(a) General requirements. This course is recommended for students in Grades 10-12. Recommended prerequisite: Principles of Information Technology. Recommended corequisite: Computer Maintenance Lab. Students shall be awarded one credit for successful completion of this course.
(b) Introduction.
  (1) Career and technical education instruction provides content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.
  (2) The Information Technology (IT) Career Cluster focuses on building linkages in IT occupations for entry level, technical, and professional careers related to the design, development, support, and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services.
  (3) In Computer Maintenance, students will acquire knowledge of computer maintenance and creating appropriate documentation. Students will analyze the social responsibility of business and industry regarding the significant issues relating to the environment, ethics, health, safety, and diversity in society and in the workplace as related to computer maintenance. Students will apply technical skills to address the IT industry and emerging technologies.
  (4) Students are encouraged to participate in extended learning experiences such as career and technical student organizations and other leadership or extracurricular organizations.
  (5) Statements that contain the word "including" reference content that must be mastered, while those containing the phrase "such as" are intended as possible illustrative examples.
(c) Knowledge and skills.
  (1) The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry. The student is expected to:
    (A) employ effective reading and writing skills;
    (B) employ effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills;
    (C) solve problems and think critically;
    (D) demonstrate leadership skills and function effectively as a team member;
    (E) identify and implement proper safety procedures;
    (F) demonstrate an understanding of legal and ethical responsibilities in relation to the field of IT; and
    (G) demonstrate planning and time-management skills such as project management, including initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling, and closing a project.
  (2) The student identifies various employment opportunities in the IT field. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify job opportunities and accompanying job duties and tasks; and
    (B) examine the role of certifications, resumes, and portfolios in the IT profession.
  (3) The student applies academic skills to the requirements of computer technologies. The student is expected to:
    (A) demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills with individuals from varied cultures such as fellow workers, management, and customers; and
    (B) interpret appropriate documentation such as schematics, drawings, charts, diagrams, technical manuals, and bulletins.
  (4) The student acquires an understanding of computer hardware technologies. The student is expected to:
    (A) explain the fundamentals of microprocessor theory;
    (B) define the use of Boolean and Binary logic in computer technologies;
    (C) explain the theories of magnetism, electricity, and electronics as related to computer technologies;
    (D) explain proper troubleshooting techniques as related to computer hardware;
    (E) differentiate among digital and analog input and output electronics theory;
    (F) explain the relationships relative to data-communications theory;
    (G) describe the architecture of various computer systems;
    (H) describe the function of computer components such as central processing units, storage devices, and peripheral devices;
    (I) explain computer system environmental requirements and related control devices; and
    (J) identify new and emerging technologies that may affect the field of computer technology.
  (5) The student uses hardware design, operation, and maintenance knowledge and skills to identify major computer components. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the purpose and function of computer components in the operation of the computer system such as central processing unit, mother board, sockets, chipsets, basic input and output system and their drivers, memory, hard drive technologies, video cards, input and output devices and ports, and modem and network interface cards (NIC);
    (B) identify how mobile devices such as personal data assistants and cell phones operate;
    (C) identify how mobile devices such as personal data assistants and cell phones connect and share data;
    (D) demonstrate an understanding of the rationale behind error messages and symptoms of hardware failures;
    (E) research interrupt sequences and beep codes; and
    (F) identify priorities and interrupts at the system level.
  (6) The student acquires knowledge of operating system design, including operation and maintenance. The student is expected to:
    (A) explain the fundamentals of an operating system;
    (B) compare and contrast different operating systems; and
    (C) identify the operating systems of mobile devices.
  (7) The student acquires knowledge of the theory behind the installation, configuration of software programs, and updates in IT systems. The student is expected to:
    (A) identify the operational features and proper terminology related to computer software systems;
    (B) evaluate application software packages;
    (C) verify that software is properly licensed prior to installation;
    (D) differentiate between types of software such as Software as a Service, single-user, per-seat, enterprise, freeware, shareware, and open-source licensing; and
    (E) explain proper troubleshooting techniques related to computer software.
  (8) The student acquires knowledge of the installation and configuration of network connections. The student is expected to:
    (A) explain the fundamentals of network connections and interface requirements;
    (B) explain the steps required to install and configure a computer on a network; and
    (C) identify the steps to troubleshoot network connectivity.

Source Note: The provisions of this §130.303 adopted to be effective August 28, 2017, 40 TexReg 9123