CISC201 Managing and Maintaining the PC

Department of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics: Computer/Information Science

1. Course Number and Title

   CISC201 Managing and Maintaining the PC

2. Number of Credits

   4 credits

3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

   3000 minutes

4. Prerequisites

   CISC128 (C or better)

   Corequisites

   None

5. Other Pertinent Information

   A comprehensive departmental final examination is given.

6. Catalog Course Description

   The course covers installation, configuration, upgrading, troubleshooting, and repairing desktop computer systems. The hands-on opportunity to build a complete computer from component parts is an integral part of the course. Successful completion of the course will prepare a student to take the industry standard, vendor-neutral certification test in this area.

7. Required Course Content and Direction

   1. Learning Goals:

      1. Course Learning Goals
      
      Students will be able to
      1. identify, install, configure, and upgrade desktop computer modules and peripherals, following established basic procedures for system assembly and disassembly of field replaceable modules;
      2. diagnose and effectively troubleshoot common hardware problems and system malfunctions;
      3. recognize the potential hazards to personnel and equipment when working with lasers, high voltage equipment, ESD, and items that require special disposal procedures that comply with environmental guidelines; and
      4. explain basic network concepts and terminology, determine whether a computer is networked, construct procedures for swapping and configuring network interface cards, and predict ramifications of repairs when a computer is networked.
      2. Core Learning Goals (if applicable)
      
      
      This course is not included in the Core.

   2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. Basic Computer Operation
      1. PC hardware - motherboard, CPU and chipset, storage devices, input and output devices
      2. CPU - operation, use of memory, communication with other devices
      3. Binary and hexadecimal numbers
      
      
      2. Hardware and Software
      1. System resources - I/0, IRQ, DMA, memory
      2. System BIOS and the boot process
      
      
      3. Power Supplies
      1. Basic electrical theory - Volts, Amps, Ohms, Watts
      2. Power management in PCs
      
      
      4. The Motherboard
      1. Types - AT. ATX
      2. CPU - Pentium Classic, MMX,II,III,IV
      3. System busses - PCI, AGP, ISA
      
      
      5. I/0 Devices
      1. Serial and parallel - USB, IEEE1394
      2. Keyboards and pointing devices
      3. Video
      
      
      6. Memory
      1. ROM
      2. RAM
      3. CMOS
      
      
      7. Removable Storage Devices
      
      
      
      8. Hard Drives
      1. IDE
      2. SCSI
      3. SATA
      
      
      9. Multi-media Devices
      1. CD-ROM - CD-R, CD-RW, DVD
      2. Sound cards
      
      
      10. Mass Storage
      1. Tape drives and Zip drives
      2. RAID
      3. Network attached storage
      
      
      11. Modems
      
      
      
      12. PCs Connecting to a Network
      1. Physical network architectures - Ethernet, FDDI, Wireless
      2. Network interface cards - installing under Windows OS
      
      
      13. Notebooks and PDAs
      1. Upgrading memory
      2. Other field replaceable units
      
      
      14. Printers
      1. Laser, dot-matrix, ink-jet
      2. Troubleshooting
      
      
      15. Troubleshooting and Maintenance Fundamentals
      1. Fundamental rules of troubleshooting
      2. Preventative maintenance
      3. Disposal rules

   3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

      1. Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals

      The assessment of Course Learning Goals is based on written tests, labs and other assignments, as well as performance-based tasks as appropriate, and a departmental final exam.

      2. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals (if applicable)
      
      
      This course is not included in the Core.

   4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      Departmentally selected textbook. Details provided by the instructor of each course section. See course format.

8. Teaching Methods Employed

   Each class will consist of a combination of class lecture, demonstration, and laboratory experience.
   
   Section VIII is not being used in new and revised syllabi as of 12/10/08.

Review/Approval Date - 11/02; Revised 6/09