This section introduces you to basic concepts associated with the Internet and the World Wide Web. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Define the Internet and the World Wide Web.
Describe the essential components of the Web, including websites, URLs, hyperlinks, web browsers, and search engines.
Identify technologies that use the Internet, including the Web, email, instant messaging, VoIP, and the Internet of Things.
Identify common web applications, including Webmail, Google Docs, Facebook, and YouTube.
Define and describe the uses of cloud computing.
Define social media and describe its uses.
Recognize the risks and responsibilities of using social media.
Describe the differences between downloading, live streaming, and on-demand streaming.
Copy files from the local Windows file system to OneDrive.
Internet An internetwork, or a connection between networks.
The Web Short for World Wide Web, the digital content that is delivered over the Internet, usually through a web browser.
The Internet Often used synonymously with the Web, the vast collection of networking hardware and physical computing devices that make up the Internet.
Internet Service Providers (ISP) A company that provides individuals and businesses access to the internet and other related services.
IP Address A numerical label that is assigned to devices so they can connect and communicate on a network.
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) A set of rules that govern the transfer of web content between computers.
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) A set of rules that govern the transfer of files between computers.
Universal Resource Locator (URL) The reference or address to a resource on the Internet. Example: https://www.testout.com/home/about/privacy
Domain Name System (DNS) A system and set of rules that associates domain names (such as web servers) with unique IP addresses so that users can find and use network resources by an easily readable name instead of by IP address.
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP-IP) A set of rules that facilitates internet communication.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) A programming language that web pages use to display content through web browsers.
Intranet A private network, usually hidden from the internet and protected by a security device, that uses the same technologies that are used on the internet and may or may not be connected to the internet.
Voice over IP (VoIP) A technology that sends voice phone calls using the TCP/IP protocol over digital data lines.
Wi-Fi A technology that allows computers, smartphones, and other devices to communicate on a wireless network.
Internet of Things (IoT) A computing concept that describes the network of physical devices and everyday devices (including refrigerators, thermostats, streetlights, and environmental tracking systems) that communicate with the internet.
Social Media Platform A web-based technology to distribute information and encourage people to connect with others who share a common interest. Examples of social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Cloud Computing The use of remote services hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data.
Cloud Storage A cloud computing service that remotely maintains, manages, and backs up data and makes that data available to users over a network.
Streaming A method of transmitting and receiving data (especially video and audio information) over a network as a steady, continuous flow, allowing playback while the data is being transferred.
Live Streaming A streaming method that transmits data in real time as it is created.
On-Demand Streaming A streaming method that allows users to select and watch or listen to video or audio when they choose, rather than at a scheduled broadcast time.
Buffering The pre-loading of data from a stream into memory to help avoid interruptions while waiting for data that is received in bursts.
Topics Discussed:
What
is the relationship between the Internet, the World Wide Web, and web browsers?
What
are some benefits of using social media? What are some drawbacks?
What
are the most common uses of cloud computing?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 2.1: The Internet, and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the 15 question Exam to complete the Section.
Remember that Wednesday, October 16th is a District Late Start, and that Thursday, October 17th is Pre-ACT Testing with 20 minute classes starting at 12:40pm for everyone but sophomores. Please plan your week accordingly.
Assigned: October 14th, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: October 16th, 2019
This section introduces you to various categories of application software and gives you practice managing Windows applications. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Identify application software that increases personal productivity.
Identify application software that facilitates collaboration.
Identify some common business application software.
Run Windows applications.
Pin applications to the Start Menu and the taskbar.
Unpin applications from the Start Menu and the taskbar.
Create application shortcuts on the Windows desktop.
Productivity Software Software that is used to perform common tasks in a business or home office such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, web browsing, and visual diagramming.
Collaboration Software Software that facilitates the sharing, processing, and management of files, documents and other data between members of a team. This software includes message boards, screen sharing, conferencing software, email, calendaring, instant messaging, text messaging, and online workspace and document sharing.
Business Software Software designed for advanced or specialized business functions such as database management, project management, customer relationship management, accounting, desktop publishing, graphic design, and computer aided design.
Netiquette The rules of etiquette that should be observed while using computer networks, such as the Internet.
Windows Application A traditional desktop application or program.
Windows 10 App A Windows program that is installed and maintained through the Windows Store and uses the type of interface you would typically see on a touchscreen device.
Shared Printer A printer that is attached to one computer but allows printing access to multiple computers and devices connected to the same network.
Print Job A file or set of files that have been submitted to a printer.
