Skip to main content

Dealing With Data and People

My head is aching and my eyes are red....

I've been downloading excel files from my inbox for the past three days and copying the data from each file into a master file.  And in the midst of all the data crunching, I get my patience tested.

Test One
Mr X : Hello, this is Mr X from School PQR.  Actually what is it that you want?
Me : May I know who attended the briefing two weeks ago?
Mr X : I did.  But I'm not sure what you want.
Me : (pauses to find a chair to sit down and takes a deep breath).  Okay, Mr X, do you have the CD? 
Mr X : Have to open the CD ah?  Can't you just tell me....?
Me : Okay, when you open the CD, you'll find four folders. Click open Folder entitled Program MNO, then click open Folder entitled...
Mr X : Wait wait... let me find a computer.  Wait ah... you don't mind, do you?
Me : No............................................. I don't mind.

Test Two
Me : Hello, Mr W.  I am Pn. Roslyn from XXX.  I received the CD from your school but there's no data in it.
Mr W : Really?  When I checked it, it was okay.
Me : Okay, well, whatever it is, I need the data.  Can you email it to me?
Mr W : I'll go over this afternoon.
Me : Thanks.

A few hours later....
Mr W : Hi.  Here's another CD.
Me : Okay, thanks. (inserts CD in computer).  Mr W, there's nothing here.
Mr W : Huh??? That's strange.
Me : Did you burn it into the CD?
Mr W : Burn it?
Me : Yes,... burn it.
Mr W : No, I just clicked on 'send it ...'
Me : You need to BURN it into the CD.

Silence.

Mr W : Can I email it to you tomorrow morning?
Me : That would be great.

Test Three
Me : Hello, Mrs Q.  I am Pn Roslyn from XXX.  I tried to open your diskette (!!!) to get the excel file but I couldn't.
Mrs Q : That's strange.  I could open it here in my school.
Me : Yes... but I have tried opening it in two of our office computers.  I cannot access the data.  Can you email a copy to me?
Mrs Q : Okay la... tomorrow ah?  I don't have internet at home.

Test Four
Mrs J : Hello, Pn Roslyn, I have a problem.  I don't know how to make the graphs appear. 
Me : The graphs are auto-generated.  Just key in the data.
Mrs J : But where are the graphs?  .They appear where?
Me : Are you in front of the computer?
Mrs J : Need to open the computer ah?  I just shut it down.
Me : Errr... okay, . I'll just explain it then.
Mrs J : Ya.. better like that.
Me : When you open the excel file, there are worksheets....
Mrs J : Hahhh???
Me : You know, the little names at the bottom of the spreadsheet.  You can click to see different pages?
Mrs J : Oh ya...
Me : Well, the first worksheet is entitled JXH, the second is TGH.... so the graphs are on the fifth worksheet....
Mrs J : *white noise*
Me : Hello?   Mrs J?
Mrs J : Wait, I'm switching on the computer.

I  N E E D  P A N A D O L!

Comments

Miss Mathew said…
Dearest Pn. Roslyn, breathe in, breathe out....*hepi tots - hepi tots* ...knowing u, u dont need em' panadols! U R A SUPERWOMAN!

P/s: hehe! DISKETTE??? OMG! kasian owh kan...
RoslynCT said…
Superwoman is being pelted with kryptonite laaaa....

Popular posts from this blog

Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition 2009

Another great opportunity for our young people to show what they can do! The Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition has four different age bands, 'Classes'. Each Class offers five topics, plus the Commonwealth Question and the Charlton Athletic Community Trust Question. As we hope to reach a diverse student body across the Commonwealth, there are options for both academic and creative minds.  The Competition deadline is 1st March 2009   CLASS A - Born 1990-1992  1400-1750 words  All questions can be answered by writing an essay or a story which explores the topic in an interesting and relevant way.   Can I help you?  Bullying is an issue which concerns young people throughout the Commonwealth. Why does it matter and what can be done about it?   It is 200 years since Charles Darwin was born and 150 years since the publication of "On the origin of Species". In your view, what evolutionary developments are neede...

I've Survived the PTK3 DG44 Course!

I've just returned from my PTK3 DG44 course and my first priority was sleep. But now I'm okay and ready to share info. First off, whoever tells you you don't need to memorize info for the PTK3 level of exam either has never sat for the exam or has photographic memory. I had to memorize the Twelve Pillars (Tonggak12), 16 moral values (nilai2 murni), civil servant ethics code, education ministry ethics code, steps in TQM, and ALL the govt vision aims objectives policies ... (hint: acronyms help). I only wish I'd done this BEFORE I went for the exam course. Second, the key word for this course is APPLICATION. They don't want to hear about the latest discoveries, theories or how long your bibliography pages are. They want to know how you translate govt policy into a plan of action. Third, don't take the assignment (15-25 pages) lightly. First thing to do is understand the question. Next is prepare an answer that fulfils all requirements. I'd advise you t...

Why It Is Frightening To Be A Teacher

Frightening to be a teacher?  Sounds laughable, right?  But I do feel fear when I am in school as a teacher or an administrator.  Some people would call me paranoid but I think it is better to be paranoid than to be in a dock in some courtroom or at a hospital bedside some place. Let me twist a Robbie Burns poem How do I fear thee (O' burden of a teacher)? Let me count the ways... 1. In Loco Parentis In English, that means 'in the place of a parent'.  In legal terms, that means a teacher is expected to be as responsible as a parent for the safety of his or her students while they are within the school grounds or under his or her care.  And they may be liable in the same way a parent would be, where the law is concerned. I attended a course by an IAB lecturer way back in 2000 and listened in horror as she detailed the many different ways I could've been in trouble with regard to the way I dealt with students.  If a rock falls on a student within ...