WSU Technology Knowledge Base:OR100 Module 2
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| WSU STUDENTS | |
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| This article is part of the
Digital Life 101 Series | |
About This Article
This article includes links to the modules under development for OR 100.
STARS
- Cort
- Jorge
- Skylar
Module
Module 2: Helping Yourself
- Troubleshooting Basics
- Is something going wrong? Are you just not able to figure out how to do something with your computer/software?
- Try searching for solutions that make sense. For example:
- Microsoft Word keeps giving you word suggestions that you don't like --> Check the options to change its default settings.
- I want to align my paragraphs to the right in Microsoft Word --> Search your buttons and try to use the correct one.
- Try searching for solutions that make sense. For example:
- What if I make a mistake?
- Undo function (CMD+Z or CTRL+Z)
- Will save you a lot of time and effort (even in troubleshooting instances)
- If you’re really worried that you’ll make mistakes that undo won’t save you from, save a separate copy of your file with a different name
- Manually undoing what you’ve done
- For example: Toggled an option that didn’t accomplish what you wanted it to? Untoggle it. Retrace your steps backwards when the undo button can't do it for you.
- Undo function (CMD+Z or CTRL+Z)
- Search for functions and programs
- Search Programs and Files/Spotlight (show screenshots, "how to" for each)
- Explore Menus (show screenshots)
- Every program traditionally has menus at the top
- Right clicking provides menus (show screenshots, "how to")
- Holding mouse on icons/options may provide deeper descriptions
- Explore Options/Preferences
- Customize your experience to achieve the desired results
- Some settings may make your experience easier depending on your personal preferences
- Customize your experience to achieve the desired results
- Options/Preferences are typically underneath menus such as the Program name's menu, Help, File, or Edit.
- When something is “locked up” or “frozen”
- Quitting, reopening
- Use Task Manager/Activity Monitor (show screenshots, "how to")
- Quitting, reopening
- Is something going wrong? Are you just not able to figure out how to do something with your computer/software?
- Getting Help
- The Golden Rule: Be as clear as you can about what you want to accomplish or about the issue that is occurring
- Try to be as specific as possible about what you want or issues that happened
- For issues, were there any errors that showed up?
- Read them. Sometimes an error is simply solved by choosing the correct option in the dialogue box that pops-up.
- Your error(s) don't make sense to you? Write them down or take a screenshot for reference just in case.
- Snipping tool for Windows, Command+Shift+3 for Mac OS X.
- Detail what you were doing (before the issues) in step-by-step fashion.
- When something just “isn’t working”
- First ask yourself, What steps are you taking?
- Reevaluate your steps. Are these steps in line with what you want to achieve?
- If you are sure that these steps are the right way to accomplish your goal or fix your problem, then you may be running into errors that would require tech support.
- If you realized that you made a mistake, try something else.
- Reevaluate your steps. Are these steps in line with what you want to achieve?
- Is it giving you errors? Refer to the errors section above.
- Is it broken and not functioning correctly? Refer to the tech support section below.
- First ask yourself, What steps are you taking?
- Research
- Google/Search Engine
- Power searching
- Copy and Paste your error report into the search engine. Include any other significant information (for example: what OS you use, Mac or PC)
- Possibly use a short video to demonstrate the process
- Copy and Paste your error report into the search engine. Include any other significant information (for example: what OS you use, Mac or PC)
- Helpful sources
- learn.winona.edu, Wikis, technology websites, How-To Guides, Forums, Answer websites, Tech Support sites, official websites
- Power searching
- Built-In Help Documentation
- Look for help or support in your application
- Google/Search Engine
- The Golden Rule: Be as clear as you can about what you want to accomplish or about the issue that is occurring
- WSU Tech Support
- Before coming in, did you:
- Close your programs, reopen them, and try again? Refer to task manager/activity monitor section for help with ending tasks/force quitting.
- Reboot your computer? (show how to)
- Run updates?
- Typically computer software is supposed to update on its own these days, but in many occurrences it is not always immediately up-to-date on everyone's computer.
- To run system updates for Windows, search for Windows Updates, for OS X, it is underneath Software Updates in the Apple icon.
- Specific programs may have a Check for Updates option underneath their Programs name's menu, Help, or in their Options/Preferences.
- Typically computer software is supposed to update on its own these days, but in many occurrences it is not always immediately up-to-date on everyone's computer.
- Check helpful sources? Refer above under Research.
- Before coming in, did you:
- learn.winona.edu
Activity Ideas