PC Maintenance Class 2 Term 2

Tonight's class was a hardware session. The main point of which was to demonstrate how easy it is to take apart a desktop computer, compared to the complexity of a laptop.

Here is a selection of photographs from tonight's hand's on session:

Keith and Roger hard at work organising the bits and pieces they have to build this computer. It was a box of components when I gave it to them.

Our other team had a laptop to dismantle.

If nothing else, they would learn that this is why we don't upgrade laptops in the same manner in which we might with a Desktop PC.

Getting there.

Removing the small harddisk from the laptop.

Keith and Roger

Underneath the laptop, this model has a trap door where the memory is located.

The coloured spaghetti that are the power cables of the Desktop PC's power supply.

Inside the case of the PC before Roger fits the mainboard.

Almost done!

Class of 2013!

Digital Camera Class 2

Tonight's Class was an introductory look at how Photoshop / Photoshop Elements works. However I started the session off with a look at the Agored Course materials and student work files. I went through the criteria of what is expected of all the students.

This is the main screen for Adobe Photoshop Elements. I gave the group a guided tour quickly of the main icons/tools down the left hand toolbar. I demonstrated how you can remove parts of the picture using the Clone Stamp Tool.

I did want to demonstrate how Paintshop Pro works, however the software had been removed from the computers. I have however put a request into the school for this to be rectified within a fortnight, when I'd like the group to have some hands on time. 

Myself I use an Apple computer, and have no choice but to use Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements, however my prefered choice of software for editing is Paintshop Pro.

Next week we are going to have a practical session to start with, and I have asked the students to bring in their cameras, and hopefully afterwards, we can have a demonstration of Paintshop Pro.  

Fingers crossed.

PC Maintenance Class 1 Term 2

Happy New Year!  Welcome to another New Year of Night classes  Welcome back to another PC Maintenance Class. 

Not wanting to stress anyone out on the first night, I planned a nice and relaxing session on Preventative Maintenance.  This session was all about the various things you can do to prolong the life of your computer. Taking care of it, looking after it, putting measures in place to lessen the impact of potential issues, and most of all preparing for a problem should it occurr.

To download a copy of the presentation used in class, click on the link below:

http://www.christopherjthomas.com/downloads/PreventativeMaintenance2013.pdf


Next week, time to get out the screwdriver again!!   

Digital Camera Class 1

Happy New Year!

Classes started tonight with our first Digital Camera Class of the New Year.

Tonights class, an introductory session to the kinds of things we will be looking at during the course.

A copy of the presentation shown in class can be downloaded with the link below. Please not you will need to have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view the file.  

http://www.christopherjthomas.com/downloads/classes/photography/Digital%20Photography%20January%202013.pdf

Visit www.adobe.com if you need to download a copy of Acrobat Reader.

This course is an Agored Accredited class, and you need to keep a student file. You will find the templates for your file here at the below link:

http://www.christopherjthomas.com/downloads/classes/photography/

For further information on the Kodak Top Ten tips, visit the following website:

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/corp/top10tips/index.jhtml