CNIT 103:
Computer Hardware

Course Information for Spring 2020

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

1. Identify the major hardware components, their functions, and their characteristics.
2. Describe proper installation, configuration, and maintenance of the major hardware components.
3. Analyze and resolve system faults using logical troubleshooting procedures.
4. Plan and design customized computer systems based on professional customer interactions and need assessment.
5. Explain proper handling of components and personal safety procedures.

Instructor Information

Course Requirements

Covers CNIT 103 & CNIT 104 with 1 textbook:

CompTIA A+ Guide to IT Technical Support, 10th Edition, 2020, Jean Andrews, Joy Dark, Jill West, Course Technology, Cengage Learning. ISBN: 978-0-357-10829-1.

The above 10th edtion textbook is required. Students who wait 3 or 4 weeks to obtain a textbook or never obtain a textbook have a very difficult time succeeding in this course. For those on a tight budget purchase online through cengagebrain.com or you can find a copy of the textbook on 3 hour reserve at the Rosenberg Library on the Ocean campus.

Note: The CNIT department uses the 10th edition of Jean Andrews textbook, which covers the 1001 (Core 1) and 1002 (Core 2) CompTIA A+ certification objectives. Purchasing an earlier edition would be a big mistake, since the earlier edition is different and was written about 5 years ago, and the chapters do not match.

1. Chrome - fully supported by Canvas, although other browsers can be used
2. Microsoft Word or Notepad for writing brief reports and MS Excel
3. Image manipulation software such as IrfanView (freeware) or MS Paint

Grading

A = 90% +
B = 80% - 89%
C = 70% - 79%
D = 60% - 69%
F = 59% or below

Homework makes up 42% of your final grade. Please see the Schedule for homework assignment due dates.

Late Homework: Homework may be accepted up to 1 week late but with a 10% penalty. I will allow only two late homework assignments from each student.

In-class and online participation makes up 8% of your final grade. Attendance will be taken at each face-to-face class session. You are expected to attend this weekly evening course and participate in class discussion and activities. After the mid-term exam class will be taught online. Participation points are based on posting or replying to the appropriate chapter Discussions on a weekly basis. Only discussions posted by the assigned weekly due date will earn points.

There will be 4 short chapter quizzes which make up 16.7% of your grade. Please refer to the Schedule for quiz dates and material covered. The quizzes will be multiple choice, true-false, and fill-in-the-blank. You get 2 attempts at each quiz. The highest score counts.

The Mid-Term Exam is worth 16.7% of your grade and covers chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and any material covered during the first half of the course. The mid-term exam will be multiple choice, true-false, and fill-in-the-blank. The mid-term exam will be taken online on Wednesday, March 18 starting at 6:10 p.m. Please mark your calendar. If you have a conflict, you must inform me by the 3rd class session on January 29. There is no make-up mid-term exam.

The Final Exam is worth 16.7% of your grade and is comprehensive. The final exam will be multiple choice, true-false, and fill-in-the-blank. The final exam must be taken during the scheduled week - Wednesday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 19 by 10 p.m. - no exceptions. There is no make-up final exam. Please mark your calendar.

You are responsible for knowing your exam dates and completing your mid-term and final exam by the due date. Do not wait until the last minute to take your online exams. If you run into technical or other difficulties at the last minute, you will still be responsible for completing your exams by the due date.

Classroom Policies

Class attendance is required. I reserve the right to drop any student who has missed three class sessions. Although I reserve the right to drop any student who has missed three class sessions, students should not depend on me to do so. It is the student's responsibility to complete the online form in SSB (Web4) that is needed to drop or withdraw from this class. If you simply stop attending class, you will probably receive a failing grade for the course.

Take time to learn how your financial aid works: If your instructor withdraws the student due to lack of attendance based on the above policy and it is after the standard drop with full refund period, then the student most likely will be financially liable to pay for the entire cost of the course. A student in a face-to-face class needs to come to class each week on the scheduled date and time from the start of the semester all the way through to the very last day. If the student can not make this semester long committment, then the student should make sure he/she drops the course prior to the deadline to receive a full refund.

Please be aware of the the information on the list of Important Dates including the last day to drop classes with a full refund.

The classroom should provide an environment that helps people learn. There are some activities that promote learning and others that hinder learning.

Address all questions to the class as a whole; do not have side-conversations with your neighbor during class. Although you may think you are speaking softly, this behavior is rude and disruptive to others.

Participate in the class discussions. You will never lose points for mistakes you make in class discussions and you may clear up misunderstandings this way.

Please do not place food or drinks near any of the computer systems on campus. If you eat something sticky during break, please wash your hands. No one likes to touch a dirty mouse or keyboard.

Academic Accommodation