Standard

R State Standard £Institutionally Developed College:

CIS 286 - A+ Preparation
Course Description Provides the student with the fundamentals of configuring, installing, diagnosing, repairing, upgrading, and maintaining computers and their peripherals. To fundamentally prepare the student for the A+ certification examination. Topics include: PC hardware and configuration, Peripherals, Preventative Maintenance, Customer Interaction, Virus protection, Safety and Electrostatic Discharge, and Networks.
Competency Areas	Hours
PC Hardware and configuration	Class	4
Peripherals	D. Lab	6
Preventative Maintenance	P. Lab/O.B.I.	0
Customer Interaction	Credit	7
Virus Protection
Safety and Electrostatic Discharge
Networks

Prerequisite:	CIS 122
Corequisite:

Course Guide

Competency	After completing this section, the student will be able to:	Hours
		Class	D.Lab	P.Lab/ O.B.I.
PC HARDWARE AND CONFIGURATION		10	10
Microcomputer Sub-systems and functions and A+ requirements	Explain the history of personal computing and identify the concerns that A+ requires about chronological, model types, and processor types.
	Identify system components from the earliest models to the latest models.
System Disassembly	Disassemble and identify components from both earlier PC models and current microcomputers.
	Remove and replace a power supply, hard disk, CD ROM, sound card, video card and memory.
Memory	Describe the various types of memory used in microcomputer systems including RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, DRAM, and SPRAM.
	Describe the three categories of memory under DOS including conventional, expanded, and extended.
	Describe the various type of chip connections including DIP, PGA, and SIMM and current standard.
System Set-up and A+ requirements	demonstrate microcomputer set-up and perform checkout procedures including system configuration, formatting and partitioning the fixed disk, and loading the operating system.
Hardware/Software diagnostics	Demonstrate the proper sequence of checks to perform for distinguishing between computer hardware and software problems.
Read/writer error problems	Demonstrate disk compatibility problem resolution.
	Troubleshoot/diagnose hard disk, CD ROM, DVD, tape backup, and other data storage devices.
	Identify drive and disk capacities and determine which are interchangeable.
	Run utilities and perform disk diagnostics using current utility software like Norton Utilities and other special diagnostic software.
	Discuss CompTIA A+ knowledge requirements, standards, and procedures related to troubleshooting and performing diagnostics.
Fixed disks	Define the term track, sector, and cluster.
Data encoding	Describe the different data encoding in current technologies.
Interfaces	Identify disk interfaces/controllers in current technology used with fixed disks.
	Discuss A+ knowledge requirements, standards, and procedures related to preventive maintenance procedures.
PERIPHERALS		5	10
Bus types	Identify and describe the various bus types including ISA, EISA, MCA, VESA, SCSI, and PCI.
processor types	Describe functions of the Intel family of processors beginning with the 8088.
	Describe how the processor works with the coprocessor and define the various registers used by the processor.
	Discuss CompTIA A+ requirements, terms, and standards used in the sub-systems.
I/O cards	Demonstrate expansion card, floppy disk drive, disk controller, and fixed disk installation
External peripherals	Demonstrate the ability to connect (and perform check-outs for) various external peripherals such as printers and t-switches.
	Discuss CompTIA A+ knowledge requirements, standards, and procedures related to installation and set-up procedures.
PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE		5	10
System troubleshooting and A+ requirements	List the rules and steps to good troubleshooting techniques.
System diagnostics and A+ requirements	Identify the possible error codes for POST routine and isolate problems.
	Run general diagnostic tests to pinpoint system failures.
System	Identify factors, which can adversely affect the normal operation of the microcomputer.
	Demonstrate the proper methods to clean internal and external system components.
Tools	Identify the tools necessary to perform preventative maintenance on the microcomputer.
Backup	Describe the methods used to insure proper system and application software backup.
Protection	Identify the main types of power protection devices being used.
	Perform SCANDISK and DEFRAG programs in WINDOWS/DOS systems and setup WINDOWS to run programs automatically
	Perform CMOS backup, WINDOWS Registry Backup, and other necessary file/data backup.
CUSTOMER INTERACTION		5	10
Customer service	Explain how to work with customers
Handling complaints	Explain how to handle complaints
VIRUS PROTECTION		5	5
Virus	Explain what is and how to prevent viruses.
Spyware	Explain what is and how to prevent spyware.
Malware	Explain what is and how to prevent malware.
Anti-Virus programs	Demonstrate use of anti-virus programs (free and paid).
Anti-Malware programs	Find and demonstrate anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on Internet.
SAFETY AND ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE		5	5
Safety precautions and A+ requirements	Identify safety hazards and demonstrate safety precautions used with an operational microcomputer and power supply.
	Identify and explain safety precautions as related to electrical systems and incorrect voltages and connections between plug-in Boards, motherboards, and cables.
	Identify power protection devices/methods for surge protection.
	Identify and explain safety precautions with magnetic storage systems, dangers of shock file transfers/modification, and virus attacks.
Static Discharge	identify and explain the safety precautions between human contact and electrical circuits, and static shock to IC circuits.
	Discuss CompTIA A+ knowledge requirements, standards, and procedures related to equipment, data, and personal safety.
NETWORKS		5	10
Types	Explain ring, cellular, star, and bus
Wiring	Explain and do Ethernet cabling
Fiber	Explain types of fiber networks
Traffic	Explain packets and frames
OSI model	Explain OSI model layers

Suggested Resources

Media (print/audio/ visual/www/ other)	Author	Year	Title: Subtitle	Edition	Location	Publisher/ Publication	pp.
print	Andrews	2008	CompTIA A+ Guide to Managing & Maintaining Your PC	6^th		Course technology
website	A+ Certification from LearnKey www.learnkey.com
website	VUE www.vue.com
website	CompTIA Organization www.comptia.org

Posted: 09/25/08