Computer Hardware Learning
Denisha Cerniglia
Disciplines, softwares, and programming techniques such as Embedded Systems, Arduino, and hardware description languages are the building blocks that enable learners to begin understanding ways to make Computer Hardware a reality. Computer Hardware courses offered through Coursera equip learners with knowledge in hardware architecture; computer-building principles; open-source platforms designed to build digital devices; and more.
Computer Hardware is essential to powering the programs we use daily, and therefore important to learn about and constantly improve upon so we may evolve our technology. Computer Hardware can be used for special purposes beyond a desktop, laptop, or mobile device. A Hardware Developer can build devices that address accessibility, security, healthcare, entertainment, and other needs.
In May 2019, Computer Hardware Engineers earned a median salary of $117,220 per year. The top-paying industry for Computer Hardware Engineers was Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing. Other roles where Computer Hardware knowledge applies include Technical Writer, Sales Professional, User Experience Researcher, Creative Director, Audio Designer, Digital Learning Aide, and others.
Lessons on Embedded Systems are taught by instructors from major tech names and universities, including University of California at Irvine, University of Colorado at Boulder, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and other institutions. Learners can enjoy exploring Computer Hardware with instructors specializing in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and other disciplines. Course content on Computer Hardware is delivered via video lectures, readings, quizzes, and other types of assignments.
The common career paths for someone in computer hardware are likely to start in junior roles in the field of computer systems. A person may have graduated with a computer science degree and is working in a company role that involves installing, maintaining, and testing computer servers, chips, circuit boards, and PC peripherals like monitors, keyboards, routers, printers, and more. As the person grows in the job, they may take on expanded responsibilities in server architecture, cloud platforms, and computer networking.
Some of the topics related to computer hardware that you can study may include learning about the CPU (central processing unit), RAM (random access memory), and storage. These are the key components of computers, and you may benefit by understanding how these work together. You may also dig into topics like cloud server platforms, which are growing in use across industries. Computer data and applications increasingly continue to move to cloud platforms, creating a consistent need for people to have the latest devices and computer technology to remotely access and execute data in the cloud.
Online Computer Hardware courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Computer Hardware skills. Choose from a wide range of Computer Hardware courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Computer Hardware, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.
I'm in need of major help at my current job. I'm a HS teacher and I teach a private school - I just started in August, two days before school started and five days before the previous teacher left for a different school for another opportunity, and I'm the new computer science teacher. I have a masters in CS.
Two of my classes are going very well (CS 1 and CS 2), and I'm very much in my element teaching those classes. They're not perfect, but I have some awesome ideas for building them over the years. The classes are about coding, which I am very confident in.
I am having major trouble with my 3rd class - Computer Hardware and Software. The course description is based on the A+ technician curriculum. Not only is it my largest and rowdiest class, but I'm having severe problems coming up with lessons or curriculum.
I don't have an IT background. I was originally told months ago that I have to teach A+ because that was what is in the course description, and that I have to teach the concepts of the course. The problem is, I don't have an IT background, I have a CS background, and so I'm supposed to teach what is in A+.
I don't have A+ certification, I'm not a technician by trade, I don't know all the ins and outs of different motherboards, processors or input/output ports - I mean, I have an informal understanding of those things, but I am not sure how to make this stuff interesting for 10th graders who all are already students with ADHD and are very bored right now. I find myself not having fun lessons ever, and I even cried in the middle of class because I'm boring and I have no idea what I'm doing.
My administrator says I can't change the class during the school year - I've made it clear since the beginning of the year that this is not my expertise. What should I do? I bought 10 raspberry pis and I want to use those to teach physical computing, but even that is coding, and not A+ at all, and it's something I have to learn myself.
I'm the only computer science teacher here at my school, and so I don't think my colleagues or my administrator understand that 1) A+ is not really a college prep curriculum, nor is it computer science, 2) Parents care more that their students are learning important things that meeting whatever was in the course description. I don't mean to be rude, but I feel like no one is teaching A+ to college-prep students, they're teaching coding.
From the question, it seems that the school has not set up a lab environment for the course. Your purchase of Pis was a good move in the right direction. To be useful, your Computer Hardware and Software course needs to be more of a lab style course than a knowledge-based course such as history or math. Making it more hands-on for the students might even help reduce the rowdiness and tame the ADHD.
Based on the test expectations, I would surmise that while you may not be well versed in each objective, you have a solid foundation of experience and exposure which will make gaining the requisite knowledge easier than you're anticipating. In practical terms, the level of knowledge being tested is mostly just a notch or two above "common knowledge" anyway. Reading the book by Mike Meyers (see next section) could be all you need to learn about the A+ to be able to teach it to your students. I'd still recommend getting a copy of the Official study guides anyway, even if you find a used one somewhere. The manner they present the information is influenced by how they will test for it, and knowing that will help you design your course to help ready your students for the test.
It seems a bit much to expect that high school students would be able, and willing, to purchase their own copy of the official CompTIA A+ Study Guide. As the instructor, however, you probably should. As an alternative, or supplement, you could read CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide, Ninth Edition (Exams 220-901 & 220-902), by Mike Meyers. In various versions, his CompTIA related books have been recommended reading. This book is probably available in your local public library, or through ILL if they don't have it.
As a guide for developing your course you can at least review the objectives for the two A+ tests, (hardware) 220-901 and (software) 220-902. An extra problem is that the 220-901/220-902 test series is old. They were launched in Dec., 2015, and are set to be retired in July 2019. If a partial objective for the course is to prepare the students to pass the exams after the course, there could be a timeline issue. The current test is set to retire at about the same time as the students would be finished with the course.
The CompTIA tests are billed as "vendor-neutral" and they do cover the majority of the field, including Linux, Mac OS, iOS, and Android, in their testing. Windows is still the priority for the testing, with almost all the software and networking scenarios involving Windows-based tools for their solution. That said, without the exposure and practice with Linux, and the mobile OSes, they are unlikely to achieve a passing score on the real tests. What little there is for Android and iOS can be discussed and some of the students can practice on their personal phones, since it mostly involves increasing security or connecting to networks and email servers. The improved security on their devices will not be a bad thing at all.
While it is not, technically, required, the A+ preparation course will be most effective if it is based on in-lab experience more than memorization of material. (Think of automotive mechanics more than chemistry.) Especially in the hardware section (220-901), what the students need to learn is what they can do rather than know. The software test (220-902) is more evenly split between skills and knowledge. Even so, doing it will mean more than knowing it. This means having a "lab" available to practice in. The lab does not need to be anything permanent at all. One A+ Prep course that I was familiar with at a community college used a regular classroom. The instructor had all the elements needed stored in a collection of plastic crates and they were wheeled into the classroom on a hand truck for the class twice a week.
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