Replacing the Old, and Maintaining the New

Last week I was assigned the project of replacing an older computer with a new one. I had no idea so much work went into transferring the data. First I had to make a copy of the old profile's settings and preferences. Then I had to create a new profile in the Brogan's server. After some time-consuming copy/paste, I had to make sure that all the programs copied correctly and were fully functional. Talk about a day!

This was a great experience because of what I learned. Now that I see my own PC getting a bit outdated, I will have the proper knowledge to safely transfer my old stuff into a new computer. Now I'm just waiting for my next mission.

7/16/2008 -- I got to backup 3 computers today by copying profile folders from the computer's C drive to a backup folder located in the server. A good experience if I do say so myself.

The Real World Experience

So far at the Brogan we're still working on getting all of the computers around the office upgraded in both software and hardware. I think that there are a few things that I am learning there that I wouldn't quite get experienced with by just being in the classroom. The whole office setting is different from any other atmosphere that I've been a part of. Everyone is very professional and you not only have to make sure that you yourself are being professional, but also maintain good relationships with everyone you work with.

Another major difference between The Brogan and the classroom, is the amount of hands on experience that you get. For example, I've had more work with hardware since I've been at The Brogan. I'm more of a software kind of guy, but it never hurts to learn more.

Progress Highway

So far at the Brogan, I've been busy installing software on several computers, rebuilding kiosks for the museum - with newly installed programs and hardware - and dealing with networks, domains, and servers. Overall I think I'm learning quite a bit. This experience is turning out to be very beneficial. Today, more software to install and more learning in the progress.

Building Bridges dot dot dot

So far I'm enjoying the Brogan. Uninstalling software, replacing computers, learning more about servers, networks, domains, and the cubicle experience. It's been a change of pace for me but nonetheless an experience I'm warming up to more and more. One of the key experiences I find, whether here or in everyday life, is the art of building relationships. Whether you are networking -speaking socially of course - or simply building a good bridge with peers and mentors, it is important never to burn those bridges and know how to keep them sturdy.

One way I believe is to ask questions. Usually people are very proud of their wisdom and they can't wait to share it with you so I see that when I ask questions people not only see that I'm interested, but also see that I want to gain more knowledge. Another key thing is to be genuine. We had a speaker in Mrs. Raulston's class last Monday that emphasized how important it was to be real because people can usually see through a facade. I strive for that, because even if it's the case where you don't like a particular person, its still important to be civil. So far, these little pieces of advice have worked well and I hope to not only build more bridges, but also to maintain them through the years. You never know just when you are going to need to cross one.

My First DAY!

I had my first day at The Brogan. It was very interesting. I got to meet the entire staff of the museum and I had my own little cubicle where I would be on call for any IT related problems that the staff would have. Although the day was not particularly busy, there were many things to learn about their system. For example, there are several reasons why a printer would not be working and a list of methods to test things like connections and the status of the jobs it is reading. So far my schedule consists of me being there Monday through Wednesday in the afternoons. I'm excited to see what more I can learn and what new problems I will be able to solve.

So far my learning objectives consist of me being able to solve any problems that arise in the most efficient manner. I think the way to make sure I am successful in reaching those objectives is to be a good listener, and a great learner. As I mentioned before, there is a lot of information to retain and many different technical difficulties that may occur so I have to keep a very focused and absorbing mind. That said, tomorrow is my second day, we shall see what I will learn then.

The BROGAN!

So far, all I know is that I'm going to be an intern for the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science. I know that I'll probably be assisting the faculty at the Museum with IT related problems. What the problems are, and who I'll be working with is not clear as of yet, but I'm awaiting an email from Mr. Keith Hodge to set up a meeting for all the interns. I'm excited to see what my responsibilities will be and what I will be able to offer Mr. Hodge and the rest of the museum's faculty.

So far, I've taken to just learning a bit more about the museum. For example, they have two facebook groups and a very interesting website that details much of what you can find in the museum as well as what they represent. It was very exciting to find out that one of their current exhibits is centered around surrealism (my favorite genre in art). All of this information just makes me look forward to working in that environment.

06/05/08 UPDATE! I met with Mr. Hodge, an ex intern for my instructor, and the internship seemed very exciting. I would pretty much be at the museum on call for any IT related problems. I'll learn more about this next week. So far, I have high hopes for the experience that this brings along...then again there is parking downtown, which I've already learned can be quite the hassle.

The Introduction

My name is Leonardo Gutierrez, I'm a 21 year old IT major about to finish my college career at FSU. The key word here is "about", which means that there's still more of that road to cover and more of those lessons to learn. So far the IT road has offered a great trip. Not only have I gained knowledge in IT, but I can also say that I have some experience in what I want to do - Web Design. I also have experience in programming, organizing, managing, databases, several IT-cored applications, and the list can go on and on.

Presently, I'm taking the IT Practicum course offered under the instruction of Melissa Raulston (Hence the title of this blog). Mrs. Raulston was my instructor for the IT project class from last semester, so I'm glad I know what she's about - hard work, no games, and dedication. Of the projects offered to us I was very interested in three. The first one, game day, was about organizing an event at school. The second one, the Brogan, was about being a museum's "IT Person". Lastly, I wanted something involving website creation or modification. I liked each project for particular reasons. One would challenge my organizational skills, one would test my knowledge and stress level, and the last one would strengthen my skills in web design. I got the Brogan!

I'm looking forward to seeing just how much I'm going to be challenged. Not only will this serve as a test of my knowledge but also as a test of my patience. Luckily for me I've had to deal with many IT related "challenges." For example my roommate, who thought if she got a new computer, she would also have to get a new email account, as well as my mother, who still thinks that if you plug in a computer you are automatically connected to the internet. And so the journey continues.