IT 205

Advanced Computer Maintenance

3 Credit Hours

Instructor:            Chet Cunningham                                   Semester:       Spring 2010

Office:                   261 JHG                                                Lecture:           MW 9:30 – 10:45 p.m.

Office Phone:        (270) 824-8699                                      Room:              254 JHG

Instructor E-mail: Chet.Cunningham@kctcs.edu                  Home Phone:  (270) 884-7540

Website:                www.madisonville.kctcs.edu/ccunningham

 

Office Hours:

Monday & Wednesday: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday & Thursday: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

& others by appointment

 

Textbooks: CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC. 6th Edition.

Andrews. Course Technology. 2008.

ISBN: 0-619-21758-8.

 

Course Description

Introduces advanced tasks such as installation, building, repairing, configuration, troubleshooting, optimizing, diagnosing, and preventive maintenance in the context of field service or enterprise environment. Appropriate for those who work, or plan to work, in a mobile or corporate environment, or hold a position characterized by a high-level of in-person customer interaction. This course maps closely to the CompTIA A+ 220-602 National Examination. 

 

Course Competencies

Upon completion of this course, the student can:

1.     Install, configure, optimize and upgrade personal computer components including selecting appropriate components.

2.     Recognize names, purposes, characteristics, and appropriate use of tools including multimeters, anti-static devices, loopback plugs, specialty tools and cleaning products.

3.     Isolate and identify computer problems using visual and audible inspection of components, and follow appropriate troubleshooting procedures.

4.     Explain appropriate applications for laptop-specific communication connections, including Bluetooth, infrared, and Ethernet.

5.     Identify the major components of the LCD in portable devices including inverter, screen and video card.

6.     Use appropriate tools, diagnostic procedures and troubleshooting techniques to diagnose power conditions, video, keyboard, pointer, and wireless card issues in portable devices.

7.     Use command-line functions and utilities, including proper syntax and switches, to manage and troubleshoot operating systems.

8.     Locate and use appropriate operating system utilities and available switches including system and disk management tools for troubleshooting and maintenance.

9.     Install, configure, optimize and upgrade the current Windows client operating systems, including performing upgrades from Windows 9x and NT.

10.   Demonstrate ability to recover operating systems using boot methods, recovery console, ASR, and ERD.

11.   Use diagnostic tools to resolve common operational problems, error messages and codes.

12.   Perform preventive maintenance on operating systems including software and Windows updates, scheduled backups, and restore points.

13.   Perform printer driver installation, scheduled maintenance, and memory and firmware updates.

14.   Describe the processes used by various types of printers and scanners, and use appropriate diagnostic procedures to troubleshoot printers and scanners.

15.   Identify names, purposes and characteristics of basic network protocols and terminologies.

16.   Establish network connectivity, install and configure browsers, create and manage network shares.

17.   Use command line tools to diagnose and troubleshoot network connection issues.

18.   Identify the fundamental principles of security including access control, auditing, event logging, and user account types.

19.   Diagnose and troubleshoot software and data security issues including software firewall issues, wireless client configuration, data access, and file system security.

 

Across the Curriculum Competencies

 

Writing Across the Curriculum:

To satisfy the new general education requirements of writing across the curriculum,

      "All faculty are expected to call attention to and penalize for errors in English usage and require the rewriting of papers which do not meet acceptable standards."  (CCS Rules, Section V, 2.32)

 

General Education Competencies:

I.    Communicate Effectively

      1.   Read and listen with comprehension.

    1. Students must read and understand material to successfully complete the assignments.

Assessment: Complete comprehensive projects after reading the text.

2.   Speak and write clearly using standard English.

            a.   Students will demonstrate with presentations and various writing assignments.

                  Assessment: Complete various writing assignments using appropriate and correct English.

  1. Demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills.
    1. Students will demonstrate basic computer skills through successful completion of assignments.

Assessment: Complete comprehensive projects after reading the text.

II.   Think Critically

1.   Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and/or integrating a variety of materials.

a.   Students will demonstrate problem solving skills by successfully completing the assignments.

Assessment: Complete comprehensive projects after reading the text.

 

 

Prerequisites

IT 105

 

Supplies

Each student is required to utilize their student e-mail address for this course.

 

Grading

 


Course Grade

% of
Grade

 

Grading Scale

Announced examinations (3)

  45

 

A

90- 100%

Laboratory and out-of-class assignments

  50

 

B

89 - 80 %

Attendance/Participation

   5

 

C

79 - 70 %

Total:

100%

 

D

69 - 60 %

 

 

 

F

Below 60%

 

Instructional Methods

A combination of classroom lectures/discussions, hands-on chapter exercises and labs and chapter tests will be utilized to help you gain proficiency in the application of computer concepts and principles.

 

Hands-on Chapter Projects

You will be responsible for reading and understanding each assigned chapter. Additionally, most students will have to spend time outside of class to complete hands on projects. Each assignment should be properly labeled.

 

Make sure your name and exercise number appear at the top of the page.  If an exercise has multiple sheets, then staple them together. Do not staple different assignments together. Disorganized assignments (pages out of order, mislabeled, unreadable, etc.) will receive a grade of zero. If there are multiple sheets are to be handed in, then sequence them according to the order you were told to print them in the exercise.

 

Course Policies

 

Hands-on Classroom Rules:

This class will be held in a computer classroom and the following rules must be understood and followed:

 

  1. NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED IN THE CLASSROOM AT ANYTIME!!!!!!
  2. Computers and equipment have the sole purpose of providing class-related activities.  Do not install ANY software or make any changes to the computers unless instructed to do so.
  3. Please arrive on time and expect to stay the entire class period.
  4. Please do not use your computer during class discussions unless told to do so.
  5. Turn in your assignments on time!  Use the class time wisely.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get your assignments done outside of class
  6. Please pay attention during class instructions and demonstrations.
  7. Unless directed otherwise, use the same computer each class.
  8. Use courtesy when using the printer, it is shared.
  9. If you have questions please ask the instructor instead of disturbing your neighbor.

 

Examination Policy:

Three announced examinations. No make-up exams will be allowed without prior arrangements being made. Make-up exams must be taken when scheduled

 

Late Assignment Policy:

Laboratory assignments should be handed in immediately BEFORE lecture begins on the specified due date. Laboratory assignments handed in after lecture begins are considered late.  No assignments will be accepted more than one week late. Late assignments receive a 50% penalty.

 

Cheating Policy:

Students are expected to uphold the school’s standard of conduct relating to academic honesty. Students assume full responsibility for the content and integrity of the academic work they submit. The guiding principle of academic integrity shall be that a student's submitted work; examinations, reports, and projects must be that of the student's own work. Students shall be guilty of violating the honor code if they:

 

1.     Represent the work of others as their own.

2.     Use or obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic work.

3.     Give unauthorized assistance to other students.

4.     Modify, without instructor approval, an examination, paper, record, or report for the purpose of obtaining additional credit.

5.     Misrepresent the content of submitted work.

 

The penalty for violating the honor code is severe. Any student violating the honor code is subject to receive a failing grade for the course and will be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. If a student is unclear about whether a particular situation may constitute an honor code violation, the student should meet with the instructor to discuss the situation.

 

For this class, it is permissible to assist classmates in general discussions of computing techniques. General advice and interaction are encouraged. Each person, however, must develop his or her own solutions to the assigned projects, assignments, and tasks. In other words, students may not "work together" on graded assignments. Such collaboration constitutes cheating. A student may not use or copy (by any means) another's work (or portions of it) and represent it as his/her own. If you need help on an assignment, contact your instructor, not other classmates.

 

Incomplete Policy:

Incompletes will only be considered in the most extreme cases of hardship.

 

Make-up Policy:

Make-up exams will be given ONLY in the most extreme cases of hardship or unavoidable interruption of participation. These are handled on an individual basis.

 

Student Conduct In Class Policy:

Any acts of classroom disruption that go beyond the normal rights of students to question and discuss with instructors the educational process relative to subject content will not be tolerated, in accordance with the Academic Code of Conduct described in the Student Handbook.  The Student Code of Conduct is available on the web at http://www.kctcs.edu/student/code.htm.

 

Children In Class Policy:

Only in extreme cases are children allowed in classroom or laboratory facilities, and then only with approval of the instructor prior to class.

 

Electronic Devices In Class Policy:

Cellular phones, pagers, CD players, radios, and similar devices are prohibited in the classroom and laboratory facilities. Calculators and computers are prohibited during examinations and quizzes, unless specified. Reasonable laptop-size computers may be used in lecture for the purpose of taking notes.

 

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance and punctuality are expected for successful completion of this course.  It is the student’s full responsibility to contact the instructor in reference to all missed work incurred while absent.

 

 

Withdrawal Policy:

The last day for a student to officially withdraw from class with a grade of "W" at his or her discretion is March 15.  After this date, the instructor’s signature is required to withdrawal.

 

Inclement Weather Policy:

In cases of inclement weather please listen to area radio and television stations for cancellations.

 

Disabilities Policy

If you have a documented disability and need any type of accommodation, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Coordinator.  Contact Valerie Wolfe, Disability Resource Coordinator, Room 139 JHG, 270-824-1708.

 

This syllabus is tentative and subject to change at the discretion of the instructor to meet class needs.

 

Tentative Course Schedule

IT 205

Spring 2010

 

Class Meeting

Activity

1/11

Course Introduction

1/13, 1/20, 1/25

Chapter 11

1/27, 2/1, 2/3

Chapter 12

2/8, 2/10, 2/17

Chapter 13

2/22

Chapter 14

2/24

Exam 1

3/1

Chapter 14

3/3

Chapter 15

3/8 – 3/12

SPRING BREAK

3/15

Chapter 15

3/17, 3/22, 3/24

Chapter 16

3/29

Chapter 17

3/31

Exam 2

4/5, 4/7

Chapter 17

4/12, 4/14

Chapter 18

4/19, 4/21

Chapter 19

4/26, 4/28

Chapter 20

Final Exam

Exam 3