BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ITN 107 - PC Hardware and Troubleshooting

 

INSTRUCTOR'S NAME: Jim Richerson

OFFICE/HOURS: T-204

PHONE:  540-453-2328

CLASS MEETING: BRCC Distance Learning

e-mail: richersonj@brcc.edu

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION: Includes specially designed instruction to give students a basic knowledge of hardware and software configurations. It includes the installation of various peripheral devices as well as basic system hardware components. Maps to A+ Hardware Certification. Lecture 3 hours per week. Total 3 hours per week.

This course meets entirely online. Course content, assessments, policies, expectations, and other materials will be available in the Learning Management System, Canvas the first day of class. Students will be required to take one proctored assessment and that will be the Final Exam and it will be taken on campus or there will be other options. If you need any help contact me and we can have a Zoom meeting too.

Click this link for instructions on how to download and use Zoom.

For more information on BRCC Distance Learning

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES: On-line assignments, text material and computer simulation work together will help the student understand the procedures of configuring and troubleshooting computer equipment and peripherals. All activities use personal computer systems using Microsoft operating systems. The class covers much of the objectives of the A+ hardware certification exam. As the student progresses through the material they will understand the modular nature of the personal computer system and the various technology changes in the hardware over time. Consequently, if the student is a person who enjoys working puzzles and solving problems, they will enjoy what this course has to offer. Upon completion of ITN 107, the student should have an understanding of these topics :

A. Hardware

B. Understanding Motherboards.

C. RAM

D. BIOS and UEFI

E. Understanding and Installing Hard Drives.

F. Interfaces

G. Displays

G. Supporting Networks

I. TCP/IP

J. WIFI Networking

K. Mobile Devices

L. Laptops

M. Troubleshooting System Problems

N. Troubleshooting Display

O. Troubleshooting Networks

P. Preparing for Certification

 

 

 

III. REQUIRED TEXT MATERIAL: CompTIA A+ 220-1101 and 220-1102 Exam Cram, David L. Prowse,  Pearson Education, 2022, ISBN-13: 9780137637546

 

 

IV. EVALUATION POLICES AND REQUIREMENTS:

This Hybrid Based course will require you to set the necessary time aside each week in order to complete the course within the semester time period.  You must exercise personal discipline in ensuring that progress is made each week and do not hesitate to request help from the instructor or your other classmates.  You should begin each section with reading the Chapter material that is in Canvas under Modules for each section link, then the associated lectures in Canvas, followed by the associated Lab Experiment which are done in person and Lab Report submission, and finally taking the associated Quiz.  Each Quiz consists of questions/problems regarding the Chapter material. There will be three tests during the semester over quizzes and the material covered in each section that are outlined in the topical outline section of the syllabus. There is no late policy to the weekly assignments but all material needs to be completed before you take the Final Exam. The comprehensive final exam is taken on campus or make arrangements with the instructor. There is no required submission date of any work but you will need to complete the material in a timely manner to keep a good pace on completing the class material before the Final Exam. No coursework will be accepted after you take the Final Exam.

For the lab portion of the class the student will be required to keep track of what transpires during each of the lab procedures or projects throughout the semester. The results of each lab or project will be documented. Each lab or project write-up will be worth 50 points. These write-ups need to be kept current! These write-ups can be collected at any time during the semester to be analyzed but they will not be graded as a whole until the end of the semester. The student will be graded on six areas for the lab portion of there grade; attendance, participation, view of write-up, number of write-ups, content of write-ups and use of a format for write-ups. There will also be a final project of researching a new technology in the networking field and to write a one page report outlining it in their own words. This project will be worth 100 points and be part of the overall lab grade.  

Grading Policy

Student performance in the course will be measured by written and electronic performance testing. Each topic has an associated quiz and lab report.  You should read the textbook, study the web lesson supplement, perform the lab experiment, submit the lab report, and then take the quiz.  There is three Tests and Final Exam.  Please note that the final exam is worth 25% of your grade since it is the primary indicator of knowledge.

