From professionals with years of experience to tech newbies, a total of 12 participants attended the two-day computer repair workshop as part of a partnership between the Guam Green Growth (G3) Circular Economy Makerspace and Innovation Hub and MacTech Guam.
The workshop “Let’s fix it! Don’t Ditch it!” aims to empower participants to repair, upgrade and maintain their laptops to boost performance, avoid e-waste and save on the cost of replacement devices.
First, participants were introduced to the basics of computer repairs and learned how to identify the different parts of a computer from cooling system to storage options. They also were introduced to the concept of electronic waste (e-waste) and how less than 20% of e-waste is recycled.
Because Guam lacks a facility to recycle e-waste, MacTech has developed a disposal program where people can turn in or trade in devices and unused tech. This program helps deter the creation of electronic waste and illegal dumping on the island. According to workshop facilitator and MacTech Guam head technician Jordan Lansang, there are also creative ways to repurpose electronic waste such as use parts as decorations or jewelry.
However, Lansang emphasizes that learning how to replace computer parts can extend the lifespan of devices and help delay the need for a new device.
“Repairing is the best thing to do for your budget and for the environment,” said Lansang, noting it is common for manufacturers to use less reliable parts to force consumers to purchase a brand-new device within a short time frame.
On the final day of the workshop, participants became honorary junior technicians as workshop facilitators led them through the steps on how to successfully install a new battery, solid state drive and an operating system into a new computer.
“It is kind of intimidating,” said workshop facilitator Walfred Adonay, “but it is something you can learn to do yourself.” Adonay also added that there are many resources available online for people to learn how to repair their computers at home.
“After attending this workshop, I learned that computer repair is not as challenging as it may seem,” said workshop participant Alex Castro, adding that the facilitators made the workshop easy to follow. Because of the workshop, Castro looks forward to being able to use the skills she learned to avoid needing to discard devices so frequently.
The computer repair workshop was offered by the G3 Makerspace and Innovation Hub with the intention to equip participants with the ability to maintain their own computers and promote sustainability, support local repair shops and reduce e-waste.
For more information on workshops like this one, visit www.guamgreengrowth.org or follow @guamgreengrowthmakerspace on Instagram.