How to be a better computer user

I think having an increased knowledge of hardware components will definitely make me a better computer user. This is especially true when it comes to troubleshooting. There have been several times during my adult life when I have had problems arise with my computer and I was without it for weeks or months while someone else tried to fix it. I am now convinced that a lot of time could have been saved if I had known a little more about what was going on with my hardware components. I didn't even have a clue about most of the terms the tech support guy was using when I talked to him, and I could have skipped at least two of his visits if I had known a little more about what was going on "under the hood" of my computer. I didn't feel comfortable opening the tower when I was asked to by the technician, much less knowing what I was looking at when I did open it. I feel like I will now be much more prepared if I have problems in the future.

Another way that increased knowledge of my hardware components makes me a better computer user is in my profession. I do a lot of technology projects with my students, and am always frustrated when something goes wrong, or when I can't figure out how to make something work with my project the way I want it to. The knowledge I gain from this class will definitely help me be a better teacher of technology, because I will know why things work the way they do, and therefore be of more assistance to my students on a daily basis.

Expanding my knowledge

I thought I really knew a lot about computers, until I started this class called "Computers and How They Work". Now I'm feeling a little overwhelmed and definitely humbled by the experience.

I guess I thought I knew a lot because I'm one of the people my colleagues come to with questions when our tech person is unavailable. I can usually help them, too. I've taken quite a few technology classes, I use a SMARTBoard in my room daily, I integrate technology into my curriculum with my third graders every day, and I've often had to trouble shoot my own personal computer. This has included taking the side off my tower while Dell has walked me through steps to try to fix my computer, to no avail.

I would like to expand my knowledge so that I can trouble shoot and fix my computer when things go wrong, without having to contact Dell tech support. It would be much more convenient, and time-saving, if I could do it myself. Although I've had my tower on my computer opened many times, I've really never done anything other than replace the memory. I didn't know what any of the other parts inside were called until I started the "Under the Hood" assignment. I guess that means I'm on the right track to try to reach my goal of knowing the insides of my computer as well as I know the outside.