Fundamentals of IT Technology
Topic-Level Outline
Days: 5
Prerequisites: The
CompTIA Strata: Fundamentals of IT Technology exam is designed to introduce
individuals to the concepts of a variety of fundamental information
technologies. The Strata course provides an introduction to basic hardware
components and operating system technologies. Prerequisite knowledge is not
required. CompTIA Strata is not a professional certification but a validation
of an individual’s comprehension of technology fundamentals.
Unit 1: Personal computer basics
Topic A: Computer components
A-1: Identifying basic components
A-2: Defining computer components
Topic B: What makes computers work
B-1: Starting the computer
B-2: Using the mouse
B-3: Opening applications
B-4: Closing applications
Topic C: Window management
C-1: Moving a window
C-2: Resizing a window
C-3: Using the Control menu buttons
C-4: Working with menus
C-5: Working with toolbars
C-6: Using scrollbars
C-7: Working with the Save As dialog box
Unit 2: Managing computer contents
Topic A: Storing items on your computer
A-1: Checking the capacity of a hard disk
A-2: Examining data storage devices
Topic B: Working with folders
B-1: Opening your personal folder
B-2: Browsing the folder hierarchy
B-3: Creating a folder
B-4: Renaming a folder
Topic C: Working with files
C-1: Opening files in their associated programs
C-2: Creating and saving a text file
C-3: Printing a file
C-4: Moving a file
C-5: Copying a file
C-6: Deleting a file
C-7: Restoring a file
Topic D: Advanced file and folder management
D-1: Changing file attributes
D-2: Changing general folder options
D-3: Changing advanced folder settings
Unit 3: Searching for content and using Help
Topic A: Content searches
A-1: Searching for content by name
A-2: Searching for content that contains specific text
A-3: Searching in a folder
A-4: Performing an advanced search
Topic B: Windows Help and Support
B-1: Picking a Help topic
B-2: Searching for Help topics
Unit 4: Windows settings
Topic A: The desktop and Start menu
A-1: Creating a desktop shortcut
A-2: Pinning shortcuts to the Start menu
A-3: Deleting a desktop shortcut
A-4: Unpinning and removing Start-menu shortcuts
Topic B: Taskbar and display settings
B-1: Adding toolbars to the taskbar
B-2: Moving the taskbar
B-3: Customizing the notification area
B-4: Adjusting display settings
Topic C: System settings
C-1: Setting mouse properties
C-2: Setting keyboard properties
C-3: Choosing a new desktop background
C-4: Choosing a screen saver
Unit 5: System tools
Topic A: Performance
A-1: Displaying system information
A-2: Displaying the system performance rating
A-3: Displaying CPU and page file usage
A-4: Viewing the event logs
Topic B: Hard disk maintenance
B-1: Viewing disk and partition information
B-2: Checking for hard disk errors
B-3: Using Disk Cleanup
B-4: Using Disk Defragmenter
Topic C: Backups
C-1: Backing up files
C-2: Restoring files
C-3: Creating a complete PC backup
Unit 6: Software
Topic A: Working with programs
A-1: Creating a restore point
A-2: Installing a program
A-3: Updating a program
A-4: Configuring a program to start automatically
A-5: Terminating an unresponsive program
A-6: Repairing a program
A-7: Removing a program
A-8: Restoring the computer to a previous state
Unit 7: Windows security
Topic A: User accounts
A-1: Creating password-protected local user accounts
A-2: Creating passwords
A-3: Requiring users to change their passwords
A-4: Disabling local user accounts
A-5: Locking and logging off from Windows Vista
Topic B: Windows Firewall
B-1: Displaying the status of Windows Firewall
B-2: Configuring firewall exceptions
Topic C: Automatic updates
C-1: Configuring automatic updates
C-2: Manually updating Windows
Topic D: Malware
D-1: Displaying your malware protection status
D-2: Scanning the computer for spyware
D-3: Disabling or removing blocked programs
Unit 8: Windows networking
Topic A: Basic networking
A-1: Considering the utility of networks
Topic B: Network connections
B-1: Creating a user account for network access
B-2: Browsing for network resources
B-3: Sharing a folder and testing your work
Topic C: Advanced file sharing
C-1: Enabling sharing through the Public folder
C-2: Creating a shortcut to a shared folder
C-3: Stopping folder sharing
C-4: Stopping sharing of the Public folder
Topic D: Printer sharing
D-1: Enabling printer sharing
D-2: Setting printer sharing options
D-3: Using a shared printer
Unit 9: Web browsing basics
Topic A: Browsing the Web
A-1: Exploring the Internet Explorer interface
A-2: Using hyperlinks and the Address bar
Topic B: Internet basics
B-1: Checking internal and external IP addresses
Unit 10: Browsing with Internet Explorer 7
Topic A: The Favorites Center
A-1: Working with the Favorites list
