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Analysis Summary

Introduction

The Geogia Center's Professional and Personal Development Group is offering a course on building computers entitled "Build Your Own Computer in 30 Days." This course aims to teach individuals how to shop for computer components and assemble and maintain their own computer. This course is targeted at individuals who want to learn to build computers for the fun of it or for their job as a support specialist or because they want to better understand how the computer works.

Purpose

This course will show individuals how to troubleshoot and maintain their own computer by teaching them how to shop for computer components and assemble the components into a working computer system.

Performance Gap Analysis

  1. Limited Resources:
    Computer magazines are replete with technical jargon that makes it difficult to begin to learn and understand how to maintain one's own computer systems.
  2. Lack of Motivation:
    Lack of motivation is not seen as a factor as this is a continuing education class in which self-motivated individuals are signing up explicitly to learn how to build their own computer. Their motivation for taking the course may be any of the following: 1) being self-sufficient in maintaining hardware components of the computer, 2) Understanding what makes a computer tick in order to make better purchasing decisions, 3) Learning how to better maintain and troubleshoot computers for their current job as a system support specialist.
  3. Lack of Knowledge and Skills:
    The learner does not have very much knowledge about any of the physical components that reside in a computer and has little to no experience in hands-on building of computer systems.

Performance Assessment

Actual Performance Desired Performance Primary Cause % of Discrepency
Unable to identify components of a computer. Identify all components that comprise a modern computer.
  • Never opened a computer.
  • Technical Jargon is a barrier to learning.
  • Lack of basic understanding of purpose of various components.
 30%
Unable to shop and compare products Interpret key product specifications and their importance.
  • Unable to interpret product specifications.
  • Technical jargon and product shorthand is unfamiliar.
 20%
Cannot build a computer from sratch. Determine all components that go in a computer system and assemble them into a working system.
  • Many different technologies and configurations available.
  • Documentation replete with technical jargon.
  • How-To guides hard to understand and follow.
 20%
Cannot effectively shop for and compare current product offerings. Learn to research and identify and purchase components online.
  • Technology Evolves very quickly.
  • Best sites to utilize are unknown.
  • Never shopped for individual components before.
 20%
Unable to troubleshoot failing computer causes. Identify common issues and likely component to be failing.
  • Lack of understanding of what the various components do.
  • Usually had an expert diagnose and fix computer in past.
  • Does not think about a componter's individual components.
 10%

Instructional Goals

To build a computer, one must not only know what components go into the makeup of a modern computer system, but also must learn how to review technical specifications of various components, shop for those components and keep abreast of current technology in order to make wise purchasing decisions throughout the life-cycle of maintaining one's computer system.

  1. Knowledge:
    Identify all major components of the modern computer system.
  2. Comprehension:
    Describe all of the components that assemble into one complete computer system.
  3. Application:
    Assemble and maintain the hardware components of a modern computer system.
  4. Analysis:
    Compare pros and cons of individual components to make wise purchasing decisions.
  5. Synthesis:
    Utilize online research skills to keep abreast of the constantly evolving technology.
  6. Evaluation:
    Determine the criteria for various components that enables smart, comparative shopping.

Learner Analysis

Learner Group

The learners in this group consist of mostly young adults self-motivated to learn how to build and maintain their own computer systems. They are expected to have a budget for purchasing computer components and assembling their own computer while in the class.

Characteristics

This group of learners are predominantly males and ranging in age from 13 to 35 with bulk of the learners being in their early 20's and have completed high school and at least some college level coursework.

Numbers

The class will seat a minimum of six people and a maximum of ten.

Location

Training is to take place at the Georgia Center in a combination of regular classrooms and computer labs with Internet access and enough terminals to host all students one per machine.

Experience

The learners in this group have some computer skills and have probably installed and maintained software on their computers, and may have ventured to open the computer case before, but have never attempted to replace or upgrade any hardware components before.

Attitude

The learners are highly self-motivated and desire to learn how to build and maintain their own computer systems.

Skills Related to Delivery Mode

The learners are expected to be able-bodied and physically fit enough to lift up to 40 pounds of computer equipment while also being adept enough to use screwdrivers, pliers and hands to disassemble and assemble computer components into a working computer system. Delivery methods that provide hands on experience and immediate application and reinforcement of newly acquired knowledge will most likely be successful with this group.

Resource Analysis

Content Resources Technology Resources Instructional Facilities Human Resources
  • Whiteboard along with markers and eraser.
  • Computer with Powerpoint and Internet access.
  • LCD projector to display computer's screen on wall.
  • Classroom with flat tables for working on computers.
  • Up to 10 learners capacity.
  • Classroom with computers with Internet access for each learner's use.
  • This training road-map is derived from three different subject matter experts:
    Lance Peiper
    Ken West
    Stuart Ivy
  • Course to be taught by someone with considerable experience building computers.
mwlang@cybrains.net
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