Under the hood
In this lesson, students will learn how to create an eBook using TouchDevelop. Students will also learn the purpose of components inside a computer such as RAM and the CPU.
Suggested time: 100 mins
Learning Objectives:
Curriculum Mapping:
KS2:
KS3:
What you will need:
Lesson Outline:
In this lesson, students will learn how to create an eBook using pages in TouchDevelop. Students will also learn the purpose of components inside a computer such as RAM and the CPU.
Activity 1:
Instruct students to conduct some research on the following components:
Direct students to the following links to help them with their research:
Useful Links:
Your PC, inside and out: Part 1 (Free download courtesy of makeuseof.com)
In this guide Lachlan Roy breaks the computer down into its different components. For each component he describes its function, talks about best brands on the market, explains the different specifications to look out for and provides a bit of history, too. Part 1 focusses on the motherboard.
Your PC, inside and out: Part 2 (Free download courtesy of makeuseof.com)
Part 2 highlights everything you need to know about CPUs, storage devices, memory, graphics cards and other computer components.
Alternative: If you have some spare old computers lying around, split students into groups of 3 or 4 and arm each group with a screwdriver and camera. Instruct students to take their computer apart - remembering where each part goes as they had to put them back together ready for the next class. As the students take the computers apart, ask students to photograph each component and explain briefly its purpose.
Activity 2:
Explain to students that they are going to create an eBook describing the main components of a computer.
Direct students to the link below and ask them to follow the instructions on how to create an eBook:
Tutorial:
Creating an eBook (step-by-step tutorial)
Worksheet:
In this lesson, students will learn how to create an eBook using TouchDevelop. Students will also learn the purpose of components inside a computer such as RAM and the CPU.
Suggested time: 100 mins
Learning Objectives:
- Define a computer system
- Describe the purpose of RAM in a computer system
- State the purpose of the CPU
- Create an eBook using TouchDevelop
Curriculum Mapping:
KS2:
- Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals; solve problems by breaking them into smaller parts. Select, use and combine a variety of software on a range of digital devices to design and create a range of programs.
- Use sequence, selection and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
- Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work; detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
KS3:
- Use two or more programming languages, at least one of which is textual, to solve a variety of computational problems
- Understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems, and how they communicate with one another and with other systems
What you will need:
- Web enabled device (PC, Tablet, Phone) with an up-to-date browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome)
- TouchDevelop Web App (www.touchdevelop.com)
- Old computer and set of screwdrivers (OPTIONAL)
Lesson Outline:
In this lesson, students will learn how to create an eBook using pages in TouchDevelop. Students will also learn the purpose of components inside a computer such as RAM and the CPU.
Activity 1:
Instruct students to conduct some research on the following components:
- CPU
- Motherboard
- PSU
- RAM
- Hard Disk
- Graphics card
- Network card
Direct students to the following links to help them with their research:
Useful Links:
Your PC, inside and out: Part 1 (Free download courtesy of makeuseof.com)
In this guide Lachlan Roy breaks the computer down into its different components. For each component he describes its function, talks about best brands on the market, explains the different specifications to look out for and provides a bit of history, too. Part 1 focusses on the motherboard.
Your PC, inside and out: Part 2 (Free download courtesy of makeuseof.com)
Part 2 highlights everything you need to know about CPUs, storage devices, memory, graphics cards and other computer components.
Alternative: If you have some spare old computers lying around, split students into groups of 3 or 4 and arm each group with a screwdriver and camera. Instruct students to take their computer apart - remembering where each part goes as they had to put them back together ready for the next class. As the students take the computers apart, ask students to photograph each component and explain briefly its purpose.
Activity 2:
Explain to students that they are going to create an eBook describing the main components of a computer.
Direct students to the link below and ask them to follow the instructions on how to create an eBook:
Tutorial:
Creating an eBook (step-by-step tutorial)
Worksheet:
| ebook_tutorial.docx |
Plenary:
After reviewing the students work, we finished off by playing a game of "You Say, We Pay" - Inside a Computer. If you have never played the game before, this is a game borrowed from from the 'Richard and Judy Show'. The aim of the game is for one student (Blind folded or back turned to the computer screen) to guess what pictures are being displayed on the screen using only descriptions from other students (Other students are not allowed to use the word or use words that rhyme). For a little extra competition, you can also split the class into two and take it in turns to see which team can get the most correct answers (without cheating) - See PowerPoint below:
After reviewing the students work, we finished off by playing a game of "You Say, We Pay" - Inside a Computer. If you have never played the game before, this is a game borrowed from from the 'Richard and Judy Show'. The aim of the game is for one student (Blind folded or back turned to the computer screen) to guess what pictures are being displayed on the screen using only descriptions from other students (Other students are not allowed to use the word or use words that rhyme). For a little extra competition, you can also split the class into two and take it in turns to see which team can get the most correct answers (without cheating) - See PowerPoint below:
| plenary.pptx |
Homework:
Students can continue to work on their eBook and publish their script when they have finished.
Licence:
Unless otherwise specified, everything in this repository is covered by the following licence:
Students can continue to work on their eBook and publish their script when they have finished.
Licence:
Unless otherwise specified, everything in this repository is covered by the following licence:
TouchDevelop "Create an eBook" lesson is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
