Frederick Community College

CIS212 Hybrid

Personal Computer Diagnostics and Troubleshooting

Fall 2009

Instructor Information:

Name: Sandra Marshall	Office: N/A
E-mail: Smarshall@frederick.edu In order to ensure a response, the subject line for all e-mails pertaining to this course must use formatting as directed by the Blackboard instructions found under Course Information. NOTE: Use of [CIS212] at the beginning of the subject line in required.	Campus Mail Box Number: #89 Office Phone Number: CBT Department 301-846-2505 (Please note this only the academic office and should be used only in emergencies)
Office Hours : N/A

Course Information:

Credits: 3	Last Day to Drop: Sept 25, 2009
Prerequisites: CIS101 or CIS116	Co-requisites: None
Meeting Day(s): Wednesdays	Meeting Time(s): 6:00pm to 8:30pm

Course Description:

Introduces diagnosis and troubleshooting of personal computers at the system level. Troubleshooting techniques include diagnosis software, board replacement, memory troubleshooting, IC chip replacement and other techniques. Topics include microcomputer circuit and operating system layout for DOS-based systems, tools usage, hands-on laboratory exercises and projects.

Core Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to

1. Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions of system components

2. Explain basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules for both desktop and portable systems.

3. Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring IDE/ EIDE devices, SCSI devices, and peripheral devices

4. Identify hardware methods of upgrading system performance and procedures for replacing basic sub-system components

5. Identify basic troubleshooting procedures and good practices for eliciting problems symptoms from customers

6. Identify the purpose of various types of preventive maintenance products and procedures and when to use/perform them.

7. Identify procedures and devices for protection within the computing environment

8. Distinguish between the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics

9. Identify the categories of RAM, their locations, and physical characteristics.

Additional Outcomes:

By the completion of the course students will:

1. Identify available peripheral ports, associated cabling and their connectors

2. Identify common symptoms and problems associated with each module and how to troubleshoot and isolate the problems

3. Identify the most popular type of motherboards, their components, and their architecture.

4. Identify the purpose of CMOS, what it contains and how to change its basic parameters.

5. Identify basic components, printer operations and components.

5. Identify care and service techniques and common problems with primary printer types.

Instructional Methods:

Discussion boards, software demonstration, hands-on activities, and interactive labs.

Texts and Materials for Course:

A+ Guide to Hardware Enhanced, Fourth Edition. Andrews, Jean, Course Technology, a division of Thompson Learning 2007

For A+ Guide to Managing, Maintaining and Troubleshooting Your PC, Fourth Edition. Andrews, Jean, Course Technology, a division of Thompson Learning 2007

Evaluation Methods:

Items	Final Grade Scale
Hands-on problems/exercises Quizzes/Tests Project/Lab assignments* Weekly Review Questions On-Line Participation Final Project (NOTE: See the last page for point values.)	90% - 100%	A*
	80% - 89%	B
	70% - 79%	C
	60% - 69%	D
	59% and below	F
* Note: It will be necessary to hand in every assignment to receive an “A” grade in this course.
Assignments: Unless otherwise instructed, all assignments are due by 11:00 pm on the due date. If an assignment is late, ten percent (10%) may be deducted for each calendar day. Note: no assignment will be accepted if more than 5 days late; and late assignment will be accepted ONLY at the instructor’s discretion and provided that the assignments have NOT been returned to the class. Absolutely no work (assignments or laboratories) will be accepted after the last class. Make Up Tests: It is a policy to not issue make up tests for this course. If, for extraordinary circumstances, a makeup test is permitted the type of makeup test is left to the instructor's discretion and may include an oral exam or short essay questions.

Instructional Methods:

Online Discussions Assignments Lab Classroom

Textbook Multimedia Presentations

Progress Report:

You will receive your progress report by the end of the third week of class. However, feel free to discuss any problems or conflicts concerning this course with your instructor at any time.

Attendance/Behavior Policy:

Students in this class are expected to assume responsibility for attending class, their behavior during class sessions and their desire to learn. Disruptive behavior diminishes the learning environment for the entire class and will not be tolerated. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more information on expected behavior.

Online attendance requires that the students participate in all discussion sessions. The attendance will be judged through discussion responses as well as other substantial posts.

Students are expected to assume responsibility for attending class. Students will find that class attendance is required in order to complete course work satisfactorily. There will be verbally issued assignments and instructions for which absent students will still be held accountable. The official class attendance policy for this class is:

NOTE: On-Line attendance is required. Absence does not excuse a student from completing assignments, tests, or other requirements of the course on time. Excused absences include illness (with doctor's note), emergencies deemed as such by your instructor, religious holidays, and official College functions. Five percent will be deducted from the student's final grade percent for every unexcused absence after one (1) unexcused absence.

