ict tools - activities - macls.com · Number 3 is System unit CPU CD drive Number 4 is Keyboard Typing Mouse ... ICT tools – equipment 11 1 ... in the form of text, sound, still

connecting communities: ICT tools – equipment

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Module: Equipment

This module assumes that you have no knowledge of computers and ICT (information and

communications technology).

ACTIVITY – COMPUTER BASICS

Listen to the presentation on Computer Basics.

Label the diagram below using one of the three words supplied for each label.

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3

4 5

9

6

7

8

8

Number 1 is Printer Scanner Monitor

Number 2 is CD drive Hard drive Port

Number 3 is System unit CPU CD drive

Number 4 is Keyboard Typing Mouse

Number 5 is Mouse Plotter Wheel

Number 6 is Floppy drive CD drive Scanner

Number 7 is TV Monitor Face

Number 8 is Sound card Speaker Audio card

Number 9 is System gun Control pad Joystick


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ACTIVITY – THE BACK OF THE COMPUTER

Familiarise yourself with the back of a computer by playing the Computer Parts interactive

presentation.

In this activity, you will 'connect' a computer. Below, you will find a diagram of the back of a computer.

There are connections and computer parts marked on the diagram. Below the diagram, you will see

diagrams of various connectors or computer parts, with a description of their purpose in the table

below:

AB

C

D E F G

I J K

H

L M

Part Function

A Power Plug

B Fan

C PS/2 Port

D PS/2 Port

E Firewire Port

F Parallel Port

G Network Port

H Modem Port

I USB Ports

J Serial Port

K Monitor Port

L Sound

M Video

Match the description of each connector to the connection/parts on the back of the computer by

writing the correct letter in the circle provided.


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The power cord connects the computer to electrical power. It is

a thick, round cable with a three-prong plug on one end and a

three-hole plug on the other.

USB (universal serial bus) port. Peripherals including scanners,

printers and digital cameras can be connected and used without

having to shut down and start up the computer again. These

ports transfer data to the serial ports.

Serial ports come in two sizes, 9 pin and 25 pin. These are

used to connect a serial mouse and external modems. A serial

port sends data one bit at a time.

Firewire is Apple Computer’s trade name for a high speed data

transfer technology. Transferring data at up to 400Mbps, FireWire

delivers more than 30 times the bandwidth of a USB port.

Many mice and newer keyboards use a PS/2 connection instead

of a keyboard or serial connection.

The Mouse Plug is very similar to the Keyboard Plug, and each

are often wrongly inserted into the other’s port.

This plug isn’t really used very much these days, as it has been

superceeded by mice that use the USB port, which allows data to

be transferred very much faster.

The Network Plug is used to connect to the internet and

servers in an office, workplace, or internet café – anywhere

where a Local Network, or LAN, is in place

The Modem line connects the home computer to the internet

through the telephone line


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The fan keeps air flowing inside the case to remove the heat that

all this processing generates. If things get too hot inside the

casing, the CPU will fail to calculate accurately. You will get wrong

answers, the wrong commands will be executed, and there may

be unpredictable crashes of your programs.

A sound card has holes for connecting a microphone, speakers

or headphones, and an outside sound source with a single prong

plug. There is also a serial port for connecting devices like musical

keyboards and synthesisers.

A parallel port is used primarily by the printer. Scanners and

external storage devices of many types also connect to the parallel

port. A serial port sends data one bit at a time while parallel ports

can send 8 bits at a time. Any device that is transferring a lot of data

would be likely to require a parallel port. The parallel port uses a 25-

pin connector.


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ACTIVITY – INSIDE THE COMPUTER

Label the diagram below using the following words:

Power supply

Hard disc drive

Motherboard

Floppy disc drive

Expansion cards

CD-ROM

ACTIVITY – DATA STORAGE, INPUT AND OUPUT DEVICES

Listen to the presentation ‘Data Storage’.

Listen to the presentation ‘Input Devices’.

