Course Description
This course is designed for those seeking an entry level computer service technician or help desk position within a governmental structure (GS, military, prime/subcontractor) or commercial business.Upon successful completion of this course the student receives the certification of Computer Hardware Service Technician - Federal Government Emphasis.
This course also prepares the student to take the 2003 Comptia A+ certification exams. Once the student becomes A+ certified TEC then acquires a Electronic Technicians Association CST (Computer Service Technician) certification and year membership in the Electronic Technicians Association for the student.
The hardware portion of this course is taught by degreed electrical engineers.
Computer Hardware Technician CEN-101 General Syllabus
Certification Track:
and
Electronic Technicians Association CST Certification
Course Prerequisites:
Computer skills, including knowledge of a Windows environment, be able to type and use a mouse. Basic math skillsCourse Length:
5 DaysCourse Objectives:
Electronic Theory and Computer Architecture
Identify basic electronic theory including electricity and electrical law. Analog vs. Digital, microcomputer electronic components. Understand the basics of computer logic and numerical representations. Identify the CPU processes of fetching, interpreting, and executing (‘fetch-execute cycle’ aka ‘instruction cycle’). Understand simple logic gates and flip flops.Preventative Maintenance, Safety and Environmental
Identify Tools of the Trade and use them in examples. Identify various safety measures and procedures, and when/how to use them. Identify environmental protection measures and procedures, and when/how to use them. Identify preventative maintenance schedules and processesInstallation, Configuration and Upgrading
Identify the names, purpose, and characteristics, of computer system modules/components. Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field-replaceable modules for desktop systems. Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field- replaceable modules for portable systems.Identify typical IRQs, DMAs, and I/O addresses, and procedures for altering these settings when installing and configuring devices. Identify the names, purposes, and performance characteristics, of standardized/common peripheral ports, associated cabling, and their connectors.
Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring common IDE devices. Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring common SCSI devices. Identify proper procedures for installing and configuring common peripheral devices. Identify procedures to optimize PC operations in specific situations. Determine the issues that must be considered when upgrading a PC.
Diagnosing and Troubleshooting
Recognize common problems associated with each module and their symptoms, and identify steps to isolate and troubleshoot the problems. Identify basic troubleshooting procedures and tools, and how to elicit problem symptoms from customers. Identify the various types of preventive maintenance measures, products and procedures and when and how to use them including recovering data from hard drives.Motherboards, Processors and Memory
Distinguish between the popular CPU chips in terms of their basic characteristics. Identify the types of RAM (Random Access Memory), form factors, and operational characteristics. Identify the most popular types of motherboards, their components, and their architecture (bus structures). Identify the purpose of CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) memory, what it contains, and how and when to change its parameters.Printers
Identify printer technologies, interfaces, and options/upgrades. Recognize common printer problems and techniques used to resolve them.Basic Networking
Identify the common types of network cables, their characteristics and connectors. Identify basic networking concepts including how a network works. Identify common technologies available for establishing Internet connectivity and their characteristics. Identify the major desktop components and interfaces, and their functions. Identify the basic Internet protocols and terminologies. Identify procedures for establishing Internet connectivity.Operating Systems
Differentiate the characteristics of Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. Identify the names, locations, purposes, and contents of major system files. Demonstrate the ability to use command-line functions and utilities to manage the operating system, including the proper syntax and switches. Identify basic concepts and procedures for creating, viewing, and managing disks, directories and files. This includes procedures for changing file attributes and the ramifications of those changes (for example, security issues). Identify the major operating system utilities, their purpose, location, and available switches. Identify the procedures for installing Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP, and bringing the operating system to a basic operational level. Identify steps to perform an operating system upgrade from Windows 9.x/ME, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. Identify the basic system boot sequences and boot methods, including the steps to create an emergency boot disk with utilities installed for Windows 9x/Me, Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows XP. Identify procedures for installing/adding a device, including loading, adding, and configuring device drivers, and required software. Identify procedures necessary to optimize the operating system and major operating system subsystems. Recognize and interpret the meaning of common error codes and startup messages from the boot sequence, and identify steps to correct the problems. Recognize when to use common diagnostic utilities and tools. Recognize common operational and usability problems and determine how to resolve them. Identify the networking capabilities of Windows. Given configuration parameters, configure the operating system to connect to a network.Government Information Technology
Identify governmental policies and procedures: New accessibility, disability and Section 508 laws and their relationship to computer hardware and software. Purchasing and using accessibility features of computer hardware and software. Implementing assistive technologies in computer hardware.DOD and government computer hardware and software rules and regulations such as disposal of non-classified hard drives, software piracy, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.Student Labs:
Hands on portion of the course includes lab exercises utilizing and maintaining Windows 2000, using hardware diagnostics tools, rebuilding a computer from scratch, configuring the hard drive, loading the OS and drivers, making network cables. In class student will learn to use various tools such as a logic probe, multimeter, temperature probe, oscilloscope, loop back cables, hard drive and monitor degaussers, small PC hand tools, binary number software, data type explorer, logic gate simulator, hard drive sanitation and more.Instructional Methods:
This course combines lecture, presentation, laboratory hands-on exercises, discussions and problem solving. Assessments will be made by practical exercises and examinations/quizzes.Resources:
Textbooks, exercises and readings that accompany the text, web site resources, electronic mail mentoring opportunities and computer-based training materials. Tools and test equipment. A+ practice testing software.
Course Price:
$690.00includes Computer Hardware Service Technician - Federal Government Emphasis Certificate, both A+ exams, Electronic Technicians Association Certified Computer Service Technician voucher and one year membership after passing A+, 2 student textbooks (1340 pages), practice testing software, multi-meter, book tote and class supplies a $650 value.
