English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks

SW 2012

WEEK 3/ 4 TOPIC: HARDWARE / SOFTWARE

Learning objectives: By the end of the lesson students will be better able to ……

1. understand instructions and demonstrate basic knowledge of installing hardware

and software through written exercises.
2. use specific vocabulary, explanations and definitions of words and expressions about
computers.
3. use active and passive forms of Perfect Tenses.
4. ask and give clarifications when purchasing a computer.
5. write a summary of interview findings.
6. justify their decisions when purchasing hardware devices.

How
learning will
Activity Differentiation Interaction
be checked
/assessed
1. Introduce objectives - explain learning
outcomes – English and IT. Projector used
to introduction .
2. Divide the class into small groups, Revision
brainstorm on materilas needed to install a T-Ss Vocabulary
computer.
3. Pair work- students guess on the steps to Quiz
be followed in installing a computer. Grammar
Less independent
4. Students sequence correctly the set of T-Ss
Mini-test
instructions given in saparate laminated
papers (jumbled paragraphs).
5. Watch the youtube video to see if the
sequencing is correct. Integrated
6. Ss Listen for specific information and More independent skills
Ss-Ss
understand the new words through context. (students
7. In pairs students create further instructions check their
as appropriate (how to send a text Ss-Ss work by
message/how to open a facebook account). watching the
8. Game – a student reads the instructions video)
and the others guess what the instructions More independent
are for.
9. Use of passive voice (perfect tenses).
Independent
10. Countable / uncountable nouns (much/
many etc.). Ss-Ss
11. Class discussion: what to consider when
buying a laptop.
12. Monitoring classroom.

HOMEWORK: Students will conduct

a class survey of
computing needs and
write a summary of it

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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

HOW TO INSTALL A COMPUTER: EXAMPLE RESOURCES

It is cheaper to install a computer by yourself than

purchase a computer that is already built. The parts
of the computer can be purchased from computer
stores that sell used computer parts. Installing a
computer by yourself is also advantageous as you will
learn how the computer works and you can repair the
Materials Needed: computer by yourself if ever you have problems with it.

• CPU • CPU fan • video card

• power supply • RAM • sound card
• monitor • hard drive • screwdriver
• Motherboard • disk drive • screws

Step 1
Before beginning to install your computer, you need to make sure that all the computer parts
that you have are compatible with each other.
Step 2
Now get your motherboard. Be careful in handling the motherboard so as not to damage it.
Connect the CPU’s pins to the motherboard. Carefully push the motherboard in place.
Step 3
Next, install the CPU fan on your motherboard. This device cools the computer down to avoid
overheating of the computer. Don’t install the motherboard yet.
Step 4
After installing the fan, install the RAM in place on the motherboard. The RAM is the memory of
the computer. Gently push the RAM chip inside the slot. There are clips on either side of the RAM
slot. Secure the RAM chip in place by using the clips.
Step 5
Now you have installed the major components. After installing the major components of the
computer, install the motherboard inside the computer case. Secure the motherboard in place
by using the screws and the screwdriver.
Step 6
After you have secured the motherboard in place, you can install the power source. The power
source has wires connected to it. Connect a wire to the motherboard and to other devices inside
the case. You can check the user’s manual of the power source to know which cable to connect
to a specific device.
Step 7
Install the hard drive. There is a slot on the computer case designed to hold the hard drive. Make
sure that the hard drive is securely in place by using the screws. Get one of the wires connected
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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

to the power supply and connect it to the hard drive.

You cannot install the hard drive until you have secured the motherboard.
Step 8
Finally, install the CD-ROM drive. Slide the CD-ROM drive on its slot and connect the power
source cable to the CD-ROM drive.

Teaching ideas:
Preparation and planning:
• Cut and laminate set of instructions:
Step 1

Before beginning to install your computer, you need to make sure that all the
computer parts that you have are compatible with each other.