Note-When we can you are more than welcome to come to campus to get help.  Please email me for an appointment if you require extra help during the semester.  My bottom line is that I want you to understand the material presented.  This course is the basic foundation for all other computer courses.

The final course numerical grade will be based upon the following percentages:

Type of Evaluation

% of Total Grade

Quizzes and Homework --------- 10%

Laboratory ---------------------- 30%

Three one-hour tests ------------ 30%

Final Exam ---------------------- 25%

Student Effort -------------------- 5%

Letter grades are derived from the numerical grades as follows:

90 - 100% = A

80 - 89% = B

70 - 79% = C

60 - 69% = D

0 - 59% = F

 

The portion of the grade due to "student effort" will be based on the instructor's evaluation of the student's desire to learn the subject and the effort given during the semester. It is based on such characteristics as:

1. Motivation 2. Attention in class

3. Attitude towards course 4. Promptness

5. Cooperation 6. Effort to learn

V. HONOR POLICY: The functioning of an academic community depends on the integrity of all of its members. Blue Ridge Community College values truthfulness, respect for the property of others, and honesty in academic work." BRCC Honor Code

As members of this community, you are responsible for understanding and adhering to the Honor Code.  Violations include (but are not limited to) cheating on tests and quizzes, unauthorized collaboration on assignments, and plagiarism.  Your instructor is the ultimate source of policy on individual assignments; please consult him or her if you have any questions or concerns about what is permitted. 

VI.  DISABILITY SERVICES:  If you have a disability for which you wish to be considered for an accommodation, please make an appointment with the Office of Disability Services located in the Houff Student Center. 

The purpose of providing accommodations is to ensure that students with disabilities are granted the opportunity to access programs and services offered by the college.   Requested accommodations are considered on a case by case basis by the Coordinator of Disability Services, who works with faculty to ensure both access and academic standards are maintained.  Students requesting services must meet with the Disability Services Coordinator and provide sufficient documentation of the disability prior to receiving accommodations.  Accommodations are not retroactive and do not result in modification of the essential academic elements of the course.

VII. TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE:    

Week	Activity	Lab
8-26	Mobile Devices I - (Chapter 1&2) Quiz 1 (Canvas)
9-2	Mobile Devices II - (Chapter 3&4) Quiz 2 (Canvas)	Lab1: Laptop Disassembly
9-9	Networking Part 1 (Chapter 5-8) Quiz 3 (Canvas)	Lab 2: Setup Network
9-16	Networking Part II (Chapter 9-12) Quiz 4 (Canvas)	Lab 3: Wireless Network
9-23	Test #1 Quizzes 1-4 (Canvas)
9-30	Computer Hardware I (Chapter 13&14) Quiz 5 (Canvas)	Lab 4:  Desktop Disassembly
10-7	Computer Hardware II (Chapter 15&16) Quiz 6 (Canvas )	Lab 5: Research: Choosing Peripherals
10-14	Computer Hardware III (Chapter 17&18) Quiz 7 (Canvas )	Lab 6: Printers
10-21	Printers (Chapter 19&20) Quiz 8 (Canvas)	Lab 7: Virtual System
10-28	Test #2 Quizzes 5-8 (Canvas)
11-4	Cloud and Virtualization (Chapter 21&22) Quiz 9 (Canvas)	Lab 8: Troubleshooting
11-11	Troubleshooting Part I (Chapter 23&24) Quiz 10 (Canvas)	Lab 9: Research: Choosing Parts for PC
11-18	Troubleshooting Part II (Chapter 25&26) Quiz 11 (Canvas)	Final Troubleshooting
11-25	Troubleshooting Part III (Chapter 27-29) Quiz 12 (Canvas)
12-2	Test #3 Quizzes 9-12 (Canvas)	All Material Due
12-9	Final Exam

   

VIII.  IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER: BRCC Academic Calendar

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