- Description
IT/280
Computer Hardware Fundamentals
Week One Discussion Questions
- What concerns are there when disposing of old personal computers and monitors? What are the benefits of recycling? What resources in your community handle the proper disposal of computer equipment?
- What are three considerations you must keep in mind when choosing a motherboard? Explain your answer. How might the choice of motherboard change the effectiveness of the central processing unit?
Week Three Discussion Questions
- What should you look for when choosing a power supply? How do you decide which power supply is right for your computer?
- What adjustments should you consider making to a computer’s architecture when the central processing unit doubles in size and speed? Provide details.
Week Five Discussion Questions
- Why is a hard drive one of the most important parts of a computer? What factors must you consider when buying a hard drive?
- How has the configuration for connecting input/output (I/O) devices to computers on the motherboard changed since the late 1980s? How might new and future I/O devices change the PC architecture?
Week Seven Discussion Questions
- What are the differences between standard Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) and PCI Express? How might increasing computer power change the motherboard configuration and options for attached multimedia devices? Provide details.
- What issues must you consider when archiving data? What happens to archived data as mass storage technology changes?
| Week One: Introducing Fundamentals of Personal Computer Hardware and Maintenance | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 1.1 Identify components of a personal computer. 1.2 Recognize best practices of computer hardware maintenance. 1.3 Identify computer-related safety and environmental issues. | ||
| Course Preparation | Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructor’s biography and post your own. | ||
| Reading | Read Appendix A. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 1, “Introducing Hardware,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 4, “Form Factors and Power Supplies,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 5, “All about Motherboards,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 10 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 20 | |
| Nongraded Activities and Preparation Using the Add Hardware Wizard and Device Manager | The Microsoft® Windows 7 Professional operating system provides features that simplify installing, configuring, and managing computer hardware. Plug-and-play and non-plug-and-play devices may be installed using the Add Hardware Wizard.
Device Manager displays all devices installed in the system. The Device Manager display is recreated each time the computer is started, or whenever a dynamic change to the computer’s configuration occurs, such as the addition of a new device when the system is running. You may use the Device Manager to enable or disable devices, troubleshoot devices, update drivers, use driver rollback, and change resources assigned to devices.
Participate in the “Using the Add Hardware Wizard and Device Manager” Toolwire lab. This is a nongraded self-explorative activity designed to challenge your knowledge and skills. Participation in this LiveLab is not mandatory. | ||
| Nongraded Activities and Preparation Activity Computer Maintenance and Training Manual | Review Appendix A and the final project requirements.
Begin researching and developing the Computer Maintenance and Training Manual’s safety section.
Design and write the technical paper on environmental concerns from the safety section. Include a recommendation on the company’s policy for handling or disposal of obsolete computers.
Start working on the cover design of your manual. Be ready to share your cover design and the environmental concerns technical paper design with your classmates and instructor for content and design feedback in Week Two. | ||
| CheckPoint Computer Hardware Simulator and Computer Research | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendix B by providing technical information about the computer in the CHS.
Complete Appendix C by researching websites for price checking, product reviewing, and troubleshooting.
Post your completed Appendixes B and C as attachments. | 30 | |
| Week Two: Motherboards and Form Factors | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 2 2.1 Identify types of motherboards and form factors. 2.2 Outline steps for choosing and installing a motherboard. 2.3 Recognize best practices of motherboard maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Review last week’s readings. | ||
| CheckPoint Comparing Computers | Complete Appendix D by comparing your dream computer with real computers. Post your completed Appendix D as an attachment | 20 | |
| Individual Motherboard Components Identification Paper | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendix E by identifying the parts of a motherboard.
Write a 350- to 700-word technical description of the sequential process of replacing a motherboard. You may design the description to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your completed Appendix E and description as attachments. | 100 | |
| Individual Manual Cover Design and Environmental Concerns | Post your cover design and the environmental concerns paper from the Computer Maintenance and Training Manual’s safety section that you started in Week One. | 30 | |
| Week Three: Power Supplies | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 3 3.1 Identify types of power supplies. 3.2 Outline steps for choosing and installing a power supply. 3.3 Recognize best practices of power supply maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 6, “Supporting Processors,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 7, “Upgrading Memory,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Review Ch. 4, “Form Factors and Power Supplies,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 10 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 20 | |
| CheckPoint Power Supply and Power Supply Installation | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendix F by searching for power supplies for your dream computer and the CHS computer.
Write a 200- to 300-word outline for the technical description of the sequential process of replacing a power supply.
· You will use this outline to develop the paper for your individual project. · You may design the outline to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your completed Appendix F and outline as attachments. | 30 | |
| Week Four: Processors, Chipsets, and Memory Systems | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 4 4.1 Identify types of processors, chipsets, and memory systems. 4.2 Outline steps for processor and memory system installation. 4.3 Recognize best practices of processor, chipset, and memory system maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Review last week’s readings. | ||
| CheckPoint CPU and Memory | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendixes G and H, where you search for central processing units and memory systems.
Post your completed appendixes as attachments. | 50 | |
| Individual CPU and Memory Installation Paper | Write two 350- to 700-word technical descriptions, one describing the sequential process of replacing a central processing unit, and the other describing the sequential process of adding memory to a motherboard. You may design both descriptions to look like technical documents or papers that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your descriptions as attachments. | 60 | |
| Week Five: Hard Drives | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 5 5.1 Identify types of hard drives and their features. 5.2 Outline steps for hard drive installation. 5.3 Recognize best practices of hard drive maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 8, “Supporting Hard Drives,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 9, “Installing and Supporting I/O devices,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 10 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 20 | |
| CheckPoint Hard Drive and Hard Drive Installation | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendix I by searching for hard drives for the CHS computer.