Software Piracy:

Software that is copyrighted is intended for use in its original form. Duplicate copies can be produced only if written the manufacturer grants permission. The U.S. law states that noncompliance may result in civil damages not exceeding $50,000 and criminal penalties of up to one (1) year and/or a $10,000 fine. Note that minors are not exempt from copyright law.

Academic Honesty:

Each student is expected to perform his/her own academic work. If students work together, they are expected to each be working on separate computers and completing assignments on their own. Two students who work together but submit two copies of the same assignment (even if minor changes like names are made) are violating college policies. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are considered extremely serious offenses. As little as one sentence copied from the Internet (or another source) into a Research Paper will result in, as a minimum, a zero for the assignment and disqualification from presenting the paper. Students are personally responsible for understanding the various forms of academic dishonesty as explained in the "Student Code of Conduct" in the Student Handbook. Failure to comply with any requirement for academic honesty may trigger disciplinary proceedings. Any form of cheating or plagiarism is considered grounds for failure of the course.

Modification of Schedule:

The instructor reserves the right to adjust the assignments or schedule. This may also change the date(s) of one or more of the tests. Any affected assignment due dates may also be adjusted. In the event the schedule is adjusted, the student will remain responsible for all the assignments listed in this syllabus.

Class Participation:

Class attendance is required. Absence from class does not excuse a student from completing assignments, quizzes, examinations, or other requirements of the course on time. Students are expected to attend every class unless prior permission has been obtained from the instructor. Failure to follow this policy will result in no makeup work or assignments being accepted. Online class participation is an integral part of successfully completing this course. Therefore, the instructor will monitor discussion participation to determine a class participation portion of the grade. The students must answer all discussion questions posted each week. Also the student must respond to fellow students at least 3 times in three days for a total of 9 posts separate from the discussion questions. To provide for productive discussion and interaction, students will be expected to have read the assigned material before attending class.

Students with Disabilities

FCC provides reasonable accommodations to otherwise qualified students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and amendments. Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations must contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408 (A Building, Room 106A) in order to request and apply for services. The SSD office will require appropriate documentation of a disability. Questions related to accommodations or services can be directed to the SSD office. Additional information related to services can be viewed at the following FCC web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx.

If you currently receive services from the SSD office, please submit your Student Success Plan to me and make an appointment with me to discuss your accommodations and needs in class. I will hold any information you share with me in strict confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise.

CIS212 Grade Worksheet

Spring 2009

Assignments & Assessments	Maximum Points Available	Your Score	Due Date
Test 1	50
Test 2	50
Subtotal	100
Assignment 1	25
Assignment 2	25
Assignment 3	25
Assignment 4	25
Assignment 5	25
Assignment 6	25
Subtotal	150
Final	100
Subtotal	100
Labs,quizzes,concept/skills review questions and/or other graded work as directed by Instructor	250
Discussions	100
TOTAL POINTS	700

CIS212 Fall 2009

(First 7-week Session)

Topical Outline

Class	Dates	Content	Hands-On Activities & Assignments	Assignments Due (last day of week)
	8/26/2009	Chapter 1: Hardware Needs Software to Work Chapter 2: PC Repair Fundamentals	Assignment 1 Discussion Questions Labs (assigned at beginning of each lab session) Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Discussion Participation
	9/2/2009	Chapter 3: Form Factors and Power Supplies Chapter 4: Processors and Chipsets	Assignment 2 Discussion Questions Labs (assigned at beginning of each lab session) Quiz Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Assignment 1 Discussion Participation
	9/9/2009	Chapter 5: Motherboards Chapter 6: Upgrade Memory Progress Report	Assignment 3 Discussion Questions Labs (assigned at beginning of each lab session) TEST 1 Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Assignment 2 Discussion Participation
	9/16/2009	Chapter 7: Hard Drives Chapter 8: Installing and Supporting I/O	Assignment 4 Labs (assigned at beginning of each lab session) Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Assignment 3 Discussion Participation
	9/23/2009	Chapter 9: Multimedia Devices and Mass Storage Chapter 10: PC on a Network	Assignment 5 TEST 2 Discussion Questions Labs (assigned at beginning of each lab session) Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Assignment 4 Discussion Participation
	9/30/2009	Chapter 12: Supporting Printers and Scanners Chapter 11: Notebooks, Tablet PCs’ and PDAs	Assignment 6 Discussion Questions Labs (assigned at beginning of each lab session) Quiz Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Assignment 5 Discussion Participation
	10/7/2009		FINAL Online Participation: Check Blackboard for tests, quizzes, online assignments, and discussion participation	Assignment 6

Additional Notes:

Activities specially noted by shading in bold style must be submitted for grading and are specifically noted in the Assignments Due column. The assignments are due by Monday at 6:00 pm unless otherwise noted.