C2: Digital Hardware
Level 1
C2 Tutorial Tools & Resouces
C2 Lingos
Computer
An electrical device that can be programmed to carry out a large variety of digital functions. Common characteristics that computers share are that they have a central processing unit (CPU), digital memory, and video and audio outputs. Computers can have separate components (like your work station with the monitor and computer), or have an all-in-one design. Computers typically have keyboard and mouse input devices, although some now have touch screens.
Laptop
A computer that is designed to be portable and small. It usually consists of a fold up design, featuring an attached keyboard, mousepad, and screen.
Tablet
A large screen mobile computer that consists of a thin body construction and a touch screen. Tablets share the same characteristics as a computer, only not quite as powerful from a memory and processing scale. Most Tablets have wifi connectivity to the Internet and a touch screen keyboard. Sometimes identified as a mobile device.
Smartphone
A cellphone with handheld device capabilities. A smartphone's strength is that it blends together computing power and the convenience of a handheld device with cell phone functions. Smartphones usually have Internet access through their cellular signal, which makes them much more convenient from other devices that require connection to a network service (wifi, network cable) to function on the Internet. Like a Tablet, most Smartphones have a touch screen. Sometimes identified as a mobile device.
Chromebook
This is the newest type of digital device technology to be used in schools. It is a small, inexpensive laptop that allows students to connect to the Internet. Unlike a regular laptop, a Chromebook does not allow for much software to work on it outside of a web browser or software specially made for the Chromebook.
Gaming Console
We are now including gaming consoles as a digital computing device because of their connectivity capabilities that the others in this list have in common. Many Gaming Consoles can chat, video chat, search the Web, check email, text, etc. just like a computer can. Interaction with a gaming console is usually through their gaming controllers, but newer models include cameras that take movement commands as well as microphones that can pick on voice commands.
Input Devices
These are devices that allow users to give, or input, information to the computer.
Output Devices
These are parts of a computer system that the computer uses to share data and information with the user.
Internal Hard Drive/Hard Disk
Digital storage device inside of a digital device where all files and digital information is stored. Sometimes referred as internal storage memory.
Power Supply
System inside of a digital device that regulates and sometimes stores electricity for the device to use when needed.
RAM Memory
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Often referred to as "working memory", RAM memory is the amount of stored information that a digital device can access at one time, which affects how fast the computer can work.
Motherboard
A circuit board that connects and houses all the other components of a digital device, allowing them to work together to make the device run successfully.
CPU Microchip Processor
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. This is essentially the brains of the computer, where the calculations for all digital files and commands are carried out.
Optical/DVD Drive
A digital data storage device that reads and writes digital information to removable optical discs, or DVDs. Most drives can read many different formats of digital data, including music and movies.
Case
The outside cover of a digital device. In todays connected world, the case serves 3 purposes. It contains all the working parts of the device, it protects the parts from damage, and increasingly serves as a way for manufacturers to express themselves through its design.
Video/Graphics Card
A special circuit board in a digital device that controls what shows on the screen. There are many kinds of video/graphics cards with different capabilities.
Network Card
Also referred to as a network interface controller or a wireless LAN adapter. This circuit board allows a digital device to connect to a network for the purpose of sharing files, connecting to other devices on the network, and/or accessing the Internet. There are wired network card and wireless network cards.
An electrical device that can be programmed to carry out a large variety of digital functions. Common characteristics that computers share are that they have a central processing unit (CPU), digital memory, and video and audio outputs. Computers can have separate components (like your work station with the monitor and computer), or have an all-in-one design. Computers typically have keyboard and mouse input devices, although some now have touch screens.
Laptop
A computer that is designed to be portable and small. It usually consists of a fold up design, featuring an attached keyboard, mousepad, and screen.
Tablet
A large screen mobile computer that consists of a thin body construction and a touch screen. Tablets share the same characteristics as a computer, only not quite as powerful from a memory and processing scale. Most Tablets have wifi connectivity to the Internet and a touch screen keyboard. Sometimes identified as a mobile device.
Smartphone
A cellphone with handheld device capabilities. A smartphone's strength is that it blends together computing power and the convenience of a handheld device with cell phone functions. Smartphones usually have Internet access through their cellular signal, which makes them much more convenient from other devices that require connection to a network service (wifi, network cable) to function on the Internet. Like a Tablet, most Smartphones have a touch screen. Sometimes identified as a mobile device.
