Computers


Computers
BSA Supply No. 35878
  1. Discuss with your counselor the tips for online safety.
  2. Give a short history of the computer. Explain how the invention of the computer has affected society and science and technology.
  3. Do the following:
    1. Describe four uses of computers outside your home.
    2. Describe three ways you and your family could use a personal computer other than for games and entertainment.
  4. Explain the following to your counselor:
    1. The five major parts of a computer
    2. How text, sound, pictures, and video files are stored in a computer’s memory
    3. How file compression works and how compression affects the quality of the file
    4. Describe two computer chip–based devices, and describe how they are “smarter” because of the chip and its program.
  5. Do the following:
    1. Explain what a program or software application is and how it is developed.
    2. Name three programming languages and describe their uses.
    3. Name four software packages you or your family could use, and explain how you would use them.
    4. Discuss ways you can help protect a computer from viruses and how to protect the information stored on a computer.
    5. Describe how computers are linked to generate and access the Internet and the World Wide Web.
  6. Do THREE of the following:
    1. Using a spreadsheet program, develop a food budget for a patrol weekend campout.
    2. Using a word processor, write a letter to the parents of your troop’s Scouts, inviting them to a court of honor.
    3. Using a computer graphics program, design and draw a campsite plan for your troop.
    4. Using a computer graphics program, create a flier for an upcoming troop event, incorporating both text and some type of visual such as a photograph or illustration.
    5. Using an Internet search engine (with your parent’s permission), find ideas about how to conduct a troop court of honor or campfire program. Print out a copy of the ideas from at least three different Web sites. Share what you found with your counselor, and explain how you used the search engine to find this information. (f) Using a presentation software program of your choice, develop a report about a topic that has been approved by your counselor. For your presentation, create at least 10 slides.
    6. Using a digital camera, take a picture of a troop activity. Transfer the picture file to a computer and use photographic software to make it small enough to send easily as an e-mail attachment. Then, using a computer connected to the Internet (with your parent’s permission), send an e-mail to someone you know. In your message, include the photograph as an attachment. Verify that the person received your e-mail and was able to view the attachment.
    7. Using a database manager, create a troop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, and telephone number of each Scout. Show your counselor that you can sort the register by each of the following categories: rank, patrol, and alphabetically by name.
  7. Do ONE of the following:
    1. Using a database program of your choice, create a troop roster that can be sorted by the name, rank, patrol, and telephone number of each Scout. Create a form within the database manager to access each Scout’s information individually. Show your counselor how the form works.
    2. Using a software package of your choice for computer-aided design (CAD), create an engineering-style drawing of a simple object. Include the top, bottom, and at least one side view and the dimensions.
    3. Create a blog and use it as an online journal of your Scouting activities, including group discussions and meetings, campouts, and other events. Your blog should have at least five entries and two photographs or illustrations. You need not post the blog to the Internet, but you will need to share it with your counselor. If you decide to go live with your blog, you must first share it with your parents AND counselor and get their approval.
    4. Create a Web page for your troop, patrol, school, or place of worship. Include at least three articles and two photographs or illustrations. Your Web page should have at least one link to a Web site that would be of interest to your audience. You need not post the page to the Internet. However, if you decide to do so, you must first share it with your parents AND counselor and get their approval.
    5. Visit a business or an industrial plant that uses computers. Observe what tasks the computers accomplish, and be prepared to discuss what you have learned.
  8. Explain the following to your counselor:
    1. Why copyright laws exist
    2. Why it is not permissible to accept a free copy of a paid, copyrighted computer game or program from a friend unless the game or program is considered freeware or shareware. Explain the concepts of freeware and shareware.
    3. (The restrictions and limitations of downloading music from the Internet
  9. Find out about three career opportunities in the computer industry. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you. Report what you learn to your counselor.

Resources

Books

  • Ceruzzi, Paul E. A History of Modern Computing. MIT Press, 2003.
  • Gookin, Dan. Buying a Computer for Dummies, 2004 ed. Wiley, John & Sons Inc., 2004.
  • Kent, Steven. The Ultimate History of Video Games: From Pong to Pokemon. Prima Lifestyles, 2001.
  • McGinty, Alice B. Software Designer. Rosen Publishing Group Inc., 2000.
  • Miller, Michael. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Computer Basics. Que, 2002.
  • Reid, T. R. The Chip: How Two Americans Invented the Microchip and Launched a Revolution. Random House, 2001.
  • Rothman, Kevin F. Coping With Dangers on the Internet. Rosen Publishing Group Inc., 2000.
  • Sethi, Maneesh. Game Programming for Teens. Premier Press, 2003.
  • Stair, Lila B., and Leslie Stair. Careers in Computers, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, 2002.
  • White, Ron. How Computers Work, 7th ed. Que, 2003.

Magazines

Game Developer Magazine
CMP Media LLC
600 Community Drive
Manhasset, NY 11030
Telephone: 516-562-5000
Web site: http://www.gdmag.com

MacAddict
Future Network USA
150 N. Hill Drive
Brisbane, CA 94005
Telephone: 415-468-4684
Web site: http://www.macaddict.com

Macworld
Mac Publishing
501 Second St.
San Francisco, CA 94107
Telephone: 417-243-0505
Web site: http://www.macworld.com

PC Magazine
Ziff-Davis Media
28 E. 28th St.
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: 212-503-3500
Web site: http://www.pcmag.com

PC World
PC World Communications Inc.
501 Second St. San Francisco, CA 94107 Telephone: 415-243-0500
Web site: http://www.pcworld.com

Organizations and Web Sites

American Society for Engineering Education
1818 N St. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036-2479
Telephone: 202-331-3500
Web site: http://www.asee.org,http://www.engineeringk12.org

The Computer History Museum
1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Mountain View, CA 94043
Telephone: 650-810-1010
Web site: http://www.computerhistory.org

The Computer Society
1730 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036-1992
Telephone: 202-371-0101
Web site: http://www.computer.org

Entertainment Software Association
1211 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Web site: http://www.theesa.com

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
3 Park Ave., 17th Floor
New York, NY 10016-5997
Telephone: 212-419-7900
Web site: http://www.ieee.org

International Game Developers Association
600 Harrison St., 6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94107
Telephone: 415-947-6235
Web site: http://www.igda.org

International Intellectual Property Alliance
1747 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Suite 825
Washington, DC 20006-4637
Telephone: 202-833-4198
Web site: http://www.iipa.com

The Internet Society
1775 Wiehle Ave., Suite 102
Reston, VA 20190
Telephone: 703-326-9880
Web site: http://www.isoc.org

Recording Industry Association of America
Web site: http://www.riaa.com

Webopedia
Web site: http://www.webopedia.com

World Wide Web Consortium
Web site: http://www.w3c.org