Computer Maintenance Internet Scavenger Hunt
Unless your computer is in its box, it
is getting dirty. Dust and lint accumulate all over it.
Add to this the
fingerprints on the screen and gunk on the keyboard keys. Regular cleaning
is useful. This scavenger hunt activity will
get you started. Wash your hands BEFORE you start computing to save yourself a lot of work later.
Directions: Use the links provided to find the answers to the questions. Use a bookmark of this hunt to speed your return to this hunt page. When you finish the activity you can delete the bookmark.
1. Your computer's cursor is not going where you drag it. Before you reinstall the whole system, clean your mouse.
Write the steps here:
1.
2.
3.
4.
2. Keyboards can really get gunky. List the tools you will need to clean a computer keyboard.
Which keys should you avoid removing when cleaning a keyboard?
Why?
Crisis
containment.
Your friend spills a drink on to your keyboard.
What
should you do?
3. Flat Panel LCDs - Name two things you should never use to clean a flat panel LCD screen.
Which parts of the monitor should you clean?
4. A dirty CD may not run properly. Write the important things to know about cleaning a CD.
5. What is appropriate standard maintenance on your hard drive?
What is a potential consequence of not doing them?
6. What should you NOT DO when cleaning a notebook computer?
7. Write two DOs and two DON'Ts of DVD care or handling. Second source of info
8. Watch this video Make Your Own Ethernet Cable
List three other technology related topics that should be covered using this format.
9. Look into this powerful idea: You would not leave a faucet running constantly in case you want to wash your hands.
Consider the costs of leaving a computer on all the time. The cost of electricity
How Much Juice Is Your Computer Using at Night? | Greening your computer usage
“PCs are not hurt by turning them on and off a few times a day,” said Jonathan Koomey, a project scientist
at the
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “Economic obsolescence is much more dangerous to PCs than turning them on and off.”
What do you conclude should be done? Leave it on / turn it off
Estimate the number of computers your school has.
How much would your school save on electricity by turning the computers all off at night?
Extra: What is the problem of e-waste?
Explore further
Consider the Power of Possibilities through Andreessen's eye
Done already?
Internet Hunts / Nature / Computers / Pennsylvania Projects / Civics & History / Puzzles & Projects / Site map / Home
2004 Cynthia J. O'Hora. Updated
6/2009, posted 1/2004 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 License. 8/2007
Save a tree - use a Digital Answer Format - Highlight the text. Copy it. Paste it in a word processing document. Save the document in your folder. Answer on the word processing document in a contrasting color (not yellow) or font (avoid Symbol, 
, 
or other ornate artistic fonts). Save frequently as you work. Enter your name and the date in a header. Submit the assignment via a class dropbox or an email attachment. Bad things happen. Save a copy of your document in your computer. Perhaps you have the resources to record verbal answers. If you do, be sure to first read / record the question. Then record the answer immediately after it. Proof your responses. It is funny how speling errors and typeos sneak in to the bets work. 
Make your own printer paper answer sheet
Tech Tip: Working in a group or in two different places like the library & home? You do not have to be physically together to work together. You do not have to take paper based notes at the library and digitalize them at home.
Watch Google Docs video TAI - How could you use free, Google Docs to do a project? How would this facilitate group projects?