Listen to the presentation ‘Output Devices’.

Complete the Quick Quiz that follows.


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QUIZ (DATA STORAGE, INPUT AND OUTPUT DEVICES)

Tick one correct answer in each case unless otherwise instructed.

1. A computer keyboard is an example of a(n):

A input device

B output device

C processing device

D storage device

2. The following are ALL examples of output devices:

A mouse, keyboard, monitor, printer

B microphone, speakers, headphones

C CPU, modem, video card

D monitor, speakers, headphones, printer

3. CPU is a short form for:

A computer positronic unit

B computer processing unit

C central processing unit

D central postal unit

4. A CPU is an example of a(n):

A input device

B output device

C processing device

D storage device


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5. The following are ALL examples of storage devices:

A floppy drive, hard drive, CPU, RAM

B floppy drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, zip drive

C floppy drive, CPU, video card, sound card

D paper, organiser, refrigerator, keyboard

6. Video cards and sound cards are both examples of processing devices.

True

False

7. Input devices give information back to the computer user.

True

False

8. Which three of the following are examples of input devices?

Tick all that apply.

A keyboard

B monitor

C microphone

D digital camera

E printer


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ACTIVITY – CROSSWORD

Complete the following crossword.

CluesCluesCluesCluesClues

Across:

2 The most common type of output device –

can come in different sizes

4 The central 'brain' of a computer

7 An output device that uses paper

8 Random Access Memory

10 An input device used to control the cursor

11 Copies pictures or text into a computer

12 A term used to describe computer programs

14 The company that makes the Windows

operating system

16 Information sent from the computer – the

opposite of input

18 A portable computer

19 Permanent data is stored in this computer

part (two words)

20 The company that created the iMac and iPod

21 Gets electricity into the computer (two words)

Down:

1 Allows you to connect your computer to the

internet through the telephone line

3 Information sent to the computer – the mouse

and keyboard are examples of this type of

device (opposite of 16 Across)

4 A pointer on your computer screen

5 A malicious program that destroys information

on your computer

6 What you use floppy discs, CDs and Hard

Drives for

9 An input device that you type on

13 You would find one of these on a laptop, in

place of a mouse

15 A part of the computer that controls the sound

17 A 3.5 inch disc, used to store up to 1.44

Megabytes of information


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ACTIVITY – CONCENTRATION (CARD GAME)ACTIVITY – CONCENTRATION (CARD GAME)ACTIVITY – CONCENTRATION (CARD GAME)ACTIVITY – CONCENTRATION (CARD GAME)ACTIVITY – CONCENTRATION (CARD GAME)

In your group, play the game of Concentration. This game will help you to become familiar with terms

used when discussing computer hardware.

Your group will be given a set of cards by your tutor. Place the cards face down on a flat surface. Each

player should take it in turns to turn over any two cards. If the two cards show a picture card and the

correct matching description, then keep the cards.

After all the cards have been turned over, the player with the most matches wins.


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1A small computing machine

that fits on to a desk and

can be used by one

person.

Zip Drive

A

B

Floppy Disc

C

Palmtop

D

PC

3A small computing device

weighing about 200 g (6 oz)

and are useful for people

who need to write letters,

take notes, make

calculations or connect to

the internet on the move.

4This is made of bendy

plastic and is usually

covered with a hard plastic

jacket. You put one into or

take one out of the disc

drive yourself.

5This is made of metal and

live permanently inside the

computer. It stores more

data than floppy discs and

spin more quickly and

unlike floppies, it cannot be

lost.

2These are similar to floppy

drives. Individual discs are

removable and portable,

but they hold much larger

amounts of data (between

100 Mb and 2 Gb).


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E

Hard Disc

F

Mouse

G

Touch Screen

H

Printer

I

Scanner

7A hand-operated input

device. It can be used to

move a pointer around the

screen, to draw shapes or

to make a choice from a

menu. (A menu is a list of

different options.)