Print Queue A container that holds print jobs that are waiting to be sent to a printer that may be too busy to accept the print job.
Print Server A device or computer that connects client computers to printers. Client computers send print jobs to a print server that may hold them in a print queue before forwarding them to a printer.
Topics Discussed:
How can software applications increase your productivity at home or at the office?
What software applications can assist you in collaborating with other people?
What components are required to send a document to a printer?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 1.7: Application Software, and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the 14 question Exam to complete the Section.
Remember that Friday, October 4th is the end of the term. All past due work must be turned in by Thursday, October 3rd to receive credit. Please plan accordingly.
Assigned: October 1st, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: October 3rd, 2019
This section introduces you to computer file system features and gives you practice managing files and folders on Windows. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Describe common file system features, including compression, encryption, permissions, journaling, and file naming rules.
Compare and contrast common file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, HFS, and Ext4.
Create folders in the Windows file system.
Copy, rename, and delete files in Windows.
Share a Windows folder with other users and grant them specific access to files within the folder.
File The smallest container within a computer’s storage system that is used to store information such as data, settings, and commands used in a computer program. A file is the smallest container that can be copied, deleted, or moved within a file system.
File Format The way in which a file is organized. Often, a file type is indicated by the file extension such as .jpg, .gif, .png., .mp3, .wav, .wma, .mp4, .avi, and .wmv.
File System The methods and structures that an operating system uses to organize files on a storage device like a hard drive. File systems often use directory structures to keep track of files.
Compression The process of making data consume less storage space.
Encryption The process of converting information so that it cannot be understood without decrypting it using a key, especially to prevent unauthorized access.
File Permissions The use of user and file attributes that control which users can read, write, move, or delete each file.
Journaling The process of tracking changes to a file so that a file can be repaired or restored in case of file corruption or data loss.
Topics Discussed:
How do operating systems keep track of documents and other files?
What are the most common file system features?
What is the main purpose of Windows file extensions?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 1.6: File Management, and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the 8 question Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: September 23rd, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: September 25th, 2019
Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of basic operating system installation by installing and configuring a common desktop operating system so that they can prepare common desktop PCs for deployment.
This week we will be working in the lab with Operating Systems installation. We will be wiping and repartitioning the hard drives of our lab PCs, performing a basic operating system installation (Windows 10), and installing a specialized OS (Kali Linux) that we will use in the second half of our course.
Collect your PC from the storage shelf and assemble it on the tables in Lab 212. Connect all peripherals and test it to ensure that it still boots to the desktop login window. You do not need to log in.
Windows 10 installation media will be distributed. Boot from the Windows installation USB to begin the installation process.
You will be directed in class how to partition and format your hard drive. Once the hard drive is formatted to a single active partition, you may proceed with the installation process.
Follow the installation process, paying close attention to all instructions and prompts.
The required Account Name, Password and Machine Name naming convention will be written on the whiteboard in front of the room. Please make sure you type the Account Name and Password correctly, using capitals where indicated. Also, please take care to follow the correct Machine Name convention. DO NOT MAKE UP YOUR OWN INFORMATION FOR THESE STEPS.
Your Windows 10 installation is nearly complete when your machine boots to the desktop, and you have successfully logged into the Admin account. You should then browse to the Dell Support page, where you will download and install all required support updates for your PC. Use the Dell support tag located on the top of the machine to determine your required updates on the Dell Support site. See me if your Dell support tag is missing.
Once all device drivers and support software installations are complete, use the Control Panel to access the Windows Update settings. Click the Check for Updates button to search for updates and service packs. Install all service packs and updates that are available.
Your Windows 10 installation is complete when all required device drivers, service packs and system updates are complete. Next week, we will install a specialized OS called Kali Linux, that is specifically designed for offensive security and penetration testing
Assigned: September 18th, 2019 Due Date: September 24th, 2019
This
section introduces you to operating systems and gives you practice using the
Windows user interface. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Identify
and describe different types of system software.
Identify
common operating systems.
Identify
and describe components of the Windows 10 operating system.
Change
display settings in Windows.
Use
the Settings app to view system information.
Configure
a screen saver through the Settings app.
Recognize
and use utility software.
Use
Windows Device Manager to update drivers.
Use
Windows Task Manager to prevent applications from running at system startup.
Operating System A computer program that makes it so people, hardware, and software can interface with each other in a meaningful way.
Graphical User Interface An operating system interface that allows a user to interact with the computer by displaying pictures, icons, and other images on a screen to represent files, folders, and system controls and by accepting input from a mouse or a touch screen.
