CON - Computer Basics Lesson

Computer Basics

When you think of a computer, what comes to mind? Your laptop, television, video game, and phone are all examples of computers. In this lesson you will learn what a computer is and the functional components that make up a computer.

What is a Computer?

• A computer is a device that uses information or data, and carries out instructions. It takes input from input devices, runs code, and produces output through output devices.
• A computer is an electronic device that manipulates data and information. It has the ability to store, retrieve, and process data.
• A collection of hardware designed to run programs using software, which we will discuss in the next lesson.

Let’s take a closer look at a computer and the features shared in the What Makes a Computer a Computer? video.

Hopefully after watching the video, you now have an understanding that computers are everywhere and a part of everything we do daily. Computers also come in all shapes and sizes, performing countless tasks each day.

What Makes Up a Computer?

Let's take a deeper dive into a computer and explore the functional components of a computer which play a role in how computers work by viewing the video on How Computers Work? Memory, CPU, Input, Output.

Watch the Memory, CPU, Input & Output video below.

As shown in the video, all computers take in data, process the data, and output the data in some form.

Inside the Box Fun

Let's have fun and explore inside a laptop computer. This is a computer science course, so it is important to learn about the major parts of our computer.  

Follow the directions in the Computer Parts Matching learning object to virtually look at the parts of the computer and put pieces of the computer together.

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