It is usually made of plastic,

and is connected to the

computer by a cable. On its

underside is a metal or

rubber ball, which moves as

it is dragged over a surface.

9This has a built-in system of

wires which are sensitive to

the touch of a finger. You

can select options and give

commands by pressing

different areas on the

screen.

6A powerful computer

which holds software to

run the network.

It also holds the shared

resources of the network,

like the user’s files and

software packages.

8This enables both pictures

and text to be input to a

computer. The most

common type is flatbed,

but hand held devices are

cheaper.


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J

Keyboard

1012 cm plastic discs which

can hold large quantities of

data (650 Mb) in the form of

text, sound, still pictures and

video clips. The data is

sorted on the surface of the

disc as minute indentations

and is read by a laser light.

11Can be connected to the

computer and used instead

of speakers.

K

Modem

12This converts the digital

signals in the computer to

audio tones which can travel

across the telephone

system. They also convert

incoming signals back into

digital form.

L

File Server

13The most common output

device. They come in

various sizes, e.g. 14",

15", 17" and so on. The

larger it is, the more

expensive it is, and the

larger the image

displayed.

M

Network

14Two or more computers that

are joined in this way form

one of these.


14

N

Digital Camera

15This is used to take a

picture which is stored in

computer memory rather

than on film.

O

Projector

16Examples of these are:

Dot Matrix

Inkjet

Laser

P

Headphones

Q

CD Writer

17You can use this to make

your own CD-ROMs. You

can write on special CD-

ROM discs.

Can be used to:

◆ back up data

(documents, images,

programs).

◆ copy CDs for

personal use.

R

CD

18This is a small plastic disc

with a reflecting metal

coating, usually

aluminium. Tiny

indentations are burned

into this coating. These

indentations contain the

data in millions of bits. It is

organised in tracks. Each

track is assigned a

number.


15

T

Sound Card

19This is the most common

input device. The layout of

the letters is standard

across many countries.

20This connects directly to the

PC and displays the

monitor's contents on a

projection screen.

21This card provides the

connections for a

microphone input and

speaker output.

22This is required in order to

connect to other computers

via a network.

S

Monitor

U

Network Card

V

DVD


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ACTIVITY – SOFTWARE QUIZ

Complete the following quick quiz on software.

Quiz (software)


1. Software can be divided into two areas:

A Network software and security software

B System software and application software

C Business software and games software

2. What is the function of system software?

A To collect data

B To execute programs

C To maintain security

3. Application software is programs that are written to:

A Maintain a backup copy of all the information

B Do a particular job such as editing, storing information

C Help someone who is applying for employment

4. What are some popular office-orientated software applications?

A Compilers, interpreters, editors

B Network software, back-up systems

C Word processors, spreadsheets, databases, DTP

5. To publish a magazine, which application would be best?

A Word processing

B Desktop publishing

C Spreadsheet

D Presentation graphics

6. A single application that combines the major features of several types of

applications is called:

A Integrated software

B A suite

C A combination package

D High-end


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ACTIVITY – SOFTWARE ON THE INTERNET

In the table below there is a list of software which is useful for accessing and using the internet

effectively.

Read the descriptions of each type of software and tick those which may be of interest to you. If you

want to find out more about any of them, a web address has been included so that you can go online

and explore their features in more detail.

Software

typeSoftware name Location Comments Interested?

Tick Here

WWW browser

WWW browser

FTP

application

(transfers files)

IRC application

Image

manipulation

Compression

utility

WinZip

Netscape

Communicator

Internet Explorer

CuteFTP

mIRC

Paint Shop Pro

http://www.winzip.com/

http://www.netscape.com/

http://

www.microsoft.com/

http://www.cuteftp.com/

mIRC homepage

http:/www.mirc.com

http://www.jasc.com/

A lot of the software

you download will

be compressed;

you need an easy

method of zipping

and unzipping files

Along with Microsoft

Internet Explorer,

the most popular

web browser.