A-2: Adding an RSS news feed
A-3: Working with the History list
Topic B: Tabbed browsing
B-1: Using tabs
Topic C: Searching
C-1: Running a basic search
C-2: Using Google
Unit 11: Customizing Internet Explorer
Topic A: Customization
A-1: Changing your browser home page
A-2: Modifying AutoComplete settings
A-3: Examining browsing history settings
Topic B: Zooming, saving, and printing
B-1: Changing page and text size
B-2: Saving and printing a Web page
Topic C: Add-ons
C-1: Installing add-ons on the fly
C-2: Installing QuickTime
Topic D: Multimedia content
D-1: Playing audio content
D-2: Playing video content
Unit 12: Internet privacy and security
Topic A: Privacy
A-1: Blocking pop-ups
A-2: Examining the Content Advisor
A-3: Examining the privacy settings
A-4: Blocking cookies from a specific Web site
A-5: Viewing a privacy report
Topic B: Security
B-1: Examining security levels
B-2: Setting security levels
B-3: Using the Phishing filter
Unit 13: Printing
Topic A: Windows printing
A-1: Optional: Using the Add Printer Wizard
A-2: Setting the default printer
Topic B: Managing print jobs
B-1: Pausing the printer and printing documents
B-2: Managing the print queue
B-3: Exploring printer options
B-4: Deleting a printer
Topic C: Inkjet printers
C-1: Discussing how inkjet printers work
Topic D: Laser printers
D-1: Discussing how laser printers work
Unit 14: Display devices
Topic A: External monitors
A-1: Connecting a monitor
A-2: Updating a monitor driver
A-3: Adjusting display settings
A-4: Using multiple monitors
Topic B: Integrated monitors
B-1: Working with a notebook’s monitor power settings
B-2: Using the Fn key to control a notebook monitor
B-3: Configuring tablet PC settings
B-4: Configuring pen and input settings for a tablet PC
B-5: Using the Input Panel on a tablet PC
B-6: Configuring handwriting recognition on a tablet PC
B-7: Using a PDA
Unit 15: Connectors and adapters
Topic A: Serial and PS/2 connections
A-1: Discussing serial and PS/2 ports
Topic B: USB and FireWire
B-1: Discussing USB and FireWire
Unit 16: Multimedia devices
Topic A: Devices and drivers
A-1: Enabling and disabling devices
A-2: Installing a device
A-3: Removing a device from the PC
Topic B: Audio devices
B-1: Identifying the components of a sound card
B-2: Using a microphone
Topic C: Scanners and cameras
C-1: Connecting a scanner
C-2: Connecting a digital camera
C-3: Making a video call with Skype
Unit 17: Processors and memory
Topic A: The central processing unit
A-1: Discussing processors
Topic B: Memory
B-1: Identifying memory characteristics
Topic C: Memory packaging
C-1: Comparing RAM packaging
Topic D: Memory monitoring
D-1: Monitoring memory usage
D-2: Responding to a system lockup
Unit 18: Data storage devices
Topic A: Optical drives
A-1: Using an optical drive
Topic B: Removable storage devices
B-1: Using a USB flash drive
Topic C: Hard drives
C-1: Discussing hard drives
Unit 19: Network basics
Topic A: Network concepts
A-1: Describing networking models and protocols
A-2: Discussing network wiring
A-3: Describing wireless networking
Topic B: Wide area networks
B-1: Discussing WAN technologies
Unit 20: Networking protocols and connections
Topic A: Addressing
A-1: Comparing network protocols used on Windows clients
A-2: Examining addresses
A-3: Using IPCONFIG to view IP configuration
A-4: Testing TCP/IP connectivity
A-5: Discussing Application-layer protocols
Topic B: Client configuration
B-1: Configuring TCP/IP parameters
B-2: Discussing the DHCP lease process
B-3: Configuring a wireless access point (instructor demo)
B-4: Configuring a wireless client (instructor demo)
Unit 21: Network security overview
Topic A: Introduction to network security
A-1: Discussing network security
Topic B: Understanding security threats
B-1: Identifying security threats
Topic C: Creating a secure network strategy
C-1: Discussing strategies to secure your network
Unit 22: Safety and green IT
Topic A: Safety and hazards
A-1: Identifying typical office and computer-related hazards
A-2: Finding sources of static electricity and interference
A-3: Reading a material safety data sheet
Topic B: Electrical safety
B-1: Discussing electrical safety
Topic C: Green IT
C-1: Discussing green computing
Topic D: Disposing of computer equipment
D-1: Selecting the proper methods of computer equipment disposal
Unit 23: Computer hardware care and maintenance
Topic A: Environment
A-1: Discussing the computing environment
Topic B: Preventive hardware maintenance
B-1: Discussing preventive maintenance
B-2: Performing preventive maintenance on a monitor
Appendix A: Certification exam objectives map
Topic A: CompTIA Strata: Fundamentals of PC Functionality exam objectives
Topic B: CompTIA Strata: Fundamentals of Technology exam objectives