Little Man Computer Model

http://engineers-excel.com/Tools/Little%20Man%20Computer/Description.htm

This tool shows the working of a computer CPU using the Little Man Computer Model (LMC).

The Little Man Computer was created by Dr. Stuart Madnick of MIT as a model for teaching the workings of a CPU. The LMC models the working of a modern CPU, but is still simple enough to be understood and programmed by high school students.

How do parts of a computer communicate?

https://apps.lis.illinois.edu/wiki/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=4362095

The goal of this module is to conceptualize how communication happens between the parts of a computer. Placed into the context of the things we use the computer (typing, displaying characters on the monitor, accessing the Internet) we can gain a clearer understanding of how the parts work together to accomplish tasks. Understanding this process is useful when troubleshooting hardware or software problems.

Time Magazine Article about E-Waste

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1870485,00.html

An excellent article describing the statistics of e-waste in the US, what it is doing to people in China and what you can do about it.

ENIAC Article

http://www.news.com/2009-1006_3-6037980.html

A really nice article on the ENIAC, one of the world’s first computers and certainly one of the most important early computers.

Includes a nice chart comparing the ENIAC to an Intel chip.

Block diagram of a computer and parts of a computer

Here are some resources if you want to teach students about the parts of a computer.

http://www.scratch.mit.edu/projects/watiwara/27182 – an interactive application written in Scratch that students can use to learn what the parts of a computer are and how they fit into the overall scheme of things.

http://www.quia.com/hm/86691.html – computer parts hangman game

http://www.kids-online.net/learn/click/table.html – click on parts of the computer to bring up info about that part

http://www.practicalpc.co.uk/computing/what/parts.htm – what are the parts of a computer written for beginners

http://www.tpub.com/content/elecequipment/TM-5-6350-280-23P/img/TM-5-6350-280-23P_21_1.jpg – high level block diagram of a computer

Computer Connections – Lessons on Computer hardware

Basic information about the parts of a computer.

http://education.kaboose.com/tutoring/comp_les1.html

http://resources.kaboose.com/brain/comp-les2.html

Computer Input/Output Ports and Interfaces

An excellent summary of many current and recent ports on a computer.

PDF version: http://explorersposts.grc.nasa.gov/post631/2006-2007/computer_basics/ComputerPorts.pdf

Word version: http://explorersposts.grc.nasa.gov/post631/2006-2007/computer_basics/ComputerPorts.doc

Kids Domain Computer Connections

http://www.kidsdomain.com/brain/computer/lesson/comp_les1.html

Good simple intro to the basics of computers hardware.

Edison Lecture Series from UT Austin – Microprocessors

http://www.edisonlectureseries.com/video/edison021506E.rm

A one hour lecture to some young people on microprocessors.

It has a nice video clip showing a fab lab for microprocessors.

Also, a nice clip on circuit design and how it fits in the whole process.

They also discuss the Internet. They do some activities with the kids to simulate the Internet that are interesting.

Deconstruct a Computer

http://www.computerclubhouse.org/programs/bbb/deconstruct.html

Ideas on how to do a lesson where the students take apart computer parts.