Hardware Days Assignments

Mandatory PC Hardware Comparison Exercise using Excel

Click on the link above for instructions on the PC Hardware Comparison Exercise. Submit it through moodle's "hardware comparison - upload here" when you are done.

Mandatory Repeatable Hardware Intro Survey
Take a repeatable Hardware Intro Survey in Moodle until you reach 100%. Find the survey in Moodle under quizzes. Wrong answers give feedback that explains why that answer is wrong and another is correct.
Mandatory - Reply toSocial Networking Discussion Entry #2 on Social Networking Ethics Discussion in Moodle
Read the article and post an entry on the discussion board according to these instructions.
Hardware and Word Quiz study guide

This is a study guide for the hardware section

This is a study guide for the Word and Windows section
Optional Hardware and Software Problem Discussion Board

Look at Moodle's Hardware and Software Problem discussion board and post any problems you are having with a computer. Any computer problems are fine, including having trouble installing new hardware or software. You can describe the solution you found or ask for help with a solution.

For every new problem, add a new thread. To help try to find a solution, search the internet for an answer. Posting a really good answer to someone's problem gives you extra credit. If you have no problem or solution, you do not have to post.
Optional Excel Introduction

Complete this quick Excel introduction exercise. If Excel is new to you, this might help.

Optional good hardware tutorials

http://www.internetfamilyfun.com/internethelp/filesizes.htm

Here are some good hardware tutorials that might help you with configuring a PC or printer.

My presentations - with no explanation, just to show you the main points:

OTHER OVERVIEW:

Decent overview movie with sound explaining the purpose of basic parts: http://www.commoncraft.com/video/computer-hardware

Nice overview movie showing you where each part sits in the computer: http://videos.howstuffworks.com/howstuffworks/23-computer-tour-video.htm

If you are unfamiliar with Hardware topics such as Operating system, Random Access Memory, Hard drive, Motherboard and Microprocessor, you can read  chapters 2 and 3a in the New Perspectives Computer Concepts book which is on reserve for this class in the library. Or read this: http://www.crews.org/curriculum/ex/compsci/articles/howcomput.htm

picture of CPU labeled

MORE SPECIFIC PARTS:

This "movie" shows you the how the computer reads from Hard Disk to RAM (Random Access Memory). The spinning circle is the disk that sits inside your hard disk box. This movie shows how the head picks up information from the hard disk and deposits it into memory. Notice that there is much less room in the RAM than on the Hard Disk. http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/learningobjects/Cprogramming/readingFromDiskToMemory/Main.html

(Less helpful: A look at how the computer goes through code running instructions: http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/learningobjects/Cprogramming/readingFromATextfile/Main.html)\

Older list that will help compare processor qualities: http://ilearn.senecac.on.ca/learningobjects/computer/sms202/faster_processing_factorsl.swf

Quick definitions: http://www.webopedia.com/ - look for hard disk; RAM, CD, DVD, flash drive, motherboard, microprocessor, monitor, printer (Dot-matrix, Ink-jet, Laser, Thermal Printer)

Good  hardware descriptions (with some pictures): http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hardware-channel.htm (Look at: Hard disk, microprocessor, motherboard, RAM, CD, Removable storage - You just need the basic idea but all the detailed pictures can help with general understanding.) Remember to scroll down to see all the options and to hit "NEXT PAGE" in the middle of the page.

Good hardware peripheral (computer parts that are plugged into the CPU box): http://computer.howstuffworks.com/peripherals-channel.htm (Look at: Computer monitor, laser printer, ink jet printer, USB Ports)  Remember to scroll down to see all the options and to hit "NEXT PAGE" in the middle of the page.

Printers: http://www.infoweblinks.com/content/printerbuyersguide.htm

CD/DVD: http://www.infoweblinks.com/content/cddvd.htm

Backup (tapes and strategies): http://www.infoweblinks.com/content/storagefrontiers.htm

Microprocessor: http://www.infoweblinks.com/content/microprocessorupdate.htm

APU: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-the-difference-between-an-apu-a-cpu-and-a-gpu-makeuseof-explains/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFCsWafmNi8

Intel processor comparison: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processor-comparison/compare-intel-processors.html

Monitors: http://www.infoweblinks.com/content/displaydevices.htm
Optional - Computer Protection Exercise

The Computer Protection Exercise instructions