This lesson is about soldering and desoldering electrical connections.  Most of the time, as a repair technician,  a faulty electrical connection is fixed by replacing the part without having to solder anything.  But, on occasion, you will find it necessary to be able to solder a connection.  This is the lesson to teach you how to desolder/solder.

Before upgrading or troubleshooting a computer, students must know certain things about the computer.  This lesson will teach them how to check PC information such as the Windows version, amount of RAM, processor speeds, and software versions.

Students will learn to identify video cards, video card interfaces, how to replace the video card in the computer.  They will also learn how to troubleshoot and replace a monitor, how to set screen resolutions, and how to deal with monitors that flicker or have poor image quality.

When a customer has an issue and he or she is not able to make it into the store, IT techs can help if the issue is not a layer one issue. Sometimes, it is the simplest thing to help someone who is having a problem with software, especially programs. If the customer is able to turn on his/her computer and connect to the internet, the technician is able to help with questions or problems, and even teach the customer a bit about the computers he or she owns.

There are many virtual private network (VPN) programs out there for free. OpenVPN is one program that is free until a certain amount of data is transferred - then the cost will start to factor in. I find that this lesson teaches my students a bit of responsibility because cost in this case depends on type of use. If the program, TeamViewer, is used individually by a person for non-commercial uses, it is free. If it is used commercially, by an IT technician for example, it will cost the technician some money especially when its use becomes a tool that the technician uses in his or her business. This is perfect time to discuss costs vs. profit, and personal integrity vs. dubious trustworthiness. These students will learn about such programs and need to discuss the value of trust and dependability in this field, especially when there are so many people of lesser morals out there doing this job for the pure profit motive. The additional factor of being able to help a customer at the very moment he or she needs it is such a wow factor in the business world and for a few minutes of care, concern, and help, a tech may be able to earn valuable return customers and their friends who are in need of help. What a great business move!