Command Line Interface An operating system interface that allows a user to interact with the computer by displaying text on a screen and accepting input from the keyboard. The input is entered as commands. The command line is used primarily by IT and other tech professionals.
Disk Management A role of the operating system that helps keep storage devices well organized and maintained.
Application Management A role of the operating system that manages applications or programs that are installed on a system. Applications are run, configured, and deleted through application management.
Service Management A role of the operating system that runs processes or programs automatically in the background. These programs are services that perform functions like indexing files for better searches, verifying that software is up to date, and backing up files.
Device Management A role of the operating system that determines the hardware that is connected to the system, interprets instructions from the hardware, and sends instructions to it. Device management includes managing device drivers.
Access Control/Protection A role of the operating system that requires users to log in with their credentials before accessing sensitive information on the computer. It also manages antivirus and antimalware software to prevent malicious files from accessing the computer.
Utility Software Software that analyzes, configures, and optimizes the computer including backup software, compression software, disk cleaners, and antivirus software.
DeviceDrivers Software that allows an operating system to communicate with hardware devices, such as printers, video cards, scanners, and cameras.
Firmware Preinstalled, read-only software on a device that tells it how to work.
WindowsSettings App In Windows 10, an application that organizes the settings and customizes how the computer looks and functions.
Topics Discussed:
What
is the difference between hardware, system software, and application software?
What
is the purpose of an operating system?
How
can the Windows operating system be configured through the Settings app?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 1.5: Software, and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the 12 question Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: September 16th, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: September 17th, 2019
This section introduces you to the internal components of computer systems, including processing, storage, and memory. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Describe the most common internal components of a typical computer system, including processor, RAM, motherboard, power supply, GPU, NIC, and cooling system.
Compare and contrast the features of different external storage devices, including hard disk drives, optical drives, flash storage, and solid state drives.
Distinguish between the two main types of consumer-level CPUs.
Identify the proper sequence of steps to follow in the troubleshooting methodology.
Identify the proper cable to connect a computer to an Ethernet port.
Set up a desktop computer system, including peripherals, power cables, and networking cable.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) The most important part of any modern computer system that controls the other parts of the computer.
Random Access Memory (RAM) The main memory of a computer that can be quickly accessed by the CPU and where the computer stores data and instructions that it is actively using.
Motherboard A large, flat computer component that connects the important components of the computer, such as the CPU, RAM, and the BIOS chip. It also has power and other communications connections.
Power Supply The component of a computer that supplies the right amount and form of electricity to the motherboard and other computer components.
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) An additional computer processor that provides graphics processing, providing better performance by relieving the CPU of this duty.
Network Interface Card (NIC) A component, sometimes built into and sometimes plugged into the motherboard, that provides wired or wireless (or both) network connectivity.
Cooling System Heat sinks and fans that keep computer components, especially the CPU, from overheating.
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) The most common type of long-term storage that uses thick, magnetic disks encased in a protective housing to store data.
Optical Drive A storage device that uses light instead of magnetism to store information. This include CD-ROM, DVD, and Blu-ray devices.
Flash Storage A compact, portable storage device that uses special memory chips to store data. Flash storage devices can be removed from a power source and its contents will remain intact.
Solid State Devices (SSD) A device with similar capacity to an HDD that uses flash storage instead of magnetic disks to store data. SSDs are much faster and more durable than hard disk drives but usually are more expensive.
External Hard Disk Drives An HDD that can be connected as a peripheral to a computer.
x86 Processors A family of processors manufactured by Intl and AMD that use a common instruction set, or list of commands that the processor can execute.
Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) Processors A family of processors most often used in smartphones due to its lower power requirements. This is accomplished by reducing the processors’ instruction set.
Troubleshooting A process that combines knowledge, experience, and intuition to quickly solve a variety of problems.
Topics Discussed:
How does a computer processor use internal memory?
What are the most common types of external storage devices?
What are the key steps in troubleshooting most computer hardware and software problems?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 1.4: Processing and Storage Hardware, and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the 15 question Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: September 11th, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: September 13th, 2019
I can demonstrate my understanding of modern and legacy ports and connectors by producing a document identifying each port visually, so I can maintain a working knowledge of what ports are available on a given PC just by looking at it.
Today, we will be working on a Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt activity, where you will be tasked with identifying 28 different expansion ports and connectors common to PC workstations.
Using the list below, and the Internet for research, you will hunt all around my room to find each of the 28 ports on the hardware devices located throughout Room 225. Hunt high and low, and dig through the provided hardware bins to find them all!
