This activity assesses beginning computer users' understanding of the various computer hardware items and their purposes. Input and output devices are recognized by student groups as they compete in a contest to label the components. The activity follows a lesson by the teacher of basic hardware elements commonly associated with a desktop computer.
This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.
Exhibit proper use of basic computer components, including hardware, operating systems, software, file management, network functions, hardware maintenance, and problem-solving.
Students will label common computer hardware components according to the component's usage.
This activity serves as an assessment of a lesson about the uses of various components of computer hardware.
These are commonly used hardware items in a computer lab:
Keyboard
Mouse
Flash drive
CD
Printer
CPU
External hard drive
Monitor
Headphones
Microphone
Digital Camera
Video Card
Speakers
Projector
Elmo (if applicable)
FAX (if applicable)
Add (or delete) anything else you use in your classroom
The list of the devices is written on the board (or on the projector screen) so students can see the list during the activity.
The list will also say:
Yellow notes for input devices
Blue notes for output devices
Purple notes on devices that can be both
Students are put in groups of three. Each group is given a group number and several sticky notes (yellow, blue, and purple). Each group computer has a CPU, monitor, keyboard, mouse, flash drive, CD, headphones, and microphone. The other peripheral items are in their normal positions for common use or at the teacher computer.
Instructions to the students:
We have had a lesson on computer hardware components.
This is a competition to see how well you can label the various components we discussed.
Some of the devices you use every day at your computer.
Others are used in class individually but are shared by the group.
All the devices on the projected list are either at your group computer or in their normal positions in the classroom.
When I say go:
You will write your group number and group member names (first and last) on the sticky notes using the one pencil at your desk.
Then you will put the sticky notes on the various components from the list like this:
Yellow notes for input devices
Blue notes for output devices
Purple notes on devices that can be both
Notice the color instructions are on the board as well.
The group that posts all the notes first (and correctly!) is the winner.
When you are all finished, I will collect the notes and give your group a grade. The winning team gets an extra 10 points.
Does anyone have a question?
Then the teacher will say “go” and students will complete the activity.
The notes are collected and clipped together by device for assessment.
The teacher will observe during the competition and then collect the sticky notes for grading.
Explain and exhibit the uses of computer components and peripherals commonly used in that classroom.
Write the list of components on the board (or on the projector screen) so students can see the list during the activity.
At the bottom of the list add:
Place yellow, blue and purple sticky notes at each group computer along with one pencil. (One group computer for every three students.) Each group computer has a CPU, keyboard, mouse, flash drive, CD, monitor, headphones, and microphone. The other peripheral items are in their normal positions for common use or at the teacher computer.
