PC Hardware Lab

Build, configure, and tinker with PCs.

This course is ideal for students who enjoy computers, gaming, or tech and want a guided introduction to building, configuring, and understanding hardware. The class blends clear explanations with structured, project-based exploration so students learn concepts and immediately put them into practice. The pacing, tools, and learning goals are designed for motivated beginners as well as students with basic prior exposure to PCs.

Students take apart and fully reassemble a gaming PC, learning how each component fits and functions inside the case. They test different types of storage, work through troubleshooting scenarios, install operating systems, configure networks, and experiment with security tools and cloud services. Along the way, they work through practice questions from the A+ certification exam, an entry-level credential recognized in the professional world. Fairfax Collegiate provides all equipment needed for the class.

At the end of the course, instructors upload photos and videos of student builds and activities for families to access. Students leave the course ready to experiment with beginner home-lab projects, continue exploring hardware, networking, and cybersecurity topics, and with a head start towards obtaining A+ certification.