Now get your motherboard. Be careful in handling the motherboard so as not

Step 2

to damage it. Connect the CPU’s pins to the motherboard. Carefully push the
motherboard in place.
Step 3

Next, install the CPU fan on your motherboard. This device cools the computer
down to avoid overheating of the computer. Don’t install the motherboard yet.
Step 4

After installing the fan, install the RAM in place on the motherboard. The RAM is the
memory of the computer. Gently push the RAM chip inside the slot. There are clips
on either side of the RAM slot. Secure the RAM chip in place by using the clips.
Step 5

Now you have installed the major components. After installing the major components
of the computer, install the motherboard inside the computer case. Secure the
motherboard in place by using the screws and the screwdriver.

After you have secured the motherboard in place, you can install the power source.
Step 6

The power source has wires connected to it. Connect a wire to the motherboard
and to other devices inside the case. You can check the user’s manual of the power
source to know which cable to connect to a specific device.

Install the hard drive. There is a slot on the computer case designed to hold the
Step 7

hard drive. Make sure that the hard drive is securely in place by using the screws.
Get one of the wires connected to the power supply and connect it to the hard
drive. You cannot install the hard drive until you have secured the motherboard.
Step 8

Finally, install the CD-ROM drive. Slide the CD-ROM drive on its slot and connect the
power source cable to the CD-ROM drive.

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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

Focus: Listening for specific information:

http://www.homepcbuilder.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1X2Wpwl4dg

Focus: Sequencing vocabulary: (first, next, then, also, in addition etc), imperatives, verbs:
(install, connect, push, avoid, secure, damage, check, slide) nouns: (motherboard, power supply,
screwdriver )
1. Extract key vocabulary and ensure students are secure in meanings and definitions

2. Explain that students are going to work in pairs or small groups to arrange instructions
for installing a computer

3. Example assessment: present accurate order of instructions onscreen, groups self check
/ teacher checks groups’ work.

4. Return to YouTube video (or other) to consolidate sequencing

Extension / differentiated activities:

Writing / Speaking and listening:

1. students work in pairs creating and verbalising further instructions as appropriate, e.g.

• How to send a text message

• How to send an email
• How to open a face book account
Students devise instructions for activity/ies (e.g. as above) without informing partner what the
activity is. Partners must work out what the instructions are for.

Topic focus and learning outcomes:

Identify and accurately use vocabulary to describe the functions of printers, scanners
and video projectors
Identify and accurately use language connected with making a complaint.
Use descriptive and persuasive language to create advert to sell product.

Planning and preparation - suggested resources

Printed text (see resources: printers, scanners and video projectors)

Projector, Internet access for all students
Newspaper / magazine / eBay adverts: printers and/or scanners for sale
This topic uses role-play: customer services / complaining
Video: complain / complaint: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru53eMo0i2c

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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

A BEGNNER`S GUIDE TO BUYING A LAPTOP

Adapted from Brian Westover PCMag December 2010

Anatomy of a Laptop

Laptop computers may be complicated, but they all share the same
basic anatomy. Some parts are obvious at first glance, like the
keyboard and screen. Others, you might never actually see even if you
use computers daily. Knowing what these basic parts are and what they
do will help you sort through the jargon and find a computer that fits your
needs. Here is a very basic anatomy lesson.

Processor: The real driving force of the computer is called the

processor. Think of it as the engine of your laptop. It does most
of the work as you run programs. Most processors on the
market today are perfectly capable of handling basic
web and office use. More complicated tasks require
a more powerful processor. An Intel Core processor
is best. AMD Phenom and Athlon CPUs give good
performance for the buck, but tend to be less battery
efficient than Intel processors.

Graphics Card: The graphics card is

a specialized processor similar to the CPU,
but deals only with graphics. When playing a
game or editing photos, a great deal of visual
information is being calculated and displayed at
once, and without a separate graphics processor to do
that work, the regular processor in your computer
is easily overwhelmed.

