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Inside the Machine G3 to G5 / Week 09 / Friday
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Week 09 · The troubleshooting method

Friday

The whole method
// Notice, name it, test one thing, write it down, ask
⏱ about 15 min

Friday: The whole method

A neighbor brings a tablet that will not join the Wi-Fi. Rocket takes a breath. "Notice first," he says, and he looks before touching.

Raven smiles. "What do you notice?" "The Wi-Fi picture has a question mark. The other devices are fine." He names it, tests one thing, writes it down.

Then he stops. "Rejoining needs the password. Time to ask." Nova glows bright. "That is the whole method, Crew Technician."

Five steps, one method

This week you learned five steps. Together they are the troubleshooting method. It works on any device, and on many problems that are not devices at all.

1. Notice: what do I see and hear?
↓
2. Name it: it should ..., but it ...
↓
3. Test one safe thing, then check
↓ DECISION ↓
Fixed: write it down
↓
Not fixed: undo, next test, or ask a grown-up
↓
4. Write it down
↓
5. Ask when the fix is not yours to do
PUT THE FIVE STEPS IN ORDER
  • Tap a card.
  • Then tap its spot.
1First
2Second
3Third
4Fourth
5Last

Rocket's Wi-Fi case

Here is how Rocket used the method on the Wi-Fi tablet. Read it and check each step.

StepWhat Rocket did
NoticeWi-Fi picture has a question mark. Other devices connect fine.
Name itThe tablet should join the Wi-Fi, but it shows a question mark.
Test one thingMoved closer to the router. Checked. No change. Moved back.
Write it downLogged the notice, the sentence and the test.
AskRejoining needs the password, so he asked a grown-up.
CHECK ROCKET'S WORK
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Why did Rocket move back after moving closer did not help?
Why did Rocket ask instead of typing the password himself?
Other devices connect fine. What does that clue tell him?

Week 9 check

StatementTrue or false?
Noticing comes before fixing.?
A good problem sentence uses should and but.?
Change several things at once to fix it faster.?
Asking a grown-up is a real step of the method.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEThese are the rules of the method. They work every time.
What is the first step of the method?
How many things do you change in one test?
What do you call the written record of what you tried?

Fix-It Bay cases

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
A neighbor says the screen is broken. You have not looked yet. Next step?
You noticed the volume is at zero and named the problem. Next step?
Your one safe test did not help. The next test needs the charger. Next step?
Rocket fixed a problem. What should he do right away so he remembers how?
WHY THIS EXERCISEWriting it down turns one fix into knowledge you can use again.
Try it
Teach the five steps to a grown-up using your fingers, one step per finger.
Then say which steps a child does and which steps need a grown-up.

Week 9 is done, Crew Technician! You have a real method now. Next week you will use it on five common problems with a safe fixes checklist.

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