CIS Assignments

Building a Custom Computer System

You work in a computer store building computers. Customers ask you to recommend the components of their new computers that you will then build. Please recommend computers for two of the following four customers using this format:

Type of Component Brand & Model Place of purchase Price

Example:

DVD Player Sony x16 / x40 Future Shop $116

This DVD player was chosen because of Sony’s record of reliability. It is a fast drive and the price is within budget. PC Magazine states that “the Sony DVD player is the best buy” in their July issue.

Build Easy PC is a very good resource to help you choose components and guides you on how to build a computer.

These sites are good places to find prices on components:

NCIX - Atic - Tiger Direct - New Egg - Future Shop - or use any other site as long as you site your source with a link

Choose 2 of the following system types and make sure your entire system falls within the budget

1. Home user:

Budget: $500

“I use my computer mainly for the Internet, e-mail, and word processing. I would like to be able to edit and print photos with my new digital camera. My children like to play games but I’m not worried if they cannot play the newest games.”

2. Entertainment Center:

Budget: $800

“My computer is my entertainment center. I do not have a TV or a stereo. I want to be able to play music and DVD movies on my computer with full surround sound. I also want to burn CDS of music to play on my car stereo.”

3. Multi-Media Developer:

Budget: $1200

“I develop multi-media applications for a living including: CD-ROMs, Web Cites, Brochures, Videos, Music, and Posters. I need to run Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Premier, and PageMaker, as well as Macromedia’s web development package. Often I need to run several applications at the same time. I must scan client’s photos and print high quality samples for them. I will also have to burn copies of CD-ROMs, DVDs, and files for the print house.”

4. Gamer:

Budget: Unlimited

“I want the ultimate gaming machine. Money is no object since I made a fortune buying and selling dot com stock before the bottom dropped out of the market. I want to be able to play the latest games from flight simulations to first person shooters. I also enjoy playing older arcade games. I want great sound and I want joysticks for the different types of games I play. I have a different computer for office tasks so this machine will be strictly for fun.”

Each Computer Should Include At Least the Following Items:

• • Motherboard

  • CPU

  • RAM

  • Hard Drive

  • Optical Drives

  • Case / Power Supply

  • Video Card

  • Sound Card / Onboard Sound

  • Network Card / Onboard Network

  • Monitor

  • Speakers

  • Keyboard

  • Mouse

  • Operating System

Mark Sheet

Computer Assembly Workshops

We will be working in teams of 3.

The hardware tech will be doing the actual physical dismantling of the system.

The procedural manager will be following the instructions and making sure each step is completed.

The secretary will be recording the steps and taking notes of any relevant information.

Each group member should have a turn at each role so you will need to rotate positions throughout the lab time.

You are required to do a complete disassembly and re-assembly of a desktop computer system.

We will be working in 5 stations with 5 teams building at a time. You will be required to complete the Computer Assembly Guide and document all of your steps in the process.

Those teams not building will be updating their sites with their advanced predictions on the steps they will take once they begin their assignment.

Include the following information on your site:

• step by step instructions for how to disassemble the computer system

• precautions to take during the workshop

• solutions to troubleshoot potential problems. i.e. what would you do if it doesn't turn on?

• guide on how to put the system back together safely, in sequence

Make sure you properly identify the names of all components.

Wireless Networking Unit

• Please familiarize yourself with the terminology used by reviewing this tutorial before we begin.

• Use this Network Overview Power Point as a reference source when completing this assignment.

Create a sub-page to your homework section entitled Wireless Networking

** Similar to before, if you choose to do all the work on one partners page -

please provide a functioning link from your section to theirs. **

Learning the tools used to represent a network

As a group you must complete the activities on the attached sheet.

Answer the following questions on your site. Be prepared to have your answers ready to be viewed by the class on Friday morning - March 11.

Tools used to represent a network - worksheet

E-Waste Unit

This lesson focuses on the contemporary issue of electronic waste.

You will be examining the increasing volume of e-waste in consumer

societies and the extensive exportation of obsolete electronic equipment

to developing countries. You will consider the socioeconomic forces and

consumer behaviors contributing to this phenomenon. The goal will be for

you to gain a broader perspective on the social, health and environmental

impact of e-waste on different communities around the globe.

View the page and video on Ghana: Digital Dumping Ground

Working in pairs or small groups

• What kind of electronic devices do you own?

- make a picture collage of everyone's electronic devices

• What electronic devices do you find essential in your life?

• How long do you usually keep electronic devices?

• How do people dispose of obsolete electronic devices?

• What happens to the discarded electronic devices?

• What are some government policies regarding disposal of

electronic devices?

• • Please create a sub-page to your homework section called "E-Waste" and write these discussion questions in there. All members of your group can collaborate on one page but you all must link to the same page from your homework sections.

Individually take a few minutes and fill in the 4 sections of this Google Form

Describe the gadgets you would like to be a part of your life.

Use sites like:

• Best Buy

• Future Shop

• NCIX

For ideas on what you would like to someday own.

What gadgets have you owned that you would now consider obsolete?

Research where you can find appropriate disposal options for these items, specifically here in Coquitlam. Make a list of appropriate facilities including location and contact information.

Useful Links:

• Coquitlam Zero Waste Initiative

• Encorp Pacific

Assignment #1 - Create your first web page

1. Using Google Sites, create a basic website about yourself. You may include video clips, songs, pictures, or any other forms of media that you feel best represent who you are.

Your website should include the following:

- Your name and the period that you are in

- A brief write-up about yourself (your name, where you are from, your interests, favourite things, favourite subjects, etc) - * Do not feel the need to post anything personal, these sites will be public *

- A Homework section where you will be posting links to your completed assignments.