Use your cell phone, the iSight camera on your iMac, or a loaner digital camera (just ask me) to take pictures of each port. You must provide original photos of each port (No borrowing from the Internet!).
Produce a document (Google Doc, Google Slides, etc.) and place your pictures in the document. Use text labels to identify each of the 28 ports.
Submit your completed Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt document with all the required pictures to the Google Classroom assignment labeled “Section 1.3 Lab – Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt” by Monday, September 9th.
If all 1st Year students complete the Lab by turning in an original document containing all 28 photos correctly labeled by end of day on Monday, the entire class will receive a pizza party on lucky Friday the 13th!
Good luck, and happy hunting!
Ports and Connectors Scavenger Hunt List:
Legacy Multifunction Ports
D-Sub Ports:
25-pin serial port (female)
9-pin serial port (male)
25-pin parallel port (female)
36-pin IEEE 1284B Centronics connector (male)
Standard Single-Function Ports
PS/2 6-pin mini-DIN keyboard port (purple)
PS/2 6-pin mini-DIN mouse port (green)
Video Ports
15-pin D-Sub VGA video port (female)
DVI Video port (female)
RGB Component ports (female)
Composite Video port (female)
Mini DisplayPort port (female)
Audio Ports
1/8-inch mini-audio port (female)
S/PDIF coaxial audio port (female)
Multimedia Ports
RG-6 coaxial port (female)
S-Video port (female)
Composite Audio port (female)
MIDI/Joystick Ports
DB-15 Joystick/Game port (female)
Modem Ports
RJ-11 modem port (female)
Network Interface Ports
RJ-45 network port (female)
BNC Port (female)
Modern Multifunction Ports
USB Type A port (female)
USB 3.0 Type A port (female)
USB Type B port (female)
USB Type C port (female)
USB mini port (female)
USB micro port (female)
Firewire 400 IEEE 1394a port (female)
Firewire 800 IEEE 1394b port (female)
Assigned: September 5th, 2019 Due Date: September 9th, 2019
This section introduces you to computer hardware components and gives you practice setting up external devices for desktop systems. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Identify
common peripheral devices by sight.
Identify
common ports and connectors by sight.
Connect
cables and peripherals to a computer system.
Select
appropriate cables and hardware devices for particular scenarios.
Troubleshoot
common problems when installing external devices to a computer system.
Peripheral A device, usually external to a computer, that is plugged into a computer’s communication port or is connected wirelessly. Common peripherals are keyboards, mice, monitors, speakers, and printers.
Touch Screen A display device that allows a user to interact with a computer by touching, tapping, and swiping areas on the screen.
Scanner A device that can be connected to a computer or network that scans paper documents and converts them into digital files.
Universal Serial Bus (USB) A common interface used to connect peripherals, such as mice, keyboards, printers, and digital cameras to a computer.
FireWire Another common interface used to connect peripherals such as digital cameras and external hard drives to a computer.
Video Graphics Array (VGA) Connector A connector, identified by its blue color and three rows of pins, that is used to connect older monitors to a computer.
Digital Visual Interface (DVI) Connector A connector, typically white with three rows of eight pins, designed to connect digital monitors to a computer.
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Connector A connector used to connect a computer to an HDMI monitor or TV.
Registered Jack 45 (RJ-45) Connector A connector used to connect a computer to a wired network.
Thunderbolt An interface primarily used on Apple computers that typically connects a monitor to a computer and can also provide DC power.
Infrared A communication technology that uses light waves to transmit information through the air.
Bluetooth A short-range wireless communication technology used to connect peripherals such as wireless headphones, speakers, keyboards, mice, smart watches, printers, and game controllers to a computer, including smartphones.
Topics Discussed:
What
hardware components are generally required for a desktop computer system?
What
are the most commonly used interfaces for computer peripherals, displays, and
networking devices?
How
do you connect a computer monitor and other peripheral devices to a desktop
system?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 1.3: Peripheral Devices, and achieve a score of 80% or higher on the 11 question Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: September 3rd, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: September 4th, 2019
This section introduces you to the basics of how computers work, including their use of the binary number system and the encoding of digital media files. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Describe the binary number system used by computers to process data.
Define bits and bytes.
Explain how physical signals are translated into digital information.
Describe the most common units of measurement used for storage, throughput, and processing speed.
Describe how audio and video are stored digitally.
Distinguish between raster and vector images.
Select the best format for digital images.
Describe how RGB values determine pixel color.
Compare common image file types.
Describe the difference between lossless and lossy compression algorithms.
