– Taking stuff apart.

Junk computers are a great place to start, easy to find. Set up a table and take them apart. Don’t break anything, though, since computer parts are filled with toxic chemicals. Find a computer parts diagram on the Internet and learn the names of the parts.

– Studying about computer design.

There are a number of great books on building your own computer. Do a search on Amazon. Get at least two and read them. It’s always best to have more than one perspective.

– Interpreting drawings.

Study the diagrams, learn the parts. There are a number of custom computer sites on the Internet that let you play around with creating your own custom design – with the price. Google for one and come up with a variety of creations, both lowest cost and highest. That’s how you learn.

– Learning electronic circuitry.

It’s good to know how the circuitry works. Not necessary, but helpful if your goal is a larger, all-around knowledge of your computer. Look for a book on Amazon, or find an electronic circuit training kit.

– Troubleshooting a computer.

Work on a computer that is worth fixing. But there are principles of troubleshooting that must be learned. Search for sites that teach you how to troubleshoot. You can find books on the topic through Amazon as well. You can’t repair a computer until you know exactly what is wrong. And computers are their own world. Learning computer troubleshooting is where you start.

– Repairing a computer.

Now that you have figured out what’s wrong with the computer, fix it. Elementary, but an important step in your overall goal of learning the makeup of a computer.

– Designing a computer.

Here is where the decision making comes in – and your design skills. What will you use the computer for? What do you want it to do? Of course, the more capacity your custom-designed computer will have, the more it will cost.

– Finding parts – figuring costs.

Some used parts will work just fine. You can find cheap computer parts on Ebay. There are many computer parts stores online. To know what to buy, you must study out the many brand names and what they offer. Keep a running price list.

– Building a computer.

As you get your parts – put your computer together. This is what it’s all about. It’s worth it to have your own computer made by yourself following your own design. Since you have created it, it’s a simple thing to make changes or to add capacity. But there’s more to it than just putting your own computer together. You’re after a broader knowledge of computers so that you can understand better your own.

– Knowing a history of inventions.

Do an Internet search on the history of the computer. You will better understand what goes into your own computer when you learn how each part was developed and why.

– Learning computer science.

Start with the Wikipedia articles on computers and computer science. When you understand how this thing works, your satisfaction in its use will be greater.

You can access the Building a Computer Project Guide Resource Page here: http://www.yguide.org/Tech/BuildingAComputer.html

Daniel Yordy is the director of YGuide Academy, an Internet school serving the active-learning needs of families with students in 7th through 12th grades.

For more on project-led learning, visit us at http://www.YguideAcademy.com/ProjectLedLearning.html. We help you develop project ideas into meaningful learning experiences.

Copyright 2009 by YGuide Publishing, Inc.. Freely use without changes, including links.