Syllabus IT/280 Version 2

Syllabus
Axia College/College of Information Systems & Technology IT/280 Version 2 Computer Hardware Fundamentals
Copyright 2009, 2008 by University of Phoenix. All rights reserved.

Course Description This course is an introduction to computer support fundamentals of personal computer hardware architecture, components, networking, configuration, upgrading, and repair. Policies Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum.

University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Andrews, J. (2007). A+ guide to managing & maintaining your PC (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Thomson Course Technology. All electronic materials are available on the student website.

Week One: Introducing Fundamentals of Personal Computer Hardware and Maintenance

Details
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. Read the course description and objectives. Read the instructors biography and post your own. Read Appendix A. Read pp. 87-118 (Ch. 3), Ch. 1, 4, & 6 of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 10 20

Due

Points

Course Preparation Readings

Participation Discussion Questions

Syllabus IT/280 Version 2

Nongraded Activities and Preparation Using the Add Hardware Wizard and Device Manager

This Toolwire LiveLab is a nongraded self-explorative activity designed to challenge your knowledge and skills. Participation in this LiveLab is not mandatory. The Microsoft Windows XP Professional operating system provides features that simplify installing, configuring, and managing computer hardware. Plug and Play andnon-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 computers 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.

Collaborative Activity Computer Maintenance and Training Manual

Review Appendix A and the final project requirements. Begin researching and developing the Computer Maintenance and Training Manuals safety section. Design and write the technical paper on environmental concerns from the safety section. 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. Note. The environmental concerns paper should contain a recommendation on the companys policy for handling or disposal of obsolete computers.

CheckPoint Computer Hardware Simulator and Computer Research

Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week One Materials section of the student website. Complete Appendix B by providing technical information about the computer in the CHS. Complete Appendix C by researching websites that utilize price checking, product reviewing, and troubleshooting. Post your completed Appendixes B and C as attachments.

Day 5

30

Week Two: Motherboards and Form Factors

Details
Objectives 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. Review last weeks readings.

Due

Points

Readings

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CheckPoint Comparing Computers Individual Motherboard Components Identification Paper

Complete Appendix D by comparing your dream computer with real computers. Post your completed Appendix D as an attachment Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week Two Materials section of 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.

Day 5

20

Day 7

100

Collaborative Activity Manual Cover Design and Environmental Concerns

Post your cover design and the environmental concerns paper from the Computer Maintenance and Training Manuals safety section that you started in Week One.

Day 5

30

Week Three: Power Supplies

Details
Objectives 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. Read Ch. 4, 5, & 7 of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week Three Materials section of 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 must 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 Day 5 10 20 30

Due

Points

Readings Participation Discussion Questions CheckPoint Power Supply and Power Supply Installation

Syllabus IT/280 Version 2

might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual. Post your completed Appendix F and outline as attachments.

Week Four: Processors, Chipsets, and Memory Systems

Details
Objectives 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. Review last weeks readings. Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week Four Materials section of the student website. Complete Appendixes G and H, where you search for central processing units and memory systems. Post your completed appendixes as attachments. 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. Day 7 60 Day 5 50

Due

Points

Readings CheckPoint CPU and Memory

Week Five: Hard Drives

Details
Objectives 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. Read Ch. 8 & 9 of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. 10 20

Due

Points

Readings Participation Discussion Questions

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CheckPoint Hard Drive and Hard Drive Installation

Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week Five Materials section of 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 must use this outline to develop the paper used 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.

Day 5

30

Week Six: Input/Output Devices

Details
Objectives 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. Review last weeks readings. 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. 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. Individual Windows Vista Upgrade Technical Information Paper Your office is considering changing operating systems from Microsoft Windows XP to Microsoft Windows Vista. If the office computers are the same as the one featured in the CHS, might 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 Vista. You may design the description to look like a technical document or paper that might appear in a computer maintenance and training manual. Day 7 80 Day 5 50

Due

Points

Readings Nongraded Activities and Preparation Computer Maintenance and Training Manual CheckPoint I/O Devices

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Post your description as an attachment.

Week Seven: Multimedia Devices

Details
Objectives 7.1 Identify types of multimedia devices. 7.2 Outline steps for multimedia device installation. 7.3 Recognize best practices of multimedia device maintenance. Read pp. 383-393 (Ch. 9 & 10) of A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Respond to weekly discussion questions. This Toolwire LiveLab is a nongraded self-explorative activity designed to challenge your knowledge and skills. Participation in this LiveLab is not mandatory. 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, for example, may be used when a computer is connected and disconnected to the network. Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week Seven Materials section of 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 must use this outline to develop the paper used 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. Day 5 30 10 20

Due

Points

Readings

Participation Discussion Questions Nongraded Activities and Preparation Hardware Management Understanding Hardware Profiles

CheckPoint I/O and Multimedia Devices and Video Card Installation

Syllabus IT/280 Version 2

Post your completed Appendix J and outline as attachments.

Week Eight: Mass Storage Devices

Details
Objectives 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. Review last weeks readings. Review the computer and components described in the Computer Hardware Simulator (CHS) under the Week Eight Materials section of 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. Individual External Mass Storage Letter Write a 350- to 700- word letter to management, justifying your position on using external mass storage devices instead of DVD-ROM dual-layer drives. The letter, in business letter form, must have a persuasive voice justifying your decision, acting as the IT Director. Post your letter as an attachment. Day 7 60 Day 5 30

Due

Points

Readings CheckPoint Mass Storage Devices

Week Nine: The Future of Personal Computers

Details
Objectives 9.1 Explain the effects of advancing technology on personal computers. 9.2 Develop procedures for computer hardware maintenance. Read this weeks Electronic Reserve Readings. Participate in class discussion. Respond to the capstone discussion question. When will the desktop computer become obsolete? What 10 20

Due

Points

Readings Participation Capstone Discussion Question

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changes in technology might make the desktop computer obsolete? 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) under the Week Nine Materials section of 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 Day 7 250

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.

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Post your Computer Maintenance and Training Manual as an attachment. Discussion Questions 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 one look for when choosing a power supply? How does one decide which power supply is right for ones computer? What adjustments should one consider making to a computers 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 one 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 one consider when archiving data? What happens to archived data as mass storage technology changes? Week Nine Capstone Discussion Question When will the desktop computer become obsolete? What changes in technology might make the desktop computer obsolete? Copyright
University of Phoenix is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix editorial standards and practices.