Computer Basics-Web quest
This lesson focuses on the different parts of a computer and allows for discussion of
hardware needed for a basic computer.
Standard 2- Students will develop knowledge of computer basics and use an operating
system.
Objective 2: Identify the major components of microcomputers in the following
categories and determine how each contributes to a computer’s performance:
input devices, output devices, peripheral devices.
Teacher Preparation:
 Load & watch the video on the website:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/inside-computer1.htm
(Video should look like the image at the left)
If the video is not on the initial link search>more computer
video>”Computer Tour”
This video corresponds to question #1 on WS.
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Items Needed:
o Work sheet copies for each student
o Disassembled Computer for class discussion.
 Webcam is very useful for showing parts.
Key words:
o Motherboard
o CPU
o RAM
o Video Card
o Power Supply
o Hard Drive/disk
o Optical Drive
As a class: discuss the hardware the every computer needs to function.
Have students complete the worksheet below and discuss any further questions:
Computer Basics-Web quest
Name_____________________________________________Date______________Period________Points______/25
What’s inside my computer???
Using the following Website: Find the information below.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/inside-computer1.htm
As a class watch the short video on the first page.
1. What are the 7 major components inside of a computer?
a. _______________________
e. _______________________
b. _______________________
f. _______________________
c. _______________________
g. _______________________
d. _______________________
2. The base of operations for the brains of the computer is the _________________, which
serves as a foundation for many of the other parts inside your computer.
3. The central processing unit (CPU) of the computer is often referred to as the
________________.
4. What is the main job of the CPU. ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. What are the two most important types of memory?_____________________________
6. What does ROM stand for?__________________________________________________________
7. What does RAM stand for?__________________________________________________________
8. What does BIOS stand for?__________________________________________________________
9. What is the job of the BIOS?_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
10. The ______________________, CPU, __________, ____________ and BIOS handle most of the
computer processing.
11. What is the purpose of the power supply?_________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
12-14 List three other parts of the computer and explain that function of that part.
Computer Technology-Web quest
12. Part:________________________Description:_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
13. Part:________________________Description:_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
14. Part:________________________Description:_____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Computer Technology-Web quest
Name____________KEY___________________________Date______________Period________Points_____/25
What’s inside my computer???
Using the following Website: Find the information below.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/inside-computer1.htm
As a class watch the short video on the first page.
1. What are the 7 major components inside of a computer?
a. MOTHERBOARD
e. POWER SUPPLY
b. CPU
f. HARD DISK
c. RAM
g. OPTICAL DRIVE
d. VIDEO CARD
2. The base of operations for the brains of the computer is the MOTERBOARD,
which serves as a foundation for many of the other parts inside your
computer.
3. The central processing unit (CPU) of the computer is often referred to as the
BRAIN
.
4. What is the main job of the CPU. TO MAKE DESCISIONS. PERFORM
CALCULATIONS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE COMPUTER WORK
.
5. What are the two most important types of memory? RAM & ROM
6. What does ROM stand for? READ ONLY MEMORY
7. What does RAM stand for? RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
8. What does BIOS stand for? BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM
9. What is the job of the BIOS?
HANDLE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE
SOFTWARE AND THE HARDWARE.
10. The MOTHERBOARD, CPU, ROM, RAM, and BIOS handle most of the
computer processing.
11. What is the purpose of the power supply?
THE PARTS OF THE COMPUTER.
SUPPLIES ELECTRICITY TO
Computer Technology-Web quest
12-14 List three other parts of the computer and explain that function of that part.
POSSIBILITIES:
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Drives in a computer are the devices that let you store and recall data
and applications.
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Modems: machines that let computers communicate with other
computing systems.
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Wireless cards: radio transceivers that can send and receive data
through a specific frequency of radio waves.

Sound and graphics cards are pretty self-explanatory. They give
your computer the ability to display graphics or play sounds and
music.
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Cooling systems typically include heat sinks and fans. Overheating
can be a serious problem with computers, causing performance to
suffer to the point of a system failure in some cases. Heat sinks absorb
heat and move it away from critical components. Fans give computers
a way to exhaust heat externally.