Course Title: Assemble, set up and test personal computers

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2010

Course Code: ISYS5668C

Course Title: Assemble, set up and test personal computers

School: 130T Vocational Engineering

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5227 - Diploma of Computer Systems Engineering

Course Contact: George Listopad

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99254441

Course Contact Email: george.listopad@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

George Listopad
PHONE: 99254441 FAX: (03) 99254377
Email: george.listopad@rmit.edu.au

Kenneth Falzon
PHONE: 99254716 FAX: (03) 99254377
Email: kenneth.falzon@rmit.edu.au

Ted Bown
PHONE: 99254694 FAX: (03) 99254377
Email: ted.bown@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Co-requisites: ISYS5678C, OHTH5464C, OHTH5468C

Course Description

This unit covers assembly, setting up and testing personal computers as directed in computer service manuals. It encompasses safe working practices, checking computer components, assembling components to form a basic personal computer, installing and testing basic operating system, drivers and application software, following written and oral instruction and applying customer relations procedures.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

UEENEED002B Assemble, set up and test personal computers

Element:

1. Assemble personal computer
2. Install operating system and application software.
3. Test computer operation.
4. Complete work and report.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 OHS procedures for a given work area are identified, obtained and understood through established routines and procedures.
1.2 Established OHS risk control measures and procedures in relation to computer and keyboard use are followed.
1.3 Advice is sought from the work supervisor to ensure the work is co-ordinated effectively with others.
1.4 Computer, components, operating system and application software are obtained in accordance with established routines and checked as meeting
requirements.
1.5 Computer components are assembled and connected in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
1.6 Routine quality checks are carried out in accordance with work instructions.
1.7 Procedures are followed for referring non-routine events to immediate supervisor for directions.
2.1 Established OHS risk control measures and procedures for carrying out the work are followed.
2.2 Computer is started up and on-screen instructions for the installation of the operating system to default configuration are followed, including drivers.
2.3 Application software is installed to default configuration following on-screen installation instruction.
2.4 Computer shutdown procedures are followed and computer switched off.
2.5 Routine quality checks are carried out in accordance with work instructions.
2.6 Procedures for referring non-routine events to immediate supervisor for directions are followed
3.1 Established OHS risk control measures and procedures for carrying out the work are followed.
3.2 Computer is switched on and start-up procedures followed and checked.
3.3 Operating system and application programs are checked to be opening and operating correctly.
3.4 Faults are identified as being the result of faulty hardware or software.
3.5 The need to test or measure live is determined in strict accordance with OHS requirements and when necessary conducted within established safety
procedures.
3.6 Faults are rectified in accordance with computer hardware, operating system and application instructions.
3.7 Procedures for referring non-routine events to immediate supervisor for directions are followed.
3.8 Computer shutdown procedures are followed and computer switched off.
3.9 Work is carried out efficiently without waste of materials or damage to apparatus, circuits, the surrounding environment or services and using sustainable energy principles.
4.1 OHS risk control work completion measures and procedures are followed.
4.2 Work area is cleaned and made safe in accordance with established procedures.
4.3 Work supervisor is notified of the completion of the work in accordance with established procedures.


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

In this unit you will learn about the hardware and software used in personal computers. You will learn about the individual hardware components of a computer and how to put them together to build a working machine. You will learn how to install and configure the operating system. You will also learn to troubleshoot hardware and software problems if they occur.

Classroom tutorial activities:
Lectures: to introduce the important concepts.
• Attending lectures will make it much easier for you to understand the central concepts of the course
• You will feel more comfortable and you will learn more if you read the relevant material before you attend the lectures

Tutorials: to enable you to ask questions and to clarify unresolved issues
• Review the material and prepare your questions before you come to class
• There will be an overview of course content with a focus on the material students find difficult
• If something is unclear or if you find yourself falling behind please ask for help immediately
• You may be given worksheets to complete during the tutorial

Practical exercises: to give you the hands on experience of implementing and troubleshooting networks
• In general there will be one practical exercise per week
• You will perform the exercise and write it up in a lab journal
• The lab journal will be a bound exercise book
o Loose leaf binders will not be accepted
• The write up will be a record of your actions as they are performed and your corresponding observations
• The write up must be performed in the lab as you perform the practical exercise, not at a later date
o Write ups not in the lab journal will not be marked
o Write ups which are not done concurrently with the performance of the practical exercise will not be marked
• In general the detail of the write up must be sufficient for you to be able to comfortably perform the practical exercise a year or more later directly from the lab journal
• Any difficult or tricky points should be especially noted in the lab journal for future reference
• Responses to worksheets for practical exercises must be written up in the lab journal
• The neatness, completeness and the presentation of the lab journal must be of a quality such that you would be prepared to show it to a future employer as an example of your work

Work simulated activities: you will computer related tasks and scenarios to complete as you would be expected to do in industry.

