Fundamentals of Information Technology and Data Communications Scope & Sequence Download

Fundamentals of Information Technology and Data Communications

Scope & Sequence

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the fast-paced field of information technology and data communications. Students will develop the necessary skills to enter this field by building a computer, adding peripherals, connecting the computer to a local area network and to the Internet. This is a hands-on, lab-oriented course that stresses laboratory safety and working effectively in a group environment.

CHAPTER 1         INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & DATA COMMMUNICATIONS BASICS

1.1     IT and Data Communications Industry Overview

1.1.1   Computer systems and applications

1.1.2   Connecting voice and data systems

1.2     IT and Data Communications Components

1.2.1   Software: 

Careers include programming, web developing, and software support
Lab: Identify three companies that focus on software and list skills that are necessary to work for them.

1.2.2   Hardware: 

Careers include: network engineering, system administration, cable contracting
Lab: Identify three companies that focus on hardware and list the skills that are necessary to work for them.
Lab: Commonly used terms in the IT/data communications industry

1.3     Math for a Digital Age

1.3.1   Analog and digital systems

1.3.2   Boolean logic gates, AND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR

Lab: Boolean operations

1.3.3   Base 10 and base 2 (binary) numbering systems

Lab: Converting Numbers Overview
Lab: Converting Numbers Exercise

1.3.4   The base 16 (hex) numbering system

Lab: Number System Exercises

1.3.5   Introduction to algorithms

1.4     Overview of the Windows Screen

1.4.1   Basic features of Windows: 

Task Bar, Shut Down, Restart, Run, Help, Find, Settings, Programs, Desktop Shortcuts
Lab: Identify parts of the Windows screen
Lab: Using a mouse (left click, right click, double click, drag)
Lab: Hand-eye coordination using Solitaire
Lab: Coordination in Windows -- using Paintbrush
Lab: Text editing with Notepad

1.4.2   The Windows file structure and file management

Drive letters
File names & valid characters
How files, folders and subfolders work
The recycle bin

Lab: Copying, saving, renaming & deleting files 

1.5     Overview of Software Applications

1.5.1   Word processors

1.5.2   Spreadsheets

1.5.3   Databases

1.5.4   Graphics programs

1.5.5   PowerPoint

1.5.6   Web Browser/Internet

1.5.7   E-Mail

1.6     Laboratory safety and Tools

1.6.1   Basic lab safety principles including: 

AC & DC voltage, electrical grounding, electrostatic discharge (BSD) and lasers

1.6.2   Tools of the trade

1.6.3   Safe and effective use of tools

Online Video: Tools safety

1.6.4   Hazardous materials. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Lab: Identify hazardous materials in a computer lab

1.6.5   Ergonomics and repetitive strain injury (RSI) issues

Online Video: Ergonomics

1.6.6   Working effectively in a group environment

Lab: Conflict resolution techniques

1.6.7   Lab Safety agreement

Lab: Best safety practices contract

Chapter 1 Review questions
Chapter 1 Online quiz

CHAPTER 2         HOW COMPUTERS WORK

2.1     The Operating System

2.1.1   Components of an operating system

2.1.2   Input, process, output, storage

2.1.3   System resources: IRQ's, DMA & RAM (DRAM and Cache)

Lab: Identifying IRQ's, DMA and memory

2.2     The boot process

Lab: Boot process

2.3     Hardware components: identify the following components

2.3.1   Power Supplies and Computer Cases

Lab: Power Supplies including ATX & AT

2.3.2   The Motherboard, single and multiprocessor

Lab: Motherboard Identification

2.3.3   The CPU: Pentium II, III, IV, Xeon, and AMD Athalon

Lab: Identify the CPU and contrast with other CPU's

2.3.4   BIOS, EEPROM's, Flash & ROM's

Lab: Identify ROM and BIOS chips

2.3.5   Bus types and expansion slots

Lab: Identity the computer's bus type and expansion slots

2.3.6   RAM

Lab: Identification of RAM and RAM Sockets

2.3.7   Video Cards & Monitors

Lab: Video Card Identification

2.3.8   I/O Ports: USB, USB2, Firewire, Serial, parallel, PS/2, 5-pin DIN

Lab: Identifying I/O ports

2.3.9   EIDE and SCSI Controllers

Lab: Identify the system board controller

2.3.10   Floppy Drives

Lab: Floppy Drive

2.3.11   The Hard Drive

Lab: Hard Drive Identification

2.3.12   CD ROMs

Lab: CD-ROM Identification

Chapter 2 Review questions
Chapter 2 Online quiz

CHAPTER 3         ASSEMBLING YOUR FIRST COMPUTER

3.1     Overview of the assembly process, review safety issues

Online Video: Assembling a computer (to be used in all labs listed in this section)

3.2     Identifying all of the components

Lab: Identity all of the components in the assembly kit

3.3     The computer case and power supply

Lab: Prepare for assembly and take ESD precautions

3.4     Installing the motherboard jumpers/dip switches

Lab: Installing the motherboard

3.5     Installing the CPU & using heat sync compound

Lab: Installing the CPU

3.6     Installing RAM

Lab: Installing RAM

3.7     Installing the floppy drive

Lab: Floppy drive installation

3.8     Installing the hard drive and CD ROM

Master/Slave jumpers
Lab: hard drive installation

3.9     Installing the video card

Lab: Install the video card

3.10   I/O ports: serial, parallel and USB ports

Lab: Connecting I/O ports

3.11   Connecting the mouse, keyboard and monitor.

Lab: Attaching the mouse, keyboard and monitor

3.12   Creating a DOS boot disk

Lab: booting with a DOS disk and testing the system

Chapter 3 Review questions
Chapter 3 online quiz

CHAPTER 4         INSTALLING THE WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM

4.1     Overview of the installation process

4.1.1   Installation demonstration

Online Video: Installing the OS (to be used in all labs listed in this section)

4.2     Overview of the Disk Operating System (DOS)

4.2.1   Booting the system with a DOS disk

4.2.2   DOS (CLI) commands 

(Path, *.*, Attributes, CD, MD, Copy, Delete, Move, Type, Edit, etc.)

