Essential Questions
- How can I create an environment for peak performance of computing devices?
- How do I clean devices when they need to be cleaned?
- What do I do when something really goes wrong, like equipment failure or a disaster beyond my control?
Big Ideas
In addition to the logical and behavioral strategies taken to secure IT resources, computing devices also need to be in an environment that supports their use. Computers need to have access to a stable power supply and are susceptible to high heat, dust, moisture and other environmental conditions. IT technicians can take steps to protect devices from environmental conditions to prevent problems, but at some point many may need to be cleaned. Most users can be taught how to properly engage in routine cleaning of their own devices.
Eventually, many devices do wear out and they must be disposed of in a way that does not endanger others or the environment. IT support specialists should be able to read a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and use that information to properly dispose of technology resources. They are also either responsible for creating or implementing a Disaster Recovery Plan in the case of equipment failure or a natural disaster.
Connection to Student Lives
Getting a brand new phone or computer can be exciting. But you have to take care of that new device or it can become damaged or completely unusable. Certainly you’ve never dropped your phone into water, but haven’t we all heard of someone who has? Sure, you can try the rice trick to try to save it, but it’s best to be sure you use your devices in the environments in which they’re intended so you don’t have to try repair remedies that just may not work.
As an IT Support Specialist, you can help prepare the environments where devices are to be used so they remain as clean and safe as possible. And while you should be able to properly clean the devices your organization owns, you can also teach other students, teachers, and staff how to keep their own devices clean so you don’t have to.
Despite your best efforts, at some time there may be an incident that threatens your hardware, network, and the information on it. The best course of action is prevention, so you can recover data and perhaps some of the devices on your network after some sort of incident has occurred.
Framing Problem
What can I do to keep my devices running as well as they can? What do I do if there’s been an equipment failure or some kind of disaster out of my control?
Cornerstone Assessment
Students will generate a plan for routine cleaning of devices that can be shared with others, whether other members of the Help Desk or other students, faculty, and staff. Students should know how to configure Windows Backup and document that they have done so successfully.
DPI Standards
- NCCTE.2020.II22.04.06 - Explain the processes for addressing prohibited content activity, privacy licensing, and policy concepts.
- NCCTE.2020.II22.04.05 - Explain environmental impacts and appropriate controls.
- NCCTE.2020.II22.04.03 - Implement basic disaster prevention and recovery methods.
A+ Standards
TOPIC 18A: Environmental Impacts and Controls
TOPIC 18D: Implement Disaster Prevention and Recovery Methods
Knowledge
- Surge protectors are a common power protection control against spikes and surges
- Entire power circuits can be protected from the effects of surges or brownouts using Power Distribution Units (PDUs)
- Options for power redundancy, such as battery backup and an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
- An inverter is necessary when using an UPS in order to power a PC, when needed
- Methods for controlling exposure to and ultimately cleaning dust from devices
- Computing devices need to be protected from heat and moisture
- Give examples of cleaning tasks and suggestions for how often they are completed
- The proper protection to wear when using compressed air and vacuums, and the proper way to use these cleaning tools
- Suggestions for cleaning peripherals and laptops and keeping them clean
- IT equipment must be disposed of or recycled in ways that comply with government regulations and do not cause environmental damage
- How to read an MSDS and take action based on what it contains
- How a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) can help mitigate equipment failure or natural disasters that impact the IT infrastructure
- Data backup does not need to include OS files but should include configuration files
- The characteristics and differences between full, incremental, and differential backups
- The differences between a “refresh” and a “reset” in Windows
- Best practices for backup storage security
- Guidelines for implementing disaster recovery and prevention methods
Skills
- Explain how to and calculate the required VA rating for a Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
- Perform or explain how to back up data at the file level, image level, and of critical applications
- Give examples of a backup schedule including full, incremental, and differential backups
- Test a backup before it is used to restore data
Vocabulary
Environmental Impacts and Controls
Environmental power problems
- Surge
- Spike
- Sag
- Brownout
- blackout
Surge protector
Line Conditioners or Power Distribution Units (PDUs)
Power redundancy
- Battery backup
- Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
- UPS sizing
Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
Airborne particles
- Air or Dust Filters
- Enclosure
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Compressed air blaster
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
Implement Disaster Prevention and Recovery Methods
Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
Data backup
Data restoration
Recovery image
Challenge Questions
Weekly Map
Monday
Introduction to problem: Keeping Devices and Data Safe
Online Pre-assessment (available for student practice, as well)
Consider a review of Environmental factors within the building
Review content resources with whole group: 18A: Discussing Environmental Impacts and Controls
Activity 18-1: Discussing Environmental Impacts and Controls
Tuesday
Review content resources with whole group: 18D: Implement Disaster Prevention and Recovery Methods
Small group and independent exploration of resources
Activity 18-4: Discussing Disaster Prevention and Recovery
Wednesday
Hands-on exploration with IT professionals: Activity 18-5: Configuring Windows Backup
Progress check with supervisor
Thursday
Hands-on exploration with IT professionals: Activity 18-5: Configuring Windows Backup
Progress check with supervisor
Friday
Conduct a review of Environmental factors in the building today or earlier in the week
Team progress check with supervisor or sharing of progress with whole group
Online post-assessment
Lesson Ideas
These short topics still contain concepts and terminology that students should understand and be comfortable with. Of course, for the cleaning aspects, students can be charged with correctly cleaning devices in the classroom or lab, or perhaps in another area. Students can also perform a walkthrough of different spaces in the building to identify where best practices are and are not being followed to provide a safe and clean environment for IT resources and what might be done, if not.
The focus of disaster prevention is outlined in Activity 18-5: Configuring Windows Backup. This is an activity that can be completed individually, in pairs, or as a demonstration to the entire group. Try to provide students as much control over configuring Windows Backup so they feel comfortable explaining and replicating the process.
Potential Resources
The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 & Core 2 Instructor Guide for Exams 220-1001 and 220-1002
- Topic 18A: Discussing Environmental Impacts and Controls (pp. 994-1002)
- Activity 18-1: Discussing Environmental Impacts and Controls (p. 1003)
- Topic 18D: Implement Disaster Prevention and Recovery Methods (pp. 1020-1024)
- Activity 18-4: Discussing Disaster Prevention and Recovery (pp. 1025)
- Activity 18-5: Configuring Windows Backup
Professor Messer at ProfessorMesser.com and YouTube offers numerous free videos of various lengths for many of the topics for the CompTIA 220-1001 A+ Exam. They are easy to understand, narrated videos with visuals. If you are teaching a CompTIA course, the site notes “You’re welcome to use them as much as you’d like, provided you embed the videos with the associated YouTube link or link directly to my site. Please click the “Contact Us” link at the top of our web page and let me know how you’re using them.”
- Professor Messer’s 220-1001 Core 2 CompTIA A+ Training Course videos on ProfessorMesser.com. Search or scroll to find the topics you’re interested in.
Entry Level I.T. Training from Technology Gee
- Prohibited Content, Privacy, Licensing, & Policy Concepts (Article | Video – 8:39) introduced previously
Microsoft Support
Other Articles and Resources:
Hazard Communication Standard: Safety Data Sheets from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Thorough guidance on developing an IT Disaster Recovery Plan from Ready.gov