Please note that readings are assigned at the beginning of the week.

Week 1
Hardware

1. The Boot Process - Intro to the BIOS, POST and other start up mysteries
2. Safety 101: Unplug it, Static Wrap, Stay away from Transformers - particularly the modem!
3. Hardware Basics - Parts of the computer: Case, Motherboard, CPU, Cards (PCI, ISA), HDD, FDD, CDRom, Power Supply, Memory (RAM)
4. The Big Picture - So, what kind of computer is this?
5. Vocabulary - Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Terabyte, Gigabyte,  RAM, DIMM / SIMM, CPU, Power Supply, PCI, ISA, AGP
6. Troubleshooting - Basic connection issues

Site Tools:

| Motherboard Layouts | CPU Central (Inspiration File) | Memory | Mystery Machine | Week 1 Heart & Soul | Week 1 Performance Assessment | Project One Starter Page | Weekly Projects |

Readings: 

• Basic Instinct: PC Troubleshooting p. 28
• Operation Storage PC Troubleshooting p. 80

Online Reviews:

• So, you want to build your own computer? (PCWorld)
• Computer History http://www.computerhope.com/history/index.htm

• Parts & Pieces http://www.russelltexas.com/pcparts/pcparts.htm

• http://www.millbury.k12.ma.us/~hs/techrepair/gen.html Timeline of computers

• CNET - www.cnet.com Key site for all.  Downloads, reviews & how-tos.

• http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,119494,00.asp

• http://www.pcworld.com/howto/bguide/0,guid,14,00.asp  - Very good article for Project 1.

Week 2:

Operating Systems

1. Format Floppy drives
2. CMOS, BIOS, POST
3. FDisk on HDD
4. System Devices overview
5. Operating Systems 101
6. Overview of Windows Versions
7. File Structure, Finding Files – Where Art Thou? Wildcards
8. DOS Prompts, Command lines - Why use them?
9. Important types of files - Win.ini, autoexec.bat, system.ini, config.sys
10. Troubleshooting - Startup files, Uninstall - Shot Gun Method
11. Safe Mode & How you can save yourself
12. System Disks, Bootable Disks, System Restore Disks
13. Don't Touch These Files! The Windows Registry
14. Config Tools: msconfig, sysedit

Readings

• PC First-Aid Kit PC Troubleshooting p. 8
• Ground Zero - First Responses to PC Catastrophes PC Troubleshooting p. 5
• Modus Operandi PC Troubleshooting p 10 - 14
• Help Is Just a Diskette Away PC Troubleshooting p. 16
• Clean up your start up PC Troubleshooting p 33 - 35

Online Readings:

• http://www.pchell.com/
• http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/compsecurity101/a/aa112903.htm
• http://netsecurity.about.com/od/secureyouremail/a/aa061404.htm

Site Tools:

| How to Diagnose Bad Parts | Printer Central | Power Central | Week 2 Heart & Soul | Week 2 Performance Assessment | Weekly Projects |

Networking

1. Networking 101: Topology, Architecture, Protocol
2. Basics of Networking: Cable, Hub, Name, IP Address
   TCP/IP, Domains, Gateways
3. Networking on the BIG Scale - LAN, WAN, MAN - School Networks
4. Cable - Why make your own? Making Cables / Cable Types / Hub Types / Cable Limitations / Topologies
5. Quick Tour of MS Visio
6. TCP/IP
7. Common Commands:
   1. Ping
   2. ipconfig
   3. winipcfg
8. Jumping Points: NIC, Hub, Switch, Router, Firewall
9. Bandwidth Blues - from dial up to T1s - What should you have?

Readings:

• Register Here PC How To p. 23
• Basic Windows Tips PC How To p. 6
• Under the Hood  PC Troubleshooting p. 19 - 22

Online Readings:

• *** http://members.tripod.com/barhoush_2/0index.htm
• http://whatis.techtarget.com/fileFormatA/0,289933,sid9,00.html
• http://familyinternet.about.com/cs/computinghelp/a/aafilingsystem.htm
• http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/FileSizeConversionTable.asp
• http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.large.numbers.html
• http://www.hardwarecentral.com/hardwarecentral/tutorials/158/1/
• http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/HomeNet-Win2kXP.asp
• http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,120795,00.asp
• http://service.dell.com/dell/more_videos/1,,33732+30,00.html
• http://www.webmasterknowhow.com/html/bytecompare.html

Site Tools

| Basics of Networking (ppt) | Worksheet | Week 3 Heart & Soul | Week 3 Performance Assessment | Weekly Projects |

• Networking in various OS's
• File & Print Sharing
• Common Download Utilities
• Server Mania - Client / Server Relationships, Server Applications
• Best Practices in Security
• System Diagnostics: Windows 2000, XP
• Help! My machine is possessed!!! Detecting spyware, hijackings & other malicious ailments
• Best practices in keeping users safe - what you need to know
• Phishing - Don't Eat the PHISH!

Readings:

• Networking Without the Wire SmartComputing p. 34
• Troubleshooting & System Maintenance PC How To p. 68
• http://www.homenethelp.com/web/howto/net.asp
• http://members.tripod.com/barhoush_2/0index.htm 
• http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index.jhtml
• http://www.arin.net/
• http://www.internetipaddress.com/
• http://www.iana.org/
• http://hunterftp.hunter.com/scripts//dnslookup.html
• http://www.antiphishing.org/
• http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing
• http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php
• http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/
• http://securityresponse.symantec.com/
• http://www.whatismyip.com/
• http://www.getip.com/
• http://centralops.net/co/
• http://download.visualware.com/?affiliate=AF10034
• http://visualroute.visualware.com/
• My User Name is ehorner@optonline.net and password is 274986

Site Tools:

| Week 4 Heart & Soul | Week 4 Performance Assessment | Weekly Projects |

Week 5
Wrap Up

• Certification Process - A+, N+, Cisco, MSCE
• Bringing it to your school: role of technical support staff
• Presentations & Final Evaluations
• Total Cost of Ownership in Schools
• AUP's, CIPA, Funding, Erate, State Policies, District Policies on Copyright, District Policies on online commerce.

Site Tools: | Technology Coordinator's Tip List |

Readings:

• Automatic Updates p 56
• Remote Assistance p 57
• Troubleshooting & System Maintenance PC How-To Guide p68
• Supercharge Windows PC How-To Guide p 58
• TCO Checklist: Support - how much is enough?
• http://www.cnet.com/4520-7364_1-105323-1.html
• http://classroomtco.cosn.org/gartner_intro.html
• http://www.techlearning.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60402206 
• http://www.electronic-school.com/199909/0999sbot.html 
• http://asumag.com/mag/university_total_cost_ownership/