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Rebecca Coutts
and
Valerie Scarlata
Dive into computer hardware fundamentals: components, memory, OS, file systems, command line, and networks. Enroll today.
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What's inside
Syllabus
This lesson goes over the basic hardware components that make up a computer. We'll discuss how we measure these different components and how to compare the same type of component.
Read more
Syllabus
This lesson goes over the basic hardware components that make up a computer. We'll discuss how we measure these different components and how to compare the same type of component.
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Covers essential computer hardware components and concepts
Explores memory and storage types used in modern computer systems
Introduces basic command line commands and file system management
Covers fundamental network concepts, topologies, and protocols
Appropriate for beginners seeking an introduction to computer hardware principles
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Reviews summary
Foundational dive into computer hardware
According to students, this course provides a solid and accessible foundation in computer hardware. Learners appreciate the clear and easy-to-understand explanations of core concepts like hardware components, memory types, and file systems. The instructor's engaging teaching style is frequently highlighted as a major positive. While it excels as an excellent introduction for beginners, some reviews indicate it may be too superficial for those with prior knowledge or seeking in-depth practical application. The course covers crucial topics like basic networking protocols and the command line, making it a valuable starting point.
Instructor's style makes learning enjoyable and effective.
"The instructor was engaging."
"The instructor has a knack for simplifying things without dumbing them down."
"I now have a much better understanding of memory, firmware, and file systems thanks to the instructor's clear teaching."
Covers essential hardware and software interaction topics.
"I found the networking section particularly useful, covering basics like protocols and security in a digestible way."
"I learned a lot about the basic components and how to compare them."
"I now have a much better understanding of memory, firmware, and file systems. The command line intro was useful."
Serves as an excellent starting point for new learners.
"Excellent introduction to computer hardware! ... It laid a strong foundation for me as a complete beginner."
"Good if you're absolutely new."
"I've always wanted to know more about what's inside my computer, and this course delivered."
Simplifies complex hardware concepts effectively.
"The lectures were clear and the concepts were explained in an easy-to-understand manner."
"This course made complex hardware concepts accessible. The instructor has a knack for simplifying things."
"I particularly appreciated the sections on memory and file systems. It laid a strong foundation for me."
Focuses more on theory, less on hands-on activities.
"More hands-on demos would make it perfect."
"It's just theory and basic definitions."
"I was hoping for more practical application or troubleshooting scenarios."
May be too basic for those with prior hardware knowledge.
"Decent course, but it felt very basic for someone with a little prior knowledge."
"Too superficial. If you're looking to actually build or troubleshoot, this isn't it."
"I was hoping for more practical application or troubleshooting scenarios."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Discover Hardware with these
activities:
Review Key Hardware Components
Show steps
Reviewing the basic hardware components of a computer will help you better understand subsequent lessons on memory, operating systems, and networks.
Show steps
-
Read and understand the course materials on hardware components.
-
Make flashcards or notes on the different components and their functions.
-
Test your knowledge by taking a practice quiz on hardware components.
Study Group Discussions
Show steps
Engaging in study group discussions will provide opportunities to clarify concepts, share perspectives, and enhance your overall understanding.
Show steps
-
Form or join a study group with classmates.
-
Choose specific course topics to discuss each session.
-
Prepare and present questions or topics for discussion.
-
Actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share insights.
-
Summarize key points and takeaways from each session.
Command Line Basics Tutorial
Show steps
Completing a guided tutorial on command line basics will equip you with essential skills for navigating filesystems and performing common tasks.
Browse courses on
Command Line Interface
Show steps
-
Choose a reputable online tutorial or course on command line basics.
-
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, practicing the commands as you learn.
-
Create a cheat sheet or reference guide for quick access to common commands.
-
Apply your newfound skills by navigating a filesystem and performing basic operations.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Computer Networking Fundamentals Book Review
Show steps
Reviewing a comprehensive book on computer networking fundamentals will provide you with a solid foundation for the concepts covered in the course.
View
Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (6th...
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read and understand the chapters relevant to the course topics.
-
Highlight and annotate important concepts and definitions.
-
Summarize the key points of each chapter in your own words.
-
Discuss the book's content with classmates or online forums.
Network Diagram Project
Show steps
Creating a network diagram will allow you to apply your understanding of network connections and protocols to a practical scenario.
Browse courses on
Network Design
Show steps
-
Choose a real-world or hypothetical network scenario to design.
-
Identify the network components and their interconnections.
-
Use a network diagramming tool to create a visual representation of the network.
-
Label and annotate the diagram with relevant information.
-
Share your diagram with peers or industry professionals for feedback and evaluation.
Contribute to Open Source Hardware Projects
Show steps
Contributing to open source hardware projects will provide practical experience in applying hardware concepts and collaborating with others.
Show steps
-
Identify open source hardware projects that align with your interests.
-
Review the project documentation and codebase.
-
Identify areas where you can contribute based on your skills.
-
Submit bug reports, feature requests, or code contributions to the project.
-
Collaborate with the project community to improve and refine the hardware design.
