 6
Narrow it down to the root cause

10. Troubleshooting Process
Step 7
Repair or replace the defective component
Just remember how things came apart so they can go back together.

11. Troubleshooting Process
Step 8
Test
Is the symptom gone?
Are there any more problems?

12. Troubleshooting Process
Step 9
Take pride in your solution
You found the solution. You deserve to be proud and excited.

13. Troubleshooting Process
Step 10
Prevent future occurrence of this problem
Document the symptoms and solution.
Let others know about the problem and how it was solved.

14. Research, Development, & Experimentation
Research, Development, & Experimentation is a problem solving method. Other problem solving methods are invention, innovation, engineering design, and troubleshooting.

15. Research, Development, & Experimentation
Research: The systematic investigation into, and study of materials, sources etc in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.
Development: Act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining.
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
Experimentation: The process of testing a hypothesis by collecting data under controlled, repeatable conditions.
education.jlab.org/beamsactivity/6thgrade/vocabulary/

16. Research, Development, & Experimentation
Science VS. Technology
Research and development in science is very similar to research and development in technology. The methods of conducting research and developing experiments are almost the same. The difference is science is the search for new knowledge. Technology is the search for a solution to a technological problem.

17. Standards and Benchmarks
Standard 10: Students will develop an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, invention and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.
Troubleshooting is a problem-solving method used to identify the cause of a malfunction in a technological system.
h. Some technological problems are best solved through experimentation.
Standard 12: Students will develop abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.
h. Use information provided in manuals, protocols, or by experienced people to see and understand how things work.