Decimal System A numbering system that uses ten digits, 0 through 9.
Binary System A numbering system that uses two digits, 0 and 1.
Hexadecimal System A numbering system that uses sixteen digits, 0 through 9, and A through F.
Bit The smallest unit of digital information, represented by a 1 or 0.
Byte A group of eight bits joined together. Digital Data A physical signal, such as text, numbers, graphics, or sound, interpreted by converting it into binary numbers.
Encoded Integers The representation of integers using a group of bytes. Normally, one bit in one of the byes represents the sign, 1 for negative and 0 for positive. The remaining 31 bits are used to encode the number itself using binary digits.
Encoded Text The representation of text by assigning a unique binary code to each character.
Processor Speed The speed at which a computer processes information, as measured by the number of cycles per second (Hertz) that the computer’s CPU operates at. Processor speed is measured in kilohertz, megahertz, and gigahertz.
Storage Space The measurement in bytes of the volume that a storage device can contain. Storage space is measured in kilobytes (1024 bytes), megabytes (1024 kilobytes), gigabytes (1024 megabytes), and terabytes (1024 gigabytes).
Throughput The measurement in bits per second that information is transferred through a network from one computer to another. Throughput is measured in Kbps (kilobits per second), Mbps (megabits per second), and Gbps (gigabits per second).
ASCII Pronounced ask-ee and short for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, the most common format for text files in computers on the internet where each character is represented by a unique 7-bit binary code. Extended ASCII uses an 8-bit binary code and allows for international characters.
Unicode An international 16-bit encoding standard that accommodates character sets from multiple languages, with each letter, digit, or symbol being assigned a unique numeric value.
Sample The part of a sound wave that is captured, measured, and assigned a numeric value during digital sound recording.
Bit Depth The amount of memory used to store the numeric value of a sound sample during digital sound recording. 8-bit sound uses eight bits (or one byte) to store the value of each sample. 16-bit sound uses two bytes per sample. Generally speaking, the better the bit depth, the better the sound.
Sampling Rate The number of individual samples taken each second during digital sound recording. Measured in Hertz, the higher the sampling rate, the better the recording. Most modern sound recordings are made at 44.1 kHz.
Frame Rate The number of images, or frames, that are taken each second during digital video recording. Most digital videos have a frame rate of about 30 frames per second.
Resolution The number of pixels in the width and height of each frame in a digital video recording. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image will be.
Color Depth The amount of memory the computer uses to display colors in a digital image or a digital video. 8-bit color images use one byte of data for each pixel. 24-bit color uses three bytes for each pixel.
RGB Display A display on a computer monitor that is made up of sets of tiny red, green, and blue (RGB) lights, each set combining to make a pixel. A pixel will display different colors depending on the brightness of each light.
Raster Images Images stored by dividing a picture into rows of pixels and collecting the color values of each pixel, in order, row-by-row.
Vector Images Images stored by mathematically describing the shapes in the image. A circle might be stored as a center point and the distance from the center point to the circle’s edge. A square is stored as four lines, each with a beginning point and a length. More complex shapes can be stored as a set of small lines.
File Compression A way of reducing the size of files, making them easier to store.
Lossless Compression A compression algorithm, such as GIF, PNG, PDF, and ZIP, that doesn’t affect the original data. A file compressed using a lossless compression algorithm, when decompressed, will be exactly the same as the file before compression, bit for bit.
Lossy Compression A compression algorithm, such as JPG, MP3, and MP4, that slightly alters the data to make it easier to store, taking advantage of the limitations of human sight and hearing, and is usually used for images, videos, and audio files.
Run-Length Encoding A common lossless compression algorithm that looks for repeated patterns of bits or bytes and records the pattern and then number of times the pattern is repeated.
Compression Artifact A patch of pixels in a compressed image or video that have less visible detail than the rest of the image.
Topics Discussed:
How do computers convert physical signals into digital data?
How do computers encode digital image, sound, video and text files?
When is it best to use compressed files? When is it better to use uncompressed files?
Assignment:
Access the TestOut Courseware through the provided link.
Study Section 1.2: How Computers Work, and complete the 13 question Exam to complete the Section.
Assigned: August 29th, 2019 Teacher Pacing Due Date: August 30th, 2019
This section introduces you to the history of computing devices and the ethical implications of modern technology. After finishing this section, you should be able to:
Recall significant developments in the history of modern computing.
Identify uses of computers in today’s world.
Identify the basic functions of computers.
Recommend computing devices based on user requirements.
Describe ethical considerations related to evolving forms of technology.