Write a 200- to 300-word outline for the technical description of the sequential process of replacing a hard drive.
· You will use this outline to develop the paper for your individual project. · You may design the outline to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your completed Appendix I and outline as attachments. | 30 | |
| Week Six: Input/Output Devices | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 6 6.1 Identify types of input/output devices. 6.2 Outline steps for input/output device installation. 6.3 Recognize best practices of input/output device maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Review last week’s readings. | ||
| Nongraded Activities and Preparation Computer Maintenance and Training Manual | Report the status of your Maintenance and Training Manual to your facilitator. Submit the motherboard, power supply, and CPU technical papers for feedback from the facilitator. Post your descriptions as attachments. | ||
| CheckPoint I/O Devices | Write three 350- to 700-word technical descriptions of the sequential process of installing three different I/O devices of your choice. You may design the descriptions to look like technical documents or papers that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your descriptions as attachments. | 50 | |
| Individual Windows 7® Upgrade Technical Information Paper | Your office is considering changing operating systems from Microsoft® Windows XP to Microsoft® Windows 7®. If the office computers are the same as the one featured in the CHS, could you encounter any problems with this upgrade, such as power, memory, expansion cards, and staff and user training?
Write a 350- to 700-word technical description of the challenges in upgrading computers from Microsoft® Windows XP to Microsoft® Windows 7®. You may design the description to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your description as an attachment. | 80 | |
| Week Seven: Multimedia Devices | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 7 7.1 Identify types of multimedia devices. 7.2 Outline steps for multimedia device installation. 7.3 Recognize best practices of multimedia device maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Read Ch. 10, “Multimedia Devices and Mass Storage,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Review Ch. 9, “Installing and Supporting I/O devices,” of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. | ||
| Reading | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 10 | |
| Discussion Questions | Respond to weekly discussion questions. | 20 | |
| Nongraded Activities and Preparation Hardware Management—Understanding Hardware Profiles | The devices that make up a computer are grouped together as hardware. Different users with different requirements may use computers within an organization. Hardware profiles provide a method to enable or disable specific hardware for different computer uses. In addition, hardware profiles allow an administrator to implement a basic level of security by disabling devices that could be used to compromise network security. You might want to disable, for example, the CD-ROM drive on users’ computers to prevent them from installing software or copying potentially damaging files onto a computer. Hardware profiles may also be used when a computer is used in different contexts. Different profiles may be used, for example, when a computer is connected and disconnected to the network.
Participate in the “Hardware Management—Understanding Hardware Profiles” Toolwire lab. This is a nongraded self-explorative activity designed to challenge your knowledge and skills. Participation in this LiveLab is not mandatory. | ||
| CheckPoint I/O and Multimedia Devices and Video Card Installation | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendix J by searching for a video card in the CHS computer.
Write a 200- to 300-word outline for the technical description of the sequential process of replacing I/O devices, multimedia devices and video cards.
· You will use this outline to develop the paper for your individual project. · You may design the outline to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual.
Post your completed Appendix J and outline as attachments. | 30 | |
| Week Eight: Mass Storage Devices | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 8 8.1 Identify types of mass storage devices. 8.2 Outline steps for mass storage device installation. 8.3 Recognize best practices of mass storage device maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Review last week’s readings. | ||
| CheckPoint Mass Storage Devices | Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Complete Appendix K by searching for DVD drives and other mass storage devices in the CHS computer.
Write a 350- to 700-word technical description of the sequential process of replacing a DVD drive. You may design the description to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance manual.
Post your completed Appendix K and description as attachments. | 30 | |
| Individual External Mass Storage Letter | Write a 350- to 700- word letter to management justifying your opinion, as IT director, on using external mass storage devices instead of DVD-ROM dual-layer drives.
· Write your letter in business letter form. · Use a persuasive voice justifying your decision.
Post your letter as an attachment. | 60 | |
| Week Nine: The Future of Personal Computers | |||
| Details | Due | Points | |
| Objectives | 9 9.1 Explain the effects of advancing technology on personal computers. 9.2 Develop procedures for computer hardware maintenance. | ||
| Reading | Read this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings. | ||
| Participation | Participate in class discussion. | 10 | |
| Capstone Discussion Question | Respond to the capstone discussion question.
· When will the desktop computer become obsolete? What changes in technology might make the desktop computer obsolete? | 20 | |
| Final Project Computer Maintenance and Training Manual | You are in charge of computer support at a major U.S. retailer. Business has been growing fast, and your company is about to open several new facilities across the country. Management has asked you to develop training materials for new IT employees at these facilities. After some consideration, you decide to create a computer maintenance and training manual that addresses certain issues.
Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) on the student website.
Write a 350- to 700-word description on each of the following topics. Describe the installation and maintenance of each component. Include information about all of the subsections in your descriptions.
Safety
· Environmental concerns · Power protection · Dust, static, and heat issues · Downloading unauthorized software
Maintenance and cleaning
· Tower · Monitor · Keyboard · Mouse
Internal hardware installation and maintenance
· Motherboard · Power supply · Processor · Memory · Hard drives
Basic principles for supporting I/O devices
Multimedia and mass storage devices
· Installing a video card · Installing a DVD drive
Compile your descriptions into a 5,250- to 8,750-word maintenance and training manual. The manual is not required to be in APA format. Images and photos may be included when necessary. Ensure that you do not violate any copyright laws with the use of photos or diagrams.
Post your Computer Maintenance and Training Manual as an attachment. | 250 | |