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CLASS 1: DISCOVERING THE COMPUTER

(See Attachments 1, 2, 3)

1.  OBJECTIVES:

Students and tutors should sign in with their name and contact information.  Then, each should fill out and wear a nametag.  We will do this for every class.

3.  DISCUSSION:  WHY?

Do you have answers to the following questions:

1. Why are YOU here?  Take the time to write down a list of your personal goals for this course.  Share them with the person sitting next to you.
2. Why are WE here?  In groups of 3-5, create a list of goals for the whole class / TecsChange.  This may include some of your personal goals, goals for the group itself, for the course, for the organization, etc.  We are not placing any limits on your imagination.
3. What are some of your fears?  Fears about the course itself, computers, etc.  Again, no limits here.
4. Write some of your computer questions on slips of paper.  We will pass around a bag (or box).  Place the papers inside.  We will draw questions at either the beginning or end of each class.  As we progress through the course, please feel free to submit new questions.

4.  ACTIVITY:  DISCOVERING & LABELING THE COMPUTER:

1. One student from each group will go to get a computer.
2. One of the tutors will explain what is inside the computer
3. Each group will disassemble and label all the parts of the computer. Students should then move to other tables to see the difference in computers and components.

NOTE: These computers are not working computers and will probably end up being used for parts. Students may be asked to leave them disassembled and sorted for parts at the end of this exercise.

5.  WRAP-UP

First, put away all of the computers and parts.  Then, we will have a student-led review: one student will lead a review that includes the following issues:

1. What is a computer?
2. Where are computers used?
3. How do people communicate with computers?

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CLASS 2: MORE DISCOVERY
(See Attachments 1, 2, 3, 4)

1. OBJECTIVES:

To continue learning the parts of a computer.

2. WARM-UP / INTRODUCTION:

Students will discuss what they learned in the first class and we will answer questions. We will pass around parts of a computer and students will be asked to try to identify them.

3. PRESENTATION / DISCUSSION:

We will try to build a functioning computer outside its case.

4. ACTIVITY: DISCOVERING & LABELING THE COMPUTER:

Each group should move to their table.

• One student from each group will get the computer the group worked on in Class One.
• Each group will reassemble their computer. Do not screw the parts back in, we may be breaking them down for parts and sorting them out for use in other computers.
  NOTE: These computers are not working computers and will probably end up being used for parts. Students may be asked to leave them disassembled and sorted for parts at the end of this exercise.

Review what we learned today. See if anyone has questions about what they learned and explore the difficulties and successes that students encountered during class.

6.  HOMEWORK

Use the space below to draw a picture of how you remember the computer parts being connected.  See if you can recall where everything goes, what plugs into what, and which parts lead to other parts.  Do NOT worry about whether you consider yourself a good drawer.  This is just for fun, another way to understand what the inside of a computer and its parts look like and how they all fit together.  Have fun with it!

 

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Class Summary

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CLASS THREE: CMOS AND BIOS

(Attachments 5 and 6)

1. OBJECTIVES:

• To review and understand the Work Plan to be used in checking out each computer.
• To understand how CMOS works.
• To learn how to use the CMOS Setup Program.

2.  WARM-UP:

We will share our homework drawings of the inside of a computer. We will briefly explore what was easy about the assignment and what was more difficult.

3.  INTRODUCTION:

We will briefly go through the Work Plan (Attachment Sixteen) and the TecsChange In Process Form (Attachment Seventeen) and explain how to use them to check out a computer. Students will be using the Work Plan and In Process Form with each computer they work on starting with this Class through the end of this Session.

4.  DISCUSSION:  HOW TO USE CMOS:

CMOS is Hardware – BIOS is software (firmware)

For your computer to work properly, it needs to know what parts are stored inside of it.  CMOS is a special type of memory that monitors the kinds of hardware in your computer.  CMOS also updates the date and time for you computer.  When you replace and upgrade hardware, CMOS helps your computer recognize these newly installed parts.  The CMOS Setup Program is very important, because it tells the computer what kinds of hardware are contained inside the computer.

5. ACTIVITY: CHECKING OUT A COMPUTER

Each group should move to their table.

• One student from each group will get a computer to work on.
• Each group, with the help of their tutors, will begin checking out the computer using the Work Plan.
• Start by opening the computer and checking to see if all the parts are inside and plugged in.
• When all the parts are in place add Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor and power cords.
• Boot the computer and go into Setup to review and/or change the BIOS settings. (Be very careful about making changes in Setup when you are working with "real" computers at home or the office!)
• Continue as far as you can through the Work Plan (Attachment Sixteen) filling out the TecsChange In Process Form (Attachment Seventeen) as you proceed.
  

6.  WRAP-UP

Review what we learned today.  See if anyone has questions about what they learned, explore the difficulties and successes that students handled during class.

7. HOMEWORK

Find ads in Magazines, Newspapers, on the Internet for Computers. Bring them to the next class for a discussion of what you understand and of prices and what is a good buy or a bargain.

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CLASS FOUR:  DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING/CD ROMS

(See Attachments 7, 8, 9)

1.  OBJECTIVES:

2.  WARM-UP:

Together, we will discuss the advertisements we collected for homework. We'll explore what parts of the ads you understand and what words and terms you have questions about.

3.  INTRODUCTION:

We will have a grab bag full of several computer parts.  We will ask for volunteers to come forward and pick a part out of the grab bag.  The student volunteer will then identify the part and explain its function to the rest of the class.  The student will also take any questions from the class.

4.   DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING:

Running diagnostics and performing test on computers is necessary to verify its reliability.  Unfortunately, there is single diagnostic or test that can tell you everything about the computer.  The diagnostic or test that you select will be tailored to a specific function or component of the computer.

Over time, TecsChange has used several different methods to test the computers.  At this time, we have selected what we feel are the best individual tests from different programs.  These programs have been put onto a disk name WORK DISK.

The programs on this disk are:

 

CLASS NINE: INTERNET