Pg 25Objectives 1-1.2.1, 1-1.2.2, 1-1.2.3Go through the different ways one can take care of their computer, especially if it’s a portable device. You may want to also include how having a UPS at home may not totally save your computer in an area that is prone to electrical storms or surges in power for whatever reason. An inexpensive UPS also may not have a smooth transition between the outlet and primary power, and could result in modest surges or drop-offs.Some of these points may not have been considered by people such as needing a converter when travelling outside of their own country.
Pg 25Objectives 1-1.2.1, 1-1.2.2, 1-1.2.3Go through the different ways one can take care of their computer, especially if it’s a portable device.The point about having liquids or foods around a computer are pretty logical and common sense but many people still do it. Caution students that they need to take care when eating around a computer, especially a notebook or keyboard. Be prepared to provide examples of why this can be a factor, especially in a classroom environment, e.g., sticky keys, having to replace a keyboard due to spilled liquid, etc.The last point cannot be emphasized enough, especially with people who use their iPhone or Blackberry as the main source of contact for sharing information. People often forget when they take their phone with them everywhere and then inadvertently leave it on a table.
Pg 25-26Objectives 1-1.2.1, 1-1.2.2, 1-1.2.3Go though these basic maintenance issues, especially those one can do on their own and those that may require a specialist to assist.To lighten the topic, you may want to discuss how the home vacuum should never be used to clean any electrical equipment. There are special items you can purchase to clean the keyboard (e.g., canned/compressed air) or the printer.Emphasize how they should always look to a specialist if there is any doubt about making any changes to a computer. This may be less expensive in the long run.
Pg 27Objectives 1-1.2.4, 1-1.2.5, 1-1.2.6, 1-1.2.7, 1-1.2.8Go through each of these points with the class, discussing different reasons as to why you might want to do something even though it may not be a serious error. For example, if the mouse seems to be moving a bit slower or not as smooth on the desk when you move it, the bottom of the mouse may need to be cleaned of any dust or dirt it has picked up during use.At this point you should introduce what file management is and how much importance it should play in storing files on the computer. For instance, someone may install programs on the computer whenever they get one without giving any consideration to the amount of space it may be taking up on the system. This is when they should consider uninstalling any programs, or deleting any data files, that are no longer needed. While this doesn’t necessarily free up RAM, it does free up space on the hard drive and may result in faster retrieval of data after a defrag is done. Be careful about discussing the option of reconfiguring unused programs to start up when you power up or log in; this does free up RAM for use but can lead to an area you don’t want students to be using until they are much more knowledgeable about an operating system. This should be done only by a technical specialist or someone who is experienced with this option.
Pg 27-28Objectives 1-1.2.4, 1-1.2.5, 1-1.2.6, 1-1.2.7, 1-1.2.8Discuss these simple options for managing files. If possible, show students an example of how temporary files are created and then stored, e.g., Windows\\Temp.This courseware does not go into any disk maintenance tools so you may want to have some screens available that show what this feature can do. Be sure to mention that defragmenting a flash drive or a hard drive too often can lead to reducing the life of that drive, and in the case of a flash drive, usually does not improve the performance.Remind students how they should always look to working with a technical specialist at any time they are uncomfortable with making any changes to the computer. They can learn simple tasks by working with the specialist and also build their confidence.
Pg 28Objectives 1-1.2.4, 1-1.2.5, 1-1.2.6, 1-1.2.7, 1-1.2.8Go through these steps when trying to troubleshoot simple problems, as well as what to do or try first before automatically calling for help.
Pg 29Objectives 1-1.2.4, 1-1.2.5, 1-1.2.6, 1-1.2.7, 1-1.2.8Continue with the rest of the list. Provide examples at each step to show how their participation can make the resolution much faster as well as a learning opportunity to prevent these types of issues in future.
