​Computer Basics

Beginning

Session 1 - Introducing Today's Technologies
Computers, Devices, and the Web

OBJECTIVES:
  • ​Differentiate among laptops, tablets, desktops, and servers
  • Describe the purpose and uses of smartphones, digital cameras, portable and digital media players, e-book readers, wearable devices, and game devices
  • Describe the relationship between data and information
  • Briefly explain various input options​
  • Differentiate the web from the Internet, and describe the relationship among the web, webpages, websites, and web servers
  • Explain the purpose of a browser, a search engine, and an online social network
  • Briefly describe digital security risks associated with viruses and other malware, privacy, your health, and the environment
  • Differentiate between an operating system and applications​
  • Differentiate between wired and wireless technologies, and identify reasons individuals and businesses use networks
  • Discuss how society uses technology in education, government, finance, retail, entertainment, health care, science, travel, publishing, and manufacturing
  • Identify technology used by home users, small/home office users, mobile users, power users, and enterprise users

Session 2 - Connecting and Communicating Online
The Internet, Websites, and Media

​​OBJECTIVES:
  • ​Discuss the evolution of the Internet
  • Briefly describe various broadband Internet connections
  • Describe the purpose of an IP address and its relationship to a domain name
  • Describe features of browsers and identify the components of a web address
  • Describe ways to compose effective search text
  • Explain benefits and risks of using online social networks
  • Describe uses of various types of websites
  • Explain how the web uses graphics, animation, audio, video, and virtual reality
  • Explain how email, email lists, Internet messaging, chat rooms, online discussions, VoIP, and FTP work
  • Identify the rules of netiquette

Session 3 - Computers and Mobile Devices
Evaluating Options for Home and Work

​​OBJECTIVES:​​​
  • Describe the characteristics and uses of laptops, tablets, desktops, and all-in-ones
  • Describe the characteristics and types of servers
  • Differentiate among POS terminals, ATMs, and self-service kiosks
  • Describe cloud computing and identify its uses
  • Describe the characteristics and uses of smartphones, digital cameras, portable and digital media players, e-book readers, and wearable devices
  • ​Describe the characteristics of and ways to interact with game devices
  • Identify uses of embedded computers
  • Differentiate a port from a connector, identify various ports and connectors, and differentiate among Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and NFC wireless device connections
  • Identify safeguards against hardware theft and vandalism and hardware failure
  • Discuss ways to prevent health-related injuries and disorders caused from technology use, and describe ways to design a workplace ergonomically

Session 4 - Programs and Apps
Productivity, Graphics, Security, and Other Tools

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​
  • ​Identify the general categories of programs and apps
  • Describe how an operating system interacts with applications and hardware
  • Differentiate among the ways you can acquire programs and apps
  • Identify the key features of productivity applications
  • Identify the key features of graphics and media applications
  • Identify the uses of personal interest applications
  • Identify the purpose of software used in communications
  • Identify the key features of security tools
  • Identify the key features of file, disk, and system management tools

​Intermediate

Session 5 - Digital Security, Ethics, and Privacy
​Threats, Issues, and Defenses

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​
  • ​​​​Define the term, digital security risks, and briefly describe the types of cyber-criminals
  • Describe various types of Internet and network attacks, and explain ways to safeguard against these attacks
  • Discuss techniques to prevent unauthorized computer access and use
  • Explain the ways that software manufacturers protect against software piracy
  • Discuss how encryption, digital signatures, and digital certificates work​
  • Identify safeguards against hardware theft, vandalism, and failure
  • Explain options available for backing up
  • Identify risks and safeguards associated with wireless communications
  • Recognize issues related to information accuracy, intellectual property rights, codes of conduct, and green computing
  • Discuss issues surrounding information privacy

Session 6 - Computing Components
Processors, Memory, the Cloud, and More

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​
  • ​​​​​​Describe the various computer and mobile device cases and the contents they protect
  • Describe multi-core processors, the components of a processor, and the four steps in a machine cycle
  • Identify characteristics of various personal computer processors on the market today, and describe the ways processors are cooled
  • Describe what is meant by the Internet of Things
  • Explain the advantages and services of cloud computing​
  • Define a bit, and describe how a series of bits represents data
  • Explain how program and application instructions transfer in and out of memory
  • Differentiate among the various types of memory
  • Describe the purpose of adapter cards and USB adapters
  • Explain the function of a bus
  • Explain the purpose of a power supply and batteries
  • Describe how to care for computers and mobile devices

