Term 3: IT Fundamentals: Week 1

I'm very excited for our second course of IT Fundamentals.  We had a lot of fun in this class during Term 1, and I've been excited for another class of it ever since!  Once we come back from break, we will spend some time discussing classroom procedures and expectations, and getting to know each other.  We will then start discussing the introduction to computer science and ethics.  Students will be researching information and putting it together in the form of a report to formalize our findings.  By the end of the week, we should have a good idea of what our class will be about, and what computer science is.  I'm looking forward to a great term and learning a lot about computer science!

Troubleshooting

Students have finished up with their network plans.  The plans included a list of materials with specs and pricing that the class put together collaboratively with google sheets.  The plan also had a diagram of their idea, and a floor plan of the plan for a 3 story business to fit their network into.  Finally, students submitted written documentation explaining their network plan.  The next topic we are learning is troubleshooting techniques.  We are using our resources to create a nonlinear PowerPoint that would take users through problems with their computer that they could use to solve their technical issues that may come up.  This project takes a lot of planning, and time, and students really need to pay attention to detail to make sure they cover all of the troubleshooting issues that we outlined in class.

Week 5: Operating systems continued

Students are continuing to get experience using Linux with the Raspbian Operating System.  We are working with the terminal and using command line commands for a variety of administrative tasks with the operating system.  Once students demonstrate the command line skills to me, we will move on and do our operating systems assessment.  Students will write a full review that fully compares 2 operating systems of their choice.  They have had the most experience in this class with Windows 10 and Raspbian Linux, but they are free to use others (Android, iOS, PiTop OS, etc.).  Mid-term grades get posted this week, so if any students are missing work, they should be taking advantage of time before or after school to get caught up.  Just as in the work-place if you don't get everything done, sometimes you need to put in the extra hours!

Week 4: Operating Systems (Linux)

Students have finished up demonstrating skills of using Windows 10 operating system.  We have talked about pros and cons of proprietary software as well.  We finished up class last week by putting together small Raspberry Pi computers that we will be using to practice installing and experimenting with the Linux operating system.  We will learn about open source software, the history of Linux, and will be evaluating several builds on our machines.

Hardware and emerging technologies

IT Fundamentals students have been busy learning the components of computers, and even the basics  of binary code.  Students converted a variety of things using binary and finished up by creating binary dice that go from 1 to 6.  We then used our 3D printer to print them out and send home!  Students are now creating presentations for 3 computer builds.  One build is for the CEO of an IT company, the other is for a student who is going to college.  Students will be to be able to decide what features and components they should use for each build.  Once we finish up learning about hardware, we will be ready to start learning about Operating Systems.  It's been a lot of fun with these students and I can't wait to see where our learning takes us next!

Week 2: Hardware and components

This week we will be learning about the history of computers, and will do some activities with binary code, then will get into computer hardware and components.  When we are finished with this unit, students should have a good idea of what computers are made of, how they are put together, and how to decide what components would be best for computer builds for a variety of types of clients.  We will also look at troubleshooting.

IT Fundamentals (week 1)

Welcome to IT Fundamentals!  This is the first time we have offered this class in the history of NPHS and I'm really excited for the opportunity to teach it!  I'm also excited to see the large number of students that have enrolled in the course, and this is a great introductory course that can lead to an exciting career pathway in information technology.  We will spend some time this first week getting to know eachother, then will start learning about the history of computers and evolution of technology.  This will include learning important vocabulary and functions of computer components which will help us when we start learning about how modern personal computers work.  I'm really excited for this and can't wait to see everyone soon!