** Also add two other pages in your sidebar.

• Cisco Academy 11 or 12 (depending on your grade)

• Computer History Assignment

You should use at least 2 columns in your page.

In 1 column you are to make a list of links to other students pages in your class. You will need to spell their name correctly, have the list in alphabetical order, and have the links all working properly. You can find the Class List here, feel free to copy and paste the names into your column. At the end of class, you will need find the students websites from their profiles in the members list and add links to their names.

Google Sites is an easy website to use. There are tutorials and help available within the site.

** Once you have a URL for your site, please update your Google Account under the "my account" section at the top right and add your URL to your profile so when somebody clicks on your Member Name, they will see the link for your site. *** ALSO - Please include your Twitter name in your profile ex. @BillyBob

Example Website: http://sites.google.com/site/aboutmeJosh

Problems logging into Google sites? Try logging out of Google groups then typing http://sites.google.com into your web browser and logging in again.

** Assignment 1 - Addition **

Post in the homework section of your site:

1. A new thing you have learned about making websites.

2. Something you have not learnt yet but would like to learn.

3. Who has made the best site in your opinion.

4. 2 things you could do to improve your site.

5 points.

Assignment #2 - Back to the Future

Assignment #3 - I nformation Technology Team Research Project

In order to familiarize ourselves with the many aspects of computer hardware we will be completing our first team project during the next week.

Starting on ________ you will be working with a partner to complete a 7-10 minute Power Point presentation on one aspect of computer technology.

You will have the full 5 days (Mon-Friday) to research and complete your work.

Presentations will begin on __________ and the order will be drawn randomly so all team's need to be prepared to present on Monday.

You should be familiar with Microsoft Power Point from previous computer classes but if you are not, here is a tutorial outlining the basic features of the program.

* For more advance users here is a very in-depth tutorial

Your team will be creating a 7-10 minute (yes, you will be timed) slide show that should feature interesting graphics taken from the internet, impressive layouts, clean design, attractive fonts, and organized presentation.

Very Important! Don't forget to save your finished work in the Teacher Hand In Folder.

To find this, click on My Computer \ Teacher Hand-In Hand Out Folders \ Hamlin \ Hand In \ Your Class

Team 3 - Jiho & Yubin

Team 4 - Heesang & Adrian

• what is a network?

• different between internet, intranet

• what is its purpose?

• how does it work?

• what is an ip address?

• what is a LAN? Ethernet? Server? Router? Modem?

• how do fibre optics work?

• how does the internet get to your home / school / work?

• differences between wireless and wired networks?

• how can network speeds be reduced?

• how can you speed up a network?

• discuss the first types of computer networks and their uses

Team 5 - Motherboards and CPU's

Team Members: Jet & Alex

• what are they and what do they do?

• what different types are there?

• who make better chips, AMD or Intel?

• what were CPU's like 10 years ago?

• explain what a 'core' is and what it does. why are more better?

Team 6 - Storage Devices

Team Members: Rachel & Dennis

• Describe the following devices and how they work.

1. DVD's / CD's / Blu Ray

2. Hard Drives / Mechanical Drives vs. Solid State (SSD)

3. Flash Memory (memory cards, sticks, chips)

Team 7 - Memory (ram) / Video Cards / Audio Cards

Team Members: Michael & Simon

• what are they and what do they do?

• what different types are there?

• describe different types of ram?

• why do some people need to upgrade these things?

Team 8 - Power Supplies / Cases / Cooling

Team Members: nobody

• what are they and what do they do?

• what different types are there?

• describe why cooling is important and various types of cooling options available?

• why would you need to upgrade these things?

• show pictures of different examples

Team 9 - Input Devices

Team Members: Albert & Trevor

• describe and define the following: mice, keyboards, game controllers, tablets, midi keyboards and more.

• show a pictures of different types of each, describe features and benefits.

• discuss special input devices for people with physical challenges and disabilities.

• describe multi-touch input and the new motion controllers being developed by Sony and Microsoft (project natale)

Team 10 - Piracy / Copyright / Legal Issues

Team Members: Osman & Henry

- describe the following terms and provide examples

• warez / torrents / the pirate bay (describe the legal battle that is occurring with this site, why can't they be shut down?)

• music downloads

• creative commons licensing

• Peer 2 Peer

• Usenet

• impacts of downloading on the music / movie / newspaper industry.

Team 11 - Internet Security

Team Members: Nelson & Bailey

• discuss and describe: data encryption, SSL, ICP, secure servers, e-commerce, and more.

• show appropriate pictures.

• define: worms, trojans, virus, and other types of computer attacks. Describe 2 recent hacker exploits that have made the news (think of social networking hacks like Facebook and Twitter)

Team 12 - Internet

Team Members:

• discuss its origins, history and development.

• show a appropriate pictures and mention key people that were involved.

• which countries are the most connected? which are the least?

• what kind of projections are there about the Internets use in the years to come?

Team 13 - BIOS & PCI Buses

Team Members: Chayapol & Maryam

• what are they and what does they do?

• how do you access a BIOS?

• why is it important?

• define: AGP, ISA, EISA, FireWire, USB, PCI, Hyper Transport, VLB

Team 14 - Mobile Computing

Team Members: Kevin H & Parham

• describe the shift towards mobile computing in recent years

• how are computer users moving away from the traditional desk work environment

• describe 3 mobile devices that have been at the forefront of this movement

• find stats and figures to show how many people are accessing the internet on the go from mobile devices

• implications for the future? What will become of the desktop computer?

Team 15 - Computer History

Team Members: nobody

• create a visual timeline with descriptions of the 25 most important events in ComputerHistory. Provide images and brief descriptions of each event.