Session 7 - Input and Output
Extending Capabilities of Computers and Mobile Devices

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • ​Differentiate among various types of keyboards: standard, compact, on-screen, virtual, ergonomic, gaming, and wireless
  • Describe characteristics of various pointing devices: mouse, touchpad, and trackball
  • Describe various uses of touch screens
  • Describe various types of pen input: stylus, digital pen, and graphics tablet
  • Describe various uses of motion input, voice input, and video input
  • Differentiate among various scanners and reading devices
  • Explain the characteristics of various displays
  • Summarize the various types of printers
  • Identify the purpose and features of speakers, headphones and earbuds, data projectors, interactive whiteboards, and force-feedback game controllers and tactile output
  • Identify various assist technology input and output methods

Session 8 - Digital Storage
Preserving Content Locally and on the Cloud

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • ​Differentiate between storage and memory
  • Describe the characteristics of internal hard disks
  • Describe the benefits of solid-state drives
  • Identify uses of external hard drives and RAID
  • Differentiate among various types of memory cards and USB flash drives
  • Discuss the benefits and uses of cloud storage
  • Describe characteristics of and differentiate among types of optical discs
  • Explain types of enterprise storage
  • Identify uses of magnetic stripe cards, smart cards, RFID tags, and NFC tags

Advanced

Session 9 - Operating Systems
Managing, Coordinating, and Monitoring Resources

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • Explain the purpose of an operating system
  • Describe the start-up process and shutdown options on computers and mobile devices
  • Explain how an operating system provides a user interface, manages programs, manages memory, and coordinates tasks
  • Describe how an operating system enables users to configure devices, establish an Internet connection, and monitor performance
  • Identify file management and other tools included with an operating system, along with ways to update operating system software
  • Explain how an operating system enables users to control a network or administer security
  • Summarize the features of several desktop operating systems
  • Briefly describe various server operating systems
  • Summarize the features and uses of several mobile operating systems

Session 10 - Communicating Digital Content
​Wired and Wireless Networks and Devices

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • ​Discuss the purpose of the components required for successful communications and identify various sending and receiving devices
  • Differentiate among LANs, MANs, WANs, and PANs
  • Differentiate between client/server and peer-to-peer networks
  • Explain the purpose of communications software
  • Describe the various network communications standards and protocols
  • Describe various types of communications lines
  • Describe commonly used communications devices
  • Discuss different ways to set up and configure a home network
  • Differentiate among physical transmission media
  • Differentiate among wireless transmission media

Session 11 - Building Solutions
Database, System, and Application Development Tools

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • ​Differentiate among a character, field, record, and data file and describe validation techniques
  • Differentiate between file processing systems and the database approach
  • Describe uses of web databases, types of databases, and Big Data
  • Discuss functions common to most database management systems: data dictionary, file retrieval and maintenance, data security, and backup and recovery​
  • Define system development, list the system development phases, and identify the guidelines for system development
  • Discuss the importance of project management, feasibility assessment, documentation, and data and information gathering techniques
  • Discuss the purpose of and tasks conducted in each system development phase
  • Differentiate between low-level languages and procedural languages
  • Identify the benefits of object-oriented programming languages and application development tools
  • Describe various ways to develop webpages and web applications

Session 12 - Working in the Enterprise
​Systems, Certifications, and Careers

​​​OBJECTIVES:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
  • ​Identify the qualities of valuable information
  • Describe various information systems used in an enterprise
  • Identify the components of and steps in information literacy
  • Describe career opportunities available in various segments of the computer industry
  • Identify job titles and responsibilities for various technology jobs
  • ​Identify mobile app development strategies
  • Identify ways to prepare for certification
  • Describe the general areas of IT certification
  • Identify ways to begin a job search
  • Explain how to create a professional online presence