CS101 – Living with
Computers
ACTIVITIES &
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Chapter 3 (Classes 6-7):
- Answer
student questions.
- Discuss
what’s on the CD (interactive keyboard and mouse tutorials; interactive
demo of inner workings of computer)
- Discuss
what’s on the website
- Questions
for discussion:
- List
several examples of input devices and explain how they can make it easier
to get different types of information into the computer.
- List
several examples of output devices and explain how they make computers
more useful.
- Explain
why a typical computer has different types of storage devices.
- Diagram
how the components of a computer system fit together.
- Projects
- Bring
in a collection of input and output devices and have students in groups
explore them and discuss how to use them.
- Bring
in a collection of storage devices and have students identify which type
the device is.
- Bring
in collection of hardware and have each group “design” a computer with
the equipment.
- Have
students guess how many keys are on a typical keyboard. Have students
determine how many combined functions there are when you count pressing a
toggle key (or two) and then a letter or number.
- Bring
in computer advertisements from newspapers, magazines, and other sources
and give copies or two different ads to each group. Have each group
compare the types of peripheral devices and expandability of the
computers. Have each group recommend one of the two systems and why.
- Have
students discuss what the disadvantages are for having monitors that are
wider than they are long (i.e. 800x600).
- Pass
around a CD and ask students why there is a “rainbow” as they tilt the
surface in the light.
- Have
groups of students discuss the different types of peripheral devices that
have observed in the last few days and then select a representative to
report their findings.
- Chapter
3 Quiz: 3-5 short questions from the chapter review and 2-4 definitions
(have part of the quiz involve identifying computer components that are
displayed in the front of the class).
- Chapter
3 Assignment: page 80 - Project 4.
- Chapter
3 e-journal on Hardware Basics: Peripherals
- Student
should find material from chapter (peripherals, …) in newspapers,
magazines, or online
- Student
should discuss the most difficult concept for them in this chapter
- Student
should list any terms they do not understand