Optical Disc Drive: Standard in most

laptops is an optical drive. They are named
so because they use laser light to read and
record information. These drives play CDs
and DVDs, and at the more expensive
end, play Blu-ray movies as well. DVD
and CD playback is standard, as is
DVD-R, which allows you to record
information onto a DVD.

Hard Drive: This is where the

computer stores all of the programs
and files it has. The larger a hard drive
is, the more information it can store.
This is usually measured in gigabytes,
or sometimes terabytes.
Also important is the speed of the drive,
which is measured in rotations per minute—
the faster the rotation, the better. Some new
drives have no moving parts, and are called solid
state drives or flash storage. Storage space is still
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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

important with these drives, but they tend to be faster, lighter weight, and more expensive. Look for at
least 320GB (500GB of more is best).

Also ask about the speed; 5,400 rotations per minute (rpm) is what you get with most laptops, but
7,200rpm ones are becoming more common. Anything below 5,400rpm, and you may want to look
elsewhere.

RAM (or Memory): When your computer runs a program or opens a file, it needs some information
to be immediately available instead of being stored on the hard drive. This information is temporarily
kept in the RAM, and the more RAM you have, the more smoothly your computer will operate. We
recommend 3GB minimum; 4GB is best. Keep Anything beyond 4GB isn’t really necessary at this point,
as the programs you’ll use can’t take advantage of more memory than that.

Extras: There are plenty of features that come standard now on a laptop, and knowing what they are
is important in determining if you’ll use them. For instance, a memory card reader allows you to insert
your memory card from your camera directly into your laptop for downloading photos and videos you
shot. An HDMI port or DisplayPort allows you to connect your laptop to another display so you can view
your multimedia files (e.g. photos and videos) on a bigger monitor or HDTV.

WHAT WILL YOU USE YOUR PC FOR?

Before you begin shopping for a computer, you need to know what you want to use it for. For
many people, this will be simple Web browsing and typing the occasional document. Others
enjoy editing photos and videos, or playing games. Each of these tasks have their own unique
requirements, and not every computer is well suited to every task.
Most people use their computers for a handful of tasks; browsing Websites, sorting and storing
pictures, working on documents and spreadsheets. None of these uses are particularly processor-
intensive, and nearly any current system (including netbooks) will work well enough.
Anyone looking to play games on their system will need more processor power and a decent graphics
card. If you’re only playing a few basic games, then most GPU equipped machines will fit the bill.
If you want to do much in the way of editing video or manipulating photos, you will need processor
and graphics horsepower as well as a lot of storage space. Storage space may come in the form of
the computer’s existing hard drive, or an external hard drive.

Types of Laptops

There are four categories of laptop that we’ll cover here. At the lower end in terms of both performance
and price, we have a category called net books.

Netbooks: The cheapest laptops on the market today are a separate category called netbooks.
Netbooks are built to be light, portable, and cheap. Netbooks have smaller screens, smaller
processors, smaller hard drives, and no optical drive. Ranging in price from ALL 32,000 – 53,000,
netbooks are perfect for simple, basic computing tasks, but definitely not for gaming.

Ultraportables: Designed to offer the power of a full laptop in a sleek, compact form factor,
ultraportables offer many features, but they can be expensive. Ultraportables feature slightly smaller
screens than mainstream laptop, usually between 12 and 14 inches, and have smaller hard drives.
Built for high performance and energy efficiency, these laptops are ideal for those who want it all,
and are willing to pay for it. Price varies from ALL 70,000 to ALL 323,000.

Value/Budget: These laptops are built to provide the performance of larger laptops, but use
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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

cheaper materials and less efficient components to do it. They provide more than enough processing
power for office use, and can handle light photo and video editing. They cost less than ALL 75,000,
and performance is usually proportional to the price.