Test and exams:
There will be weekly tests to assist your progress in the course
• You will be required to read and study at least one chapter of the course content per week
The will be an on-line final exam at the end of semester covering all
topics

Occupational Health and Safety:
Conduct in lecture theatres, classrooms and laboratories will be of a
standard required by OH&S legislation as applied to industry.
• You must behave in such a way as not to place the health and safety of yourself or anyone else at risk
• Covered shoes must be worn in all labs
o Thongs and sandals must not be worn in any lab

Preparation for the Work place:
All skills and knowledge in this course are oriented towards current
industry practices and technologies. An essential industry
expectation is that you are responsible for your behaviour and
actions. When you are in employment you will be expected to attend
work on time on a regular basis, perform you work on time to an
accepted standard and be responsible for what you do. Industry will
expect you to comprehend and follow both verbal and written
instructions. All industry expectations will applied to you in this
course. You will be expected to:
• Observe all Occupational Health and Safety requirements
o You must behave in such a way as not to place the health and safety of yourself or anyone else at risk
• Prepare for classes
• Attend all classes regularly and on time
• Use your class time in a productive and responsible way
• Finish your work on time to an accepted standard
• Pay attention to, comprehend and follow both verbal and written instructions.
o It is your personal responsibility to be aware of course requirements and timelines
o Please ask if something is not clear

The Preparation for the Workplace component will be an essential part of the assessment for this course. It will be included in the assessment of the practical and work simulated activities.

Activities Outside of Class:
It is expected that students allocate at least 60% of course hours for reading, independent study, project research, design, implementation, testing and problem solving activities.


Teaching Schedule

This competency will be delivered in a wholistic maner together with comptencies UEENEED043B Install and Configure a computer Operating system (ISYS5678C), UEENEEE001B Apply OH&S Practices inthe Workplace (OHTH5464C) and UEENEEE032B Document Occupational Hazards and Risks in the Workplace (OHTH5468C).

Week 1 Introduction to course:
• Course guide
• Assessment
• Overview of course Content
• Resources
• OH&S issues
Lecture/tutorial:
• Lab procedures, tools and safety
Laboratory:
• Exercise 1 – Lab safety and electrostatic discharge

Week 2 Lecture/tutorial:
• PC components, OH&S - Hazards associated with job type
Laboratory:
• Exercise 2 - Physical inspection of PC and identification of components
Assignment

Week 3 Lecture/tutorial:
• How PC components interoperate, OH&S - Safety risk control
Laboratory:
• PC disassembly and reassembly

Week 4 Lecture/tutorial:
• Preventative maintenance and troubleshooting, The OH&S documentation process
• Operating systems fundamentals
Laboratory:
• Fault finding

Week 5 Lecture/tutorial:
• Printers and scanners, OH&S - Electrical hazards 
Laboratory:
• Lab exam 1 Lab exam 1

Week 6 Lecture/tutorial:
• Networking fundamentals, OH&S - Radiation hazards 
Laboratory:
• Boot process and BIOS configuration
• Installation of operating system

Week 7 Lecture/tutorial:
• Network security, OH&S - Toxic substances
Laboratory:
• Installation of dual boot system, configuration and management

Week 8 Lecture/tutorial:
• Communications skills, OH&S - Airborne particles 
• Advanced personal computers
Laboratory:
• Peer to peer networking
• Security

Week 9 Lecture/tutorial:
• Advanced operating systems, OH&S - Explosive hazards  
• Command line interface
Laboratory:
• Command line interface

Week 10 Lecture/tutorial:
• Advanced operating system
• Recovery console, Industrial worksite hazards
Laboratory:
• Recovery console 

Week 11 Lecture/tutorial:
• Advanced laptops and portable devices, OH&S - Tools and equipment  
Laboratory:
• Unattended installation
• Configuring a UPS 

Week 12 Lecture/tutorial:
• Advanced networks, OH&S - Rotating machinary hazards 
Laboratory:
• Peer to peer networking and troubleshooting


Week 13 Lecture/tutorial:
• Advanced security, OH&S - Electrical storage devices; capaciitors and inductors
Laboratory:
• PC security

Week 14 Lecture/tutorial:
• Disk and resource management, Correct use of electrical measuring devices
Laboratory:
• Disk resource management

Week 15 Lecture/tutorial:
• Revision,  

Laboratory:
• Catch up and revision

Week 16 Lecture/tutorial:
• Revision
Laboratory:
• Lab exam 2
Lab journal submission

17 Final exam
Final exam


Week 18 Assessment feedback, catch-up and finalisation for exams, laboratory work, and project


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

On line content:
http://cisco.netacad.net
IT Essentials I version 4.0


References

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Companion Guide, 3rd ed
David Anfinson & Kenneth Quamme
Cisco Press

A+ Certification Concepts & Practice
Brooks
Prentice Hall

A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC
Andrews
Thompson Course technology


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Practical test
Project
Written Examination


Assessment Tasks

Assessment task 1: 15%
Project/presentation covering topics of current PC technology
• A written submission of approx 1500 words
• A presentation to the class of about 15 min duration
• You will work in pairs

Assessment task 2: 15%
Laboratory exam covering lab exercises and topics from weeks 1 - 4
• Computer hardware disassembly, reassembly and troubleshooting

Assessment task 3 : 25%
Laboratory exam covering lab exercises and topics from weeks 6 - 14

Assessment task 4 : 10%
On line individual chapter exams covering weeks 1 - 14

Assessment task 5 : 25%
On line exam for all topics covering weeks 1 - 14

Assessment task 6 : 10%
Lab exercises and lab journal for all topics covering weeks 1 - 14


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview