Identification of a Computer and its PartsA basic computer system is generally made up of the following pieces of hardware including: a Monitor, a Tower or Desktop, a Keyboard, a Mouse and Speakers.
A computer has four functions to accept data, process data, produce output and to store data. In order to undertake these functions further insight as to how a computer does this is required. Click on the link to watch a presentation on Computer Basics: Inside a Desktop Computer. So what is a Computer made up of: The Computer Case - This is the outside case of all the hardware. The CPU - The central processing unit (CPU), also called a processor, is located inside the computer case on the motherboard. It is sometimes called the brain of the computer, and its job is to carry out commands. Whenever you press a key, click the mouse, or start an application, you're sending instructions to the CPU. The Motherboard - The motherboard is the computer's main circuit board. It's a thin plate that holds the CPU, memory, connectors for the hard drive and optical drives, expansion cards to control the video and audio, and connections to your computer's ports (such as USB ports). The motherboard connects directly or indirectly to every part of the computer. The Power Supply Unit - This unit converts the power from the wall outlet to the type of power needed by the computer. It sends power through cables to the motherboard and other components. RAM - This is the system's short-term memory. Whenever your computer performs calculations, it temporarily stores the data in the RAM until it is needed. This short-term memory disappears when the computer is turned off. If you're working on a document, spreadsheet, or other type of file, you'll need to save it to avoid losing it. When you save a file, the data is written to the hard drive, which acts as long-term storage. The Hard Drive is where the software is installed, and it's also where your documents and other files are stored. The hard drive is long-term storage, which means the data is still saved even if you turn the computer off or unplug it. When you run a program or open a file, the computer copies some of the data from the hard drive onto the RAM. When you save a file, the data is copied back to the hard drive. The faster the hard drive is, the faster your computer can start up and load programs. Expansion Card - Most computers have expansion slots on the motherboard that allow you to add various types of expansion cards. These are sometimes called PCI (peripheral component interconnect) cards. You may never have to add any PCI cards because most motherboards have built-in video, sound, network, and other capabilities. However, if you want to boost the performance of your computer or update the capabilities of an older computer, you can always add one or more cards. Below are some of the most common types of expansion cards. The Video Card - is responsible for what you see on the monitor. Most computers have a GPU (graphics processing unit) built into the motherboard instead of having a separate video card. If you like playing graphics-intensive games, you can add a faster video card to one of theexpansion slots to get better performance. The Sound Card or Audio Card - is responsible for what you hear in the speakers or headphones. Most motherboards have integrated sound, but you can upgrade to a dedicated sound card for higher-quality sound. The Network Card allows your computer to communicate over a network and access the Internet. It can either connect with an Ethernet cable or through a wireless connection (often called Wi-Fi). Many motherboards have built-in network connections, and a network card can also be added to an expansion slot. Bluetooth - is a technology for wireless communication over short distances. It's often used in computers to communicate with wireless keyboards, mice, and printers. It's often built into the motherboard or included in a wireless network card. For computers that don't have Bluetooth, a USB adapter, called a dongle, can be purchased. Teaching Idea 5: Resources and Activity:
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Now, Let's take a look inside a Computer ...
Inside a computer you will find the Hard Drive, RAM, Heat Sink, CPU (Central Processing Unit), Motherboard, Expansion Slots.
This link Inside Your Computer, is a video presentation by Bettina Bair which looks at exactly that, inside your Computer.
Teaching Idea 6: Resource and Activity
- Collaborative Group Discussion with students in relation to the evolution of the mouse. Click on the link and view the Evolution of the Computer Mouse.
- Teacher to source some old 'mouses' for students to be able to disassemble to see the inside workings of a mouse. Students could work in teams to disassemble a mouse, evaluate the design and operation of its component parts. Students could recommend changes which may improve the functionality of the mouse by way of redesign and/or material selection.
- Extension Activity: Have the students build a model showing the enhanced mechanics or design, and present to class.