Computer Assembly :: Curriculum

Computer Technology & Repair Model

Units:

Computer Assembly

Part of Unit: Personal Computers and Components

Lesson Plan Overview / Details

In this lesson the students have an oportunity for hands on experience with computer hardware. Students use hardware simulation to practice before demonstrating their skills on real computer hardware.

Lesson Time

Total Time: 3 Class Periods

Standards

California Career and Technical Education Standards

Objectives and Goals

Students will disassemble and assemble a computer using the proper anti-static tools and techniques.
Students will document and communicate in technical terms with their partners.
Students will demonstrate a mastery of computer hardware by successfully completing this project.

Set-up and Teacher notes

SETUP

For this activity to be a success the students should already have completed some sort of introduction to computer components, safety, anti-static tools and techniques.

The instructor should demomstrate at least once in front of the class. If possible using a document camera and a projector to give the students a close view of what the instructor is doing inside the computer.

Ample practice time (2 days) should be given to the students to practice on the "Laptop and Desktop" virtual labs included with this lesson (See Attached). To use the vitual labs you must have access to a web server and to a computer per student. An alternative would be to use the virtual labs as a class with a projector and all students watching and participating.

Allow for 1 full period for the teams to finish, some may finish faster.

INSTRUCTIONS

The day before the instructor will give the students a copy of the rubric and pair them up into teams of 2. As the students watch the instructor, they should score the demonstration according to the rubric for a better understanding of the scoring scheme.

Tell the students that you will be using the same criteria for them and you will be listening for the use of technical terms and the use of anti-static techniques, and teamwork.

Materials

MATERIALS

For this lab you will need to have at least 1 computer per team of the same type. You will need to have enough space to set up the computers and still leave room for the students to work. I recommend you try to get 4 teams (8 students) going at the same time or more.

Each set (2) of students will need a screwdriver, anti-static wrist strap, an anti-static mat, paper, pen or pencil and an envelope to keep screws in. Each group will be given a copy of the rubric (See Attached Documents).

Activities in this Lesson

Computer Assembly - Hooks / Set
On the day of the activity collect all of the rubrics with the team member names and put them on the board so the students know what order they will be working in. Tell the other students they can observe but not participate if they still feel uncomfortable with working with computers.

For each team, one team member will be the note taker responsible for drawing or writing down where the components are installed and what order they came out in. The note taker is also responsible for keeping the envelope with any screws that are removed from the computer. The note taker may coach but must never be in contact with the computer. Only the team member with the anti-static equipment may touch the computer.
- Computer Assembly Rubric [ Download ] Sample Rubric for this Lesson
Call for the teacher - Check Understanding
Once the computer is fully dissassembled, the students must call the instructor over for inspection. Annotate on the team rubric that they took the computer apart. Let them know they can begin to put it back together and as they do they should make note of the time.
Final teacher evaluation - Closure
Once the computer is fully assembled the team must call the instrutctor over again so the instructor can perform a visual inspection and make sure the computer is assembled properly. Annotate the team score on the rubric and annotate the fact that the team finihsed the project.

OPTIONAL

If you have enough time and equipment you can have the students switch roles. The note taker will now be the technician. Another twist would be to have the team work on a different model of computer.