4.2.3   DOS Disk and File Structure

Lab: DOS Operating System Exercise

4.3     Hard Drive Partitioning

4.3.1   Partitioning a hard drive, tracks, sectors, cylinders

Lab: Hard drive preparation using DOS and FDISK

4.4     Installing the Windows OS

4.4.1   Windows OS Installation

Lab: OS Installation, booting from CD ROM and Installing Windows

4.5     Troubleshooting the installation process

4.5.1   Systematic troubleshooting techniques & finding help

Lab: Troubleshooting 101

4.5.2   System Properties, identifying icon symbols (Using Device Manager)

4.5.3   Software drivers, adding mouse with a rollerball

Lab: Installing a driver for a new rollerball mouse

4.5.4   Making a backup boot disk

Lab: Boot disk

Chapter 4 Review questions
Chapter 4 Online quiz

CHAPTER 5         PRINTING

5.1     Introduction to printing.

Overview of laser printers, ink jet printers, dot matrix printers and plotters

5.2     Connecting a printer

Online Video: Demo of attaching and setup an ink jet printer
Lab: Adding an ink jet printer to your computer

5.3     Sharing a printer

Online Video: Demonstration sharing a printer on a LAN
Lab: Setting up print sharing capabilities

5.4     Managing a printer

Lab: Adding, deleting and rearranging tiles in a printer queue
Lab: Upgrading a print driver using the Internet

5.5     Adding a network printer

Dealing with paper jams

Chapter 5 Review questions
Chapter 5 Online quiz

CHAPTER 6         ADDING MUTIMEDIA CAPABILITIES

6.1     Introduction to multimedia

6.2     Adding sound capabilities by adding a sound card

Online Video: Demonstration of adding a sound card
Lab: Sound card installation, driver installation, and adding speakers

6.3     Overview of CD-RW & DVD's

6.4     Adding a web camera

Online Video: Demonstration of adding a web camera
Lab: Web camera attachment and software installation

Chapter 6 Review questions
Chapter 6 Online quiz

CHAPTER 7         CONNECTING TO A LOCAL NETWORK (LANs)

7.1     Introduction to LANs

7.1.1   LAN networking terms and technologies

7.1.2   Ethernet

7.1.3   Topologies

7.1.4   Protocols

7.1.5   Devices

7.1.6   Media

7.1.7   Wireless

Lab: Draw a LAN

7.2     Adding a Network Interface Card (NIC)

7.2.1   Setting the IP address, gateway and DNS

Online Video: Demonstration of a NIC installation
Lab: NIC installation & IP settings
Lab: Introduction to LAN media, cabling
Lab: Connecting to a hub/switch
Lab: Troubleshooting the NIC using the ping command

7.2.2   DHCP servers

Lab: Configuring the NIC to work with a DCHP server

7.3     Introduction To Network Operating Systems

7.3.1   Windows 2000

7.3.2   Unix

7.3.3   Solaris

7.3.4   Linux

Chapter 7 Review questions
Chapter 7 Online quiz

CHAPTER 8         CONNECTING TO THE INTERNET (WANs)

8.1     WAN networking terms and technologies:

8.1.1   The Internet and IP addresses, subnets and gateways 

What is a subnet and why do we need it
Lab: The IP addressing scheme Online Video: Packet analyzers

8.1.2   Synchronous and asynchronous serial lines

8.1.3   Modems: Diaiup Networking, modem standards, AT commands

Online Video: Demonstration of a modem installation
Lab: Modem card installation

8.2     Routers and the cloud

Lab: Draw a WAN

8.2.1   ISP's

Lab: Evaluating ISP's

8.2.2   DSL and cable modems

Lab: Compare and contrast DSL and cable modems

Chapter 8 Review questions
Chapter 8 Online quiz

CHAPTER 9         TROUBLESHOOTING AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

9.1     System Troubleshooting

9.2     OS Troubleshooting

9.3     Preventive Maintenace

CHAPTER 10       THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL

10.1   Customer service 101

Service orientation of the job
Lab: Role-play -- working on a help desk

10.2   Identify IT careers and setting career goals

Lab: Personal assessment using the Myers-Briggs test
Lab: Search the Internet for careers

10.3   Identify IT educational requirements

Lab: Identify educational courses
Lab: Issues of learning online

10.4   Internet law, ethics, privacy and netiquette

Lab: Writing a computer usage policy statement

Chapter 10 Review questions
Chapter 10 Online quiz

Appendix A       A+ CERTIFCATION REVIEW

Appendix B       GETTING CERTIFIED

Cisco certification programs: CCNA, CCNP, CCIE

CompTIA certification programs: A+, Net+

Windows certification programs: MCP, MCSE

Sun Certification programs: Fundamentals of Solaris, System Administration, and Java

Oracle certification programs

Appendix C       GLOSSARY

Appendix D       INDEX

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