Checklist for completing “What’s Inside the Box?” presentations

To check to see if you’ve done a creditable job on your PowerPoint presetation, ask yourselves these questions: 

1. Have we prepared a slide or two about every component we discovered while taking the computer cases apart?
2. Did we remember to include the case as a part?
3. Did we explain all the smaller parts we discovered on the motherboard?
4. Did we do effective research in order to explain in depth each and every part we discovered?
5. Did we put thought into our use of text, graphics and backgrounds?
6. Do we have a script, narrative or set of notes ready to help us during the presentation?
7. Have we worked together as a team and planned how we’re going to make the actual presentation be an effective teaching tool for the rest of the class?

If your answers to these questions are “yes,” then you’re ready. Let me know so we can get started!

Computers are like Legos – The Presentation

After looking for a few days at the inside of a computer, now it’s time to do some research and share everything you can about what you discovered inside the case. So…

• Create, in teams, a PowerPoint presentation that:
  • tells us about every part you discovered, including every part of a part you discovered while taking the computers apart in class.
  • tells us about these parts in detail, well researched on the Internet, using the links on the blog – and more if you know better ones – so we really know what these different components do.
  • includes the history of each part if you can find it.
  • doesn’t include peripherals, such as monitors, mice, keyboards or printers. Right now we’re learning about what’s inside the box (hint: That includes the box).

I’ve offered a new challenge: If you include a slide or two about a certain component on the motherboard that I’ve mentioned but not talked about in depth – though it’s really, really important – your team will earn an extra ten points! Hint: it’s not usually removed from the motherboard, but it can be replaced if damaged. BTW, any and all teams can win. I’ll announce winners after all presentations have been given.

The old challenge is still on (for per. 3) for five points if you can tell me the smallest part of a part in a computer.

Make your PowerPoint as long as you need in order to teach us all what we need to learn – and no more! You know what I’m talking about.

Use text and graphics that add value to your presentation. Please don’t put all the words on a slide. Create a script or narrative or set of notes to use while you present. Text on slides themselves should be limited to titles, headings and key points or short summaries.

Remember, you’re working in teams, and you should share the load. This is the responsibility of the leaders, and the members need to help the team by letting the leaders run the organization.

Also, you should know that I tend to give higher grades to early finishers who volunteer to present first or second. Offer to do this only if you’re ready to give a complete presentation. Early presenters with incomplete work will be asked to redo and re-present.

I look forward to your presentations. Ask me for guidance anytime.

Computers are like Legos – Day 2

Do we have a winner? — What is the smallest part in a computer? It’s worth 5 bonus points.

Today, continue taking the computer apart.

Take turns. Team leaders: help this happen.

Make sure your team recorder is adding parts to your list. Even small parts on the motherboard, cables, etc., add to the list. If you don’t know, look for clues, research on the Web, ask other kids in the room. Try to learn the real names.

Teams that have the most parts – and can demonstrate them – will get extra points. Use the correct names.

Think: What are the big parts? What are the small parts? What are there names? How do I take them apart safely? How do I put them back together without damaging them?

Make sure you save your work doc!

When you hear me say “clean up!”, well, clean up!

Computers are like Legos

One day Lisa came home to find her little brother Eddie playing with his Legos on the living room floor. Eddie had a pretty big collection of Lego parts, and he was almost finished building something. Lisa had a pretty good idea what it was. She decided to play dumb.

“Hey, what’s that, Eddie?”

“Jeez, can’t you tell?” asked her brother. “It’s a computer!”

“Oh, yeah, now I can see,” big sister said. “You’ve got the case, the keyboard, the mouse, and…” Lisa was never good with Legos. She really was amazed at how Eddie could build Lego kits almost without looking at the directions. He was really good at it.

“I haven’t made the monitor yet,” Eddie admitted. He turned the computer case around, looking at it, as if he were looking through it. “I wish I could build a real computer, just like this, out of Legos.”

“You could, if you wanted to,” said Lisa.

“Whaddya mean?”

“Well, I mean, computers are put together from parts, which are put together from smaller parts, which are, you know, put together from the smallest parts. It’s sorta like Legos. Parts are parts.” Lisa had taken a computer class last year and learned how computers were built.

Eddie thought about it and stared at his Lego computer. “Wow,” he said, “I can almost see what you mean!” He stared some more and then he closed his eyes and began to visualize what the inside of a computer would be.

Students in this class can do the same thing, so think about these things:

1. What is the smallest part in a computer?
2. Can we take a computer apart–in this class–into its smallest elements?
3. What parts can we take apart and safely put back together?

To figure this out, first look at the computer in front of you and try to visualize what’s inside the case. Now, on the worktables in the room are a bunch of different looking computers. They may be different on the outside, but they’re mostly the same on the inside. Next to each computer are a couple of screwdrivers. Over the next few days, let’s discover what’s inside. You’re on your own. Good luck.

Welcome to Computer Technician Training

I’m very happy to meet all of you. I know we’re going to have a good year, and I’m sure at the end of it you’ll be pleased with all you’ve learned about a subject that is full of real-world knowledge you can really use.

Our first order of business is to discuss and sign our Contract. This Contract is in use in every course offered by our ROP Department, which we have renamed Vintage Occupational Academy. We are a unified small school-within-a-school.

Next, we’ll create teams for our first project. We’re a project-based learning classroom, which means we learn by doing projects, many of them hands-on, and many of them in teams. Our first one for this year will be done in teams.

So, to get started, think about this:

How much do you know about the inside of a computer?

We believe in self-respect and self-responsibility, and that’s what our VOA Contract is all about. To read it, find it in the Useful Links to the right and open it up.