Technical problems are often just annoying and always seem to occur at the wrong time. This feeling is probably best summed up by the Unreal Tournament video by “Angry German Kid.” The clip shows a teenager who, out of anger over a technical problem that is preventing him from playing, dramatically destroys his keyboard. However, the scene is staged. The video became one of the first viral videos on the internet because many people thought the clip was real – they could relate to the situation so well. (If you haven’t seen it yet, you can find it on YouTube!)

But first things first: Technical devices often don’t work as they should at the most inconvenient moments. Just before a virtual job interview, your computer freezes or your camera and sound don’t work. Everyone knows these situations. Your pulse rises, you get irritated – in this example, perhaps even panicky. The first step in solving a technical problem is therefore to take a deep breath. It’s just technology – and rushing usually only makes the situation worse.

Of course, there are other tried-and-tested strategies. An undisputed classic is restarting. Whether it’s programs, routers, or laptops, problems often resolve themselves by shutting down and restarting. If that doesn’t help or doesn’t have the desired effect, there are other simple measures you can take. The principle here is often “the dumbest idea first.” This simply means that the solution may be very obvious. Are the cables connected correctly? Do the connection points need to be cleaned? Does the problem disappear with an update to the latest version? Do you just need to free up some storage space?

If the problem cannot be solved using the usual strategies, it is probably a more complex technical issue. In this case, it is worth taking a deliberate and strategic approach: narrow down the problem, form hypotheses, search the internet for specific information, evaluate solutions according to their complexity, etc. Those who are aware of the entire process – from identifying the problem to finding a solution – can tackle future challenges much more efficiently.

In this module, participants reflect on their own problem-solving behavior, develop their own strategies, and evaluate them. The goal is for them to be able to solve simple problems routinely and develop a sound understanding of how to deal with more complex problems.