Chromebook
This is the newest type of digital device technology to be used in schools. It is a small, inexpensive laptop that allows students to connect to the Internet. Unlike a regular laptop, a Chromebook does not allow for much software to work on it outside of a web browser or software specially made for the Chromebook.
Gaming Console
We are now including gaming consoles as a digital computing device because of their connectivity capabilities that the others in this list have in common. Many Gaming Consoles can chat, video chat, search the Web, check email, text, etc. just like a computer can. Interaction with a gaming console is usually through their gaming controllers, but newer models include cameras that take movement commands as well as microphones that can pick on voice commands.
Input Devices
These are devices that allow users to give, or input, information to the computer.
Output Devices
These are parts of a computer system that the computer uses to share data and information with the user.
Internal Hard Drive/Hard Disk
Digital storage device inside of a digital device where all files and digital information is stored. Sometimes referred as internal storage memory.
Power Supply
System inside of a digital device that regulates and sometimes stores electricity for the device to use when needed.
RAM Memory
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Often referred to as "working memory", RAM memory is the amount of stored information that a digital device can access at one time, which affects how fast the computer can work.
Motherboard
A circuit board that connects and houses all the other components of a digital device, allowing them to work together to make the device run successfully.
CPU Microchip Processor
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. This is essentially the brains of the computer, where the calculations for all digital files and commands are carried out.
Optical/DVD Drive
A digital data storage device that reads and writes digital information to removable optical discs, or DVDs. Most drives can read many different formats of digital data, including music and movies.
Case
The outside cover of a digital device. In todays connected world, the case serves 3 purposes. It contains all the working parts of the device, it protects the parts from damage, and increasingly serves as a way for manufacturers to express themselves through its design.
Video/Graphics Card
A special circuit board in a digital device that controls what shows on the screen. There are many kinds of video/graphics cards with different capabilities.
Network Card
Also referred to as a network interface controller or a wireless LAN adapter. This circuit board allows a digital device to connect to a network for the purpose of sharing files, connecting to other devices on the network, and/or accessing the Internet. There are wired network card and wireless network cards.
C2 Focus Skills & Questions
- Name 2 types of desktop computer setups (see lingo definition).
- What are the advantages of a laptop computer over a desktop? What are the drawbacks?
- Would a touch screen be considered an input or output device?
- Tablets and smartphones are sometimes classified as what kind of devices?
- Take the listing of input, output, and digital computing device images in C2 Level 3 activity and organize them into columns. Look at the example slide.
- What part of any digital computing device is considered the "brains" of the device?
- Name 2 parts of a digital device that can help speed up its performance?
- What does a digital device need in order to connect to the web?
- Are all digital devices basically the same as far as how their internal parts work?
- Can internal parts of all digital devices be replaced or upgraded? Why or why not?
- Is RAM is for permanent storage? If not, what is, and what does RAM do?
- Put these prefixes for measuring digital data storage space in order from smallest to largest: Giga, Kilo, Mega
C2 Visual Content Development
Part 1: Take the image examples of internal components to a digital computing device and match them with their lingo slide.
C2 Example: Note - The information and sorting of devices is NOT CORRECT on the example.
Level 2
Please take the C2 Quiz in Edmodo. Remember, you should score a 70% or better before you move on to Level 3 learning.
Level 3
Input/Output Matching: Take the image examples of input and output hardware as well as the image examples of digital computing devices and categorize them on the C2 FSQ 5 slide. Be sure to look at the example slide below for some guidance. Notice that the digital computing devices are labeled, look for help on labeling from the C2 Lingos.
C2 Level 3 Example
C2 Level 3 Grading Checklist
Level 4
This activity will demonstrate the way internal and external parts of a digital device work together sharing data. We will be looking at input and output devices, as well as the processing parts of a digital device. Watch the tutorial below which will walk you through setting up the slide you need to add to your Module C Digital Notebook. Once your slide is set in the Notebook, you will be organizing the images and data flow arrows in a way that demonstrates the way the various internal parts of a digital computing device, input devices, and output devices work together. When you are finished, create a PDF of your completed slide. Make sure in the title of the slide it includes your last name. Also, rename your PDF "s2_ YLN C2L4". Turn in to the C2 Level 4 Activity into Google Classroom.
Click Here for C2 Level 4 Tutorial
Click here for the How a Digital Computing Device Works slide.
C2 Level 3 Grading Checklist
Tech C2 Scoring Rubric