Computer Architecture and Repair (StRUT)

One year course preparing students for certification in computer repair. This six-week unit is the introduction to a complete 36 week course that can prepare students for A+ computer repair certification. Introductory lessons are based on the course text, The Complete Computer Repair Textbook, by Cheryl Schmidt, 3rd Edition.

  Week 1
This week introduces students to computer technology (Text Ch. 1)
Week 2
Continue technical vocabulary and introduce binary, hexidecimal, decimal conversions.
Week 3
Review journals and begin presenting first series of Oral Tech Reports on topics of interest
Week 4
Finish oral technical reports and continue vocabulary studies from Text Chapter 3.
Week 5
Interpret computer schematics and dissasemble computers
Week 6
Reassemble, test and troubleshoot computers using minimum configuration and beep codes.



M

Introduction and Course Description

Teachers will explain the purpose of the course and prepare the students for the curriculum

Attention grabber and activities
  • Administer quiz to emphasize following directions
  • School forms and permits to sign (local requirements)
  • Explain syllabus
  • Describe journal outline and student expectations
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Technology Vocabulary

Review Quiz 1 as a class game. Recommendation: use a game show or baseball format.

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Technical Report Research

Select topics and begin technical report research. These are short topics to be presented this week.

Activities
  • Review journals as a team game-reprint and prize to best journals
  • Begin technical topic research
  • Consider web based research in class or at home
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Oral Reports and Vocabulary (Text Chapter 3)

Complete student oral technical reports and vocabulary (from Text Chapter 3). Student groups will present team reports on assigned pages from Text Chapter 3.

Activities
  • Review Quiz 2 as a class game. Recommendation: use a game show or baseball format.
  • Continue student oral technical reports
  • Start Text Chapter 3 vocabulary
  • Assign pages to student groups
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Disassembly and Assembly

Review Quiz 3 and prepare for computer dissassembly

Preparation
  • Set up tables with 1-4 students/computer, monitors, keyboards, tools
  • Start computers to ensure they work
  • Draw detailed schematic of computer outsides
  • Start Chapter 4 vocabulary terms
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Computer Disassembly and Assembly

Attention Grabber. Conduct a troubleshooting contest. Teacher puts bugs in each computer.

Troubleshooting contest
  • Round 1, Teacher introduces bugs in each computer
  • Round 2, Students introduce bugs and rotate among computers
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Tu

Safety and Classroom Administration

Continue introduction to computers and technology from Text, Chapter 1. Discuss various safety issues using safety learning objectives and references

Activities
  • Safety Topics
  • Discussion of ethics
  • Computer technology attributes
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Basic Technology Vocabulary

Begin Text Chapter 2. View Videotape, Computer Vocabulary for the Classroom.

Activities
  • Show and tell
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Oral Technical Reports

Students present oral reports to class. 5-10 minutes each. Reports continue following classes.

Oral Report Procedures
  • Each student makes 5-10 min. presentation to class (selected topics)
  • Rehearse before class, do not read reports
  • Encourage visual aids, props
  • Class take notes, ask questions
  • Use a presentation rubric for grading
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Oral technical reports

Complete individual oral technical reports. Begin 2nd round of presentions. Students grade each other using presentation rubric.

Activities
  • Complete 1st round oral technical reports
  • Collect presentation rubrics
  • Start group presentations on Chapter 3
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Computer Disassembly and Reassembly

Form student teams of 2-4 and follow guidelines in Text Chapter 4 to disassemble and reassemble computers

Teaching Points
  • Practice techniques to prevent ESD
  • Draw and label inside computer schematic
  • Remove extra parts
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Final Reassembly

Continue Assembly

Activities
  • Take detail journal notes on visual and audible observations
  • Learn minimum configuration, beep codes and error messages



W

Basic Computer Technology and Technical Vocabulary

Computer parts and how to handle them safely. Preventing electrostatic discharge. Assign vocabulary lists.

Topics
  • Explain and demonstrate safe parts handling
  • Explain learning theory
  • Discuss computer technology timeline
  • Explain Moore's Law
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Basic Technology Vocabulary

Continue Text Chapter 2.vocabulary presentations

Activities
  • Drill for vocabulary from Chapters 1,2 and video
  • Consider using game format for the drill
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Oral Technical Reports

Students present oral reports to class. 5-10 minutes each. Reports continue following classes. Repeat lecture on Binary, Hexidecimal, and Decimal notation.

Additional activities
  • Deliver 2nd Lecture on Binary-Hexidecimal-Decimal notation
  • Show videotape, How Computers Work
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Team Presentations

Complete team reports on Text Chapter 3. Collect presentation rubrics.


Reassemble Computer

Discuss problems encountered. Demonstarte minimum configuration and beep codes.

Steps
  • Reassemble computer using Chapter 4 guidelines
  • Turn on power. Does it work?
  • Troubleshoot assembly
  • Teams report problems and solutions
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Final Assembly

Continue Assembly

Activities
  • Look at CMOS setup menu
  • Try Check-It Pro for system information
  • Remove battery and clear passwords



Th

Basic Technical Vocabulary

Continue work on Text Chapter 1. The student show and tell procedures may be developed by the teacher using vocabulary lists and computer parts or pictures

Topics
  • Continue student show and tell
  • Begin work orders
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Binary, Decimal, and Hexidecimal

Present lecture on binary, decimal, and hexidecimal notation.

Activities
  • Demonstrate conversion math
  • Students practice conversions in their journals
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Oral Technical Reports

Students present oral reports to class. 5-10 minutes each.

Reviews
  • Review Chapters 1-2
  • Review math

Chapter 1-3 Review

Review using game show or baseball format

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Repeat Disassemble and Reassemble

Follow Tuesday procedures after rearranging teams.

Instructions
  • Instruct Students to take notes on their processes
  • Have each team describe their process and what they learned

Final Assembly

Clean up and prepare for final exam. Review Text Chapters 1-4

Clean up Steps
  • All computers working and labeled
  • Put computers on racks
  • Clean tables
  • Review Chapters 1-4



F

Evaluation, Text Chapter 1

Administer open-book quiz No. 1 on Text Chapter 1 and safety. Collect and grade student journals.

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Evaluation

Students plan to create an oral report on a technical topic of their interest.

Activities
  • Grade Journals
  • Assign first oral technical reports
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Evaluation

Open book quiz No. 2. Covers Text Chapter 1,2 and mathematics.

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Evaluation

Open book quiz No. 3. Covers Text Chapters 1-3 and oral reports.

Other evaluation
  • Collect and grade journals
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Evaluation

Grade team presentations and collect Journals to grade.


Evaluation

Module final exam on Text Chapters 1-4

Additional evaluation
  • Grade journals
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