Desktop Replacements: Desktop replacements are designed to do exactly what the name
suggests—replace your desktop computer. They feature larger screens (15 inches or larger), more
powerful processors, and usually have a separate numeric pad in addition to the full size keyboard.
They are well suited to photo and video editing, and all but the most demanding games. While some
desktop replacements can be found for as little as ALL 75,000, most start around ALL 86,000 and
go upwards from there.

TIPS FOR LAPTOP SHOPPING

Know what you`ll use it for: As mentioned above, you need to know what you intend
to use the laptop for. If your most strenuous use will be watching YouTube videos and chatting
on Facebook, then buying a desktop replacement laptop will cost you far more than you need
to spend. On the other hand, if you want to learn Photoshop for making a digital scrapbook, it
doesn’t make sense to settle for a netbook.

Know Your Budget: Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s a good idea to try and
get an idea of how much those systems cost. Visit stores and ask questions about the different
systems.

Try it Out: While processors and hardware are important, it’s equally important that you feel
comfortable with whatever you buy. Many netbooks, have small keyboards, and some will feel
more cramped than others. The touchpad on a computer might look great in pictures, but feel
irritating under your fingertips. Figuring out what you like and don’t like before you buy can save
you a lot of aggravation after.

A BEGNNER`S GUIDE TO BUYING A LAPTOP

Adapted from Brian Westover PCMag December 2010

Individual worksheet and comprehension questions

• What are the main considerations when buying a laptop?

• How many basic types of laptop are there and what are they?
• Which part of a laptop plays a DVD or CD?
• Which type of processor is the best?
• What does a graphics card do?
• How do we measure the amount of information a hard drive can store?
• What do we call the place where temporary information is stored?
• Which type of laptop tends to be the simplest and cheapest?
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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

• What size screens do desktop replacements have?

• What ‘extra’ will you need to allow you to download photographs or videos?
• What is the name for the new drives which have no moving parts?
• How many rpm do most laptops have?

Whole class activity

You are going to find out which type of laptop would best suit the people in your class.
Divide into groups of 4 or 5
You will need to:

• Talk with each person in your group and find out what they will use the laptop for.
You need to ask about
• web browsing
• sorting and storing pictures
• working on document and spreadsheets
• playing games
• editing videos
• manipulating photos

• From your findings, you now need to decide on

• the amount of memory your laptop must have,
• what type of processor you need
• the speed of your hard drive
• any extras you might want

You must also consider your budget.

Now you can decide, as a group, which laptop would suit you best.
Present your findings to the other groups.
Is there one type of laptop which is more popular than the others?

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 English for Skills Course Outline 18 Weeks SW 2012

Answers

A Beginner’s Guide to Buying a Laptop

Adapted from Brian Westover PCMag December 2010

Individual worksheet and comprehension questions

• What are the main considerations when buying a laptop?

Any variation on: price, what it will be used for – home, office, photos, games,
creating documents. Hard drive and processing speed must be adequate for use.
• How many basic types of laptop are there and what are they?
Four: Netbooks, Ultraportables, Value or Budget, and Desktop Replacements
• Which part of a laptop plays a DVD or CD?
The optical disc drive
• Which type of processor is the best?
An Intel Core Processor
• What does a graphics card do?
It calculates and displays visual information
• How do we measure the amount of information a hard drive can store?
In gigabytes or terabytes
• What do we call the place where temporary information is stored?
R.A.M or Random Access Memory
• Which type of laptop tends to be the simplest and cheapest?
A netbook
• What size screens do desktop replacements have?
Fifteen inches or larger
• What ‘extra’ will you need to allow you to download photographs or videos?
A memory card reader
• What is the name for the new drives which have no moving parts?
Solid state drives or Flash storage
• How many rpm do most laptops have?
5,400 up to 7,200

Vocabulary:

Input Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Hand Held Page Flatbed scanner

plug-and-play USB firewire connection dots per inch resolution

colour depth grayscale depth

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