Schedule for The First Weekend

(Note: all the times listed below are estimates)

Friday (evening)

Introductions of Instructors & Students
Course Overview & Objectives

Using Computer History web resources to explore the History and Evolution of Computers.  A short history of the PC can be found here.

Computer Terminology: Form teams for an activity using computer terms for the course. Use the references section of the Web resources.

A Tour inside the computer. Precautions before looking inside the computer. Inside the computer: Location of major components; Motherboard Power supply, Hard drive, Memory, Floppy Drive.

Break for the evening

Saturday (morning)

Open Lab: This time is allotted to give students a chance to talk with the instructor about individual questions or workout any problems they may be having.

Review Terminology used frequently when talking about computer architecture.

Understanding how the computer binary codes work
       Binary numbers

Binary numbers and codes -- and the relation to electricity.

LUNCH (Need a break?)

Saturday (afternoon)

Understanding how computer hardware works

How transistors work.  

Turning a transistor on and off (making a one and a zero with electricity)

How the CPU works. "Playing Computer"

Mastering computer memory and computer storage

Geek-speak

Removal and Installation of SlMMs, RIMMs & DIMMs (If possible)

Remove and install hard drive and floppy drive (If possible)

Break for the Day

Sunday (morning)

Open Lab: This time is allotted to give students a chance to finish any thing they may have been working on or just to tie up any loose ends. You are welcome to explore any of the software or hardware that is available to us.

Review Midterm Project requirements

Basics of Troubleshooting.

      Review terminology used frequently when talking about computer memory, Common problems, Operator error, Software problems, Conflicts, Hardware problems.

Using the Internet to help in Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting and repairing a hard drive crash

Discussion on Preventive Maintenance.

      Uninstalling files.

      Defragmenting the hard drive

      Cleaning inside and outside of the computer.

LUNCH

Sunday (afternoon)

Activity on Buying Computers. Review terminology used frequently when talking about buying computers: Buying a Computer, Models of the computers, One piece, Two piece, Towers, Laptops,Extras: Monitors, Keyboards, Mouse, printers. Educators (dis)advantage, Mail order, computer stores, consumer stores used computers.

Discuss "Tips and Tricks"

Discussion of the format for the second weekend.

Miscellaneous (if time permits)

Using software for troubleshooting and repair

Using Norton Utilities

Backing up files

Checking for disk damage

Undeleting files

Defragmenting disks

Using diagnostics utilities

About viruses, prevention and removal, Internet resources.

About computer hoaxes and using the Internet to debunk them

Small Group Discussion:    Break into groups and discuss what the future holds for computers in education, based on past developments

.

Large Group Discussion: Discuss the predictions made in the small groups.

Break for the weekend

The Second Weekend

Friday (afternoon)

Start Presentations of Midterm Projects. Students will discuss what they found from their comparison of different models of computers.

Discussion on purchase of computers

Introduce Control Panels and Accessories

Break for the Evening

Saturday (morning)

Open Lab: This time is allotted to give students a chance to talk with the instructor about any individual questions or workout any problems they may be having.

Finish Presentations of Midterm Projects. Students will discuss what they found from their comparison of different models of computers.

Review Terminology on Networking. Review terminology used frequently when talking about Networking

Discuss Networking LANs, WANs Topologies (Bus, Ring, Star)

When and why should a network be set up

Ethernet (10 base-T, thinnet)

Set up a lan and then connect to the Internet (where conditions permit)

Option: Students show their best tips and tricks. Each student will share one interesting tip or secret with their classmates. Examples: A special feature of the operating system, an address to an interesting web site, a useful utility program.

LUNCH

Saturday (afternoon)

Virus Activity

Option: (where conditions permit) using internet tools to understand the structure of the internet: troubleshooting and sleuthing.

Expansion Cards and Slots

Upgrading Adding expansion boards Adding Hard drives. Upgrading to multimedia.

Break for the Day

Sunday (morning)

Open Lab: This time is allotted to give students a chance to finish any thing they may have been working on or just to tie up any loose ends. You are welcome to explore any of the software or hardware that is available to us.

Discuss final project

Identifying PC Components Activity

Discussion of Operating Systems ( MS-DOS, WIN95, Win98, UNIX, Win 2000, XP)

Break into dyads (pairs) to investigate a control panel and present your findings to the class (if control panels are accessible)

Discuss Mac & PCs Coexistence.   

How to make a Mac run PC software (PC Exchange)

Regedit

LUNCH

Sunday (afternoon)

Basics on Utilities (Norton Utilities and PC system utilities - where conditions permit)

Handout evaluations

Optimizing your Computer -- Things you can do to get the most out of your old computer

Work with utilities software.   Students will select a program from the software available. After trying it out they will come back together as a group and report what they learned and discovered.

Open lab: Troubleshooting and repair lab Students can work on any computer hardware problems they may be having. Instructor will be available to help troubleshoot your problems.