Another popular

web browser.

Software for

downloading files

and programs from

other sites. Anyone

who’s familiar with

Windows Explorer

will have no

problems using this

software.

Internet Relay Chat

software – for

talking over the net.

Software for

handling images

downloaded from

the internet, and

for homepage

design.


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Protecting against Computer Viruses

A computer virus is a computer program that is able to move from computer to computer by attaching

itself to other programs. It is an unwelcome visitor that takes up system resources and can have

harmful effects on your computer.

To spread itself, it first attaches itself to other programs, documents, or other discs as they are

accessed.

Then the virus can activate and does whatever damage it was programmed to do. This may range

from a simple message to complete erasure of your disc.

Since new viruses are being developed every day, there is no way to guarantee absolutely that you

will never be affected by one. There are, however, several easy steps you can take to minimise your

exposure.

• Test your system with a new version of an anti-virus program.

• Use the anti-virus program to clean your system if it is found to be infected.

• Don’t forget to check all discs you use in your computer (floppy, hard, and removable).

Once you have a clean system:

• every time you start your computer, run the anti-virus program

• when you put a new floppy disc into your computer’s drive, use an anti-virus program to scan the

disc, even if it’s a data disc with no programs on it

• if you are connected to a network and you receive electronic mail with executable programs

attached, never run one of the programs without first checking it for viruses.

ACTIVITY – VIRUS PROTECTION

Where can you obtain a good anti-virus program? There are many anti-virus programs. In this activity

you will explore some of these resources.

Go to the CNET website at http://www.cnet.com

There, follow the links from the home page to

Software>Security & Utilities>Antivirus

Diagnostic>Filtering

Use the links you find here to review some of the

available anti-virus software.


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ACTIVITY – SOFTWARE RESOURCES

There is a large amount of software available on the web that can either be downloaded for free, or

downloaded for a small fee that you are expected to pay on a system of honour. The first of these

categories is commonly called ‘Freeware’; the second is called ‘Shareware’. Shareware is often

offered with an explicit grace period (usually a week or two) in which you can try the software out for

free; if you continue to use the software after that, you are expected to pay the shareware fee.

Go to the techsoup site at http://www.techsoup.org/

Once there, follow the link to Find Donated and Discounted Products. Now follow the link to

Discounted and Donated Software Distributors. This will give descriptions and links to download

various discounted software.

Now go to the CNET download site at http://download.cnet.com/

Here, the reviewed software can be found under various headings, such as utilities. Explore the site

and make a note of any software that interests you.


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ACTIVITY – NETWORK QUIZ

Complete the following quick quiz on networks.

Quiz (networks)


1. You might want to install a network to:

A Share data

B Share a printer

C Communicate via e-mail

D Share applications

E All of the above

2. Computers in a Local Area Network (LAN) are connected by:

A String

B Cables

C Telephone lines

3. The special computer that stores a network’s programs and data is called a:

A Dreamcast

B Server

C Hub

4. To log on to the network, a user must enter their:

A Money

B Username and password

C Full name

5. Networks are vulnerable to computer crime such as:

A Theft, vandalism, and graffiti

B Hacking, viruses, and software piracy

C Internet addiction, sabotage and negligence

6. Wide Area Networks (WANs) differ from LANs in that they:

A Have more users, have faster access times, are cheaper

B Cover larger areas, may require modems and other communications links

C Need more powerful servers, can connect to the internet


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7. The advantages of networks are:

A Improved communications, sharing of data, software and some peripherals

B Increased production, improved communication, hacking

C Lower costs per user, fewer security risks, greater privacy

8. A network that is confined to one building or room is called a:

A LAN

B FAN

C VAN

Documents

ict tools - activities - macls.com · Number 3 is System unit CPU CD drive Number 4 is Keyboard Typing Mouse ... ICT tools – equipment 11 1 ... in the form of text, sound, still