Review Key Hardware Components
Show steps
Reviewing the basic hardware components of a computer will help you better understand subsequent lessons on memory, operating systems, and networks.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read and understand the course materials on hardware components.
- Make flashcards or notes on the different components and their functions.
- Test your knowledge by taking a practice quiz on hardware components.
Study Group Discussions
Show steps
Engaging in study group discussions will provide opportunities to clarify concepts, share perspectives, and enhance your overall understanding.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Form or join a study group with classmates.
- Choose specific course topics to discuss each session.
- Prepare and present questions or topics for discussion.
- Actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share insights.
- Summarize key points and takeaways from each session.
Command Line Basics Tutorial
Show steps
Completing a guided tutorial on command line basics will equip you with essential skills for navigating filesystems and performing common tasks.
Browse courses on
Command Line Interface
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a reputable online tutorial or course on command line basics.
- Follow the tutorial step-by-step, practicing the commands as you learn.
- Create a cheat sheet or reference guide for quick access to common commands.
- Apply your newfound skills by navigating a filesystem and performing basic operations.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Computer Networking Fundamentals Book Review
Show steps
Reviewing a comprehensive book on computer networking fundamentals will provide you with a solid foundation for the concepts covered in the course.
View
Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach (6th...
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read and understand the chapters relevant to the course topics.
- Highlight and annotate important concepts and definitions.
- Summarize the key points of each chapter in your own words.
- Discuss the book's content with classmates or online forums.
Network Diagram Project
Show steps
Creating a network diagram will allow you to apply your understanding of network connections and protocols to a practical scenario.
Browse courses on
Network Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a real-world or hypothetical network scenario to design.
- Identify the network components and their interconnections.
- Use a network diagramming tool to create a visual representation of the network.
- Label and annotate the diagram with relevant information.
- Share your diagram with peers or industry professionals for feedback and evaluation.
Contribute to Open Source Hardware Projects
Show steps
Contributing to open source hardware projects will provide practical experience in applying hardware concepts and collaborating with others.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify open source hardware projects that align with your interests.
- Review the project documentation and codebase.
- Identify areas where you can contribute based on your skills.
- Submit bug reports, feature requests, or code contributions to the project.
- Collaborate with the project community to improve and refine the hardware design.
Career center
Learners who complete Discover Hardware will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Computer Hardware Engineer
Computer Hardware Engineer
A Computer Hardware Engineer designs, develops, and tests computer hardware components. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Network Engineer
Network Engineer
A Network Engineer designs, installs, and maintains computer networks. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Computer Support Specialist
Computer Support Specialist
A Computer Support Specialist provides technical support to computer users. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Data Center Technician
Data Center Technician
A Data Center Technician installs, maintains, and repairs computer hardware and software in a data center. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Information Technology Specialist
Information Technology Specialist
An Information Technology Specialist provides technical support to computer users and maintains computer networks. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrator
A Systems Administrator installs, maintains, and repairs computer systems. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Web Developer
Web Developer
A Web Developer designs and develops websites. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Software Developer
Software Developer
A Software Developer designs, develops, and tests software applications. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Computer Scientist
Computer Scientist
A Computer Scientist researches and develops new computer technologies. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analyst
An Information Security Analyst protects computer systems and networks from security breaches. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Computer and Information Research Scientist
Computer and Information Research Scientist
A Computer and Information Research Scientist conducts research on new computer technologies. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Computer Systems Analyst
Computer Systems Analyst
A Computer Systems Analyst designs, develops, and implements computer systems. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Database Administrator
Database Administrator
A Database Administrator designs, develops, and maintains databases. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Network Architect
Network Architect
A Network Architect designs and implements computer networks. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
Security Architect
Security Architect
A Security Architect designs and implements security measures for computer systems and networks. This course may be useful for someone in this career as it helps build a foundation in computer hardware fundamentals, including components, memory, operating systems, file systems, command line, and networks.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/0y3fqx/discover
Reading list
We've selected 15 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Discover Hardware .
Classic text on computer architecture and organization, and provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the inner workings of computers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer systems from a programmer's perspective. It covers a wide range of topics, including computer architecture, operating systems, and networking.
Classic text on operating systems, and provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about how operating systems work.
Classic text on computer networking, and provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about how networks work.
Provides a comprehensive overview of digital design and computer architecture. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about how computers are designed and built.
Provides a comprehensive overview of assembly language programming. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about how computers work at the assembly level.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer systems performance analysis. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about how to measure and improve the performance of computer systems.
Provides a quantitative approach to computer architecture. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the performance and design of computer systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of advanced computer architecture. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest trends in computer architecture.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer graphics. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about how computer graphics are created and used.
Provides a comprehensive overview of artificial intelligence. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest trends in artificial intelligence.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of deep learning. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest trends in deep learning.
Provides a comprehensive overview of reinforcement learning. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest trends in reinforcement learning.
Provides a comprehensive overview of natural language processing. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest trends in natural language processing.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer vision. It useful reference for anyone who wants to learn more about the latest trends in computer vision.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/0y3fqx/discover
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