A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining your PC

Fifth Edition (Enhanced)

General Course Information

Instructor:  Professor Norval Bell

Office: (904) 766-6663
Fax: (904) 766-5565
Online Delivery: Blackboard http://bb6.fccj.edu
Email: nbell@fccj.edu

The program manager for this course is:
Ms. Janice Hall
(904) 766-6705
jhall@fccj.edu

Classroom:                 Room A122
Hardware Lab:           Room A168
Class Times:              M / W 6:00 PM – 9:55 PM

Prerequisites            CGS 1060 or CGS 1100 or CGS 1570

Textbook:     A+ Guide to Managing and Maintaining Your PC, Fifth Edition, ISBN: 0619213248
 

Catalog Description:

Students learn how to install, configure, maintain and upgrade microcomputer hardware and attached peripherals. Although this course is not a certification preparation course, it may include much of the related CompTIA A+ certification material. Students taking this course should also register for CDA 1403 at the same time.  Four contact hours: three lecture hours; one laboratory hour. A.S., A.A.S.

Course Objectives: Upon conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

The goal of this course is to provide a thorough, step-by-step process for learning the fundamentals of supporting and troubleshooting computer operating systems so that students will be prepared to challenge CompTIA’s broad-based, vendor–independent A+ OS certification exam.  This course covers a wide range of material about operating systems, from using the different Windows operating systems to demonstrating how the boot process works, as well as installing, supporting, and troubleshooting the different Windows operating systems.  The course begins with a general overview of how software and hardware actually relate to each other on a computer.  Other topics include supporting hard drives from a software point of view, supporting and troubleshooting Windows on networks and the Internet, and a basic introduction to the Linux and Mac OS operating systems. The final topic addresses issues related to notebook computers.  The course takes a hands-on approach to learning the steps to installing, troubleshooting and supporting the most common operating systems in use on the personal computer.  In addition to explaining concepts, the course uses a multitude of real world examples of problems and issues related to operating systems, making it a practical preparation for the real world.

Web Site:

Supplementary information for the course is available at (http://www1.fccj.edu/nbell). The Web site contains the Software Matrix for CDA 1403.

 E-Mail:

All students are requested to obtain an e-mail account. If you have any questions about the course or need assistance, please contact me in person, by telephone during school hours or by e-mail at any time.

Course Rationale:

To provide an opportunity for students to obtain the knowledge and skills necessary to service microcomputer hardware and supported peripherals, build a computer from parts, and prepare for a successful result on the CompTIA A+ PC Operating Systems exam.

Attendance:

Students are expected to be present and punctual for all scheduled classes and labs.

The instructor will make a concerted effort to respond to all e-mail within a 24-48-hour period except on holidays.  If it is an emergency, please put “Emergency response needed” in the subject line of the e-mail.  All e-mail correspondence to me shall include the course title and session number in the subject line.    

This course syllabus is a working outline for our semester and can be modified at the Professors discretion, depending on the flow of the class.

Dropping a Class:

The student is responsible for understanding the procedure for dropping a class. If you fail to attend classes but do not follow the procedure for dropping the class, you may receive a failing grade. If you wish to withdraw from the college (i.e., drop all your classes), (http://www.fccj.edu/resources/catalogs/2006_2007/academics/gradingsystem.html).  Failure to properly withdraw from classes can have a detrimental effect on your grade point average and your future educational goals.

 Dishonesty: http://www.fccj.org/resources/catalogs/2005_2006/rights/expectations.html#dishonesty any student found cheating will receive a 0 for the assignment/test and may be subject to further disciplinary action.

Grading Rationale:

 In this class, students will be evaluated according to performance in the following categories:

·        In-class assignments, homework, and class participation

·        4 Quizzes at the instructor’s discretion

·        Lab Simulation activities

·        1 Mid-Test

·        PowerPoint Presentation 

·        A final Project

Class work	Class work	Class work	5	100
Lab Sims	Lab Simulations	Lab Sims	15	100
Quiz 1	CH 2, 3, 8	Quiz 1	10	100
Quiz 2	CH 13, 20	Quiz 2	10	100
Quiz 3	CH 14, 6	Quiz 3	10	100
Mid Test	CH 18, 15, 12	Mid-Test	15	100
Quiz 4	CH 15, 16	Quiz 4	10	100
PPT	Topic TBD	PPT	10	100
Final Project	Hardware / Software	Final Project	15	100

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grade achievement levels are as follows:

 Grade                           Range

A                                 90%+

B                                  80-89%

C                                 70-79%

D                                 60-69%

F                                  0-59%

Special Accommodations:

If you have a special learning need or issue, it works to your advantage to notify your instructor immediately if special devices or assistance will help you in this class. To request academic accommodations for a disability, students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Support Services prior to receiving accommodations.

 Classroom Etiquette:

Pagers and cell phones will be turned off or set to vibrate mode during class. Please show courtesy to the class by restricting conversation to in-class topics, and raise your hand to gain attention when asking a question or raising a point of discussion.