TUSTIN : Students Build on PC Skills

In the technological 1990s, few students pass through middle school in the Tustin Unified School District without learning basic computer skills, teachers say.

But on Monday, a group of about 15 science-minded seventh-graders at Columbus Tustin Middle School took their learning a step further--by building computers from scratch.

“I think it gives them an appreciation for the complexity of the computer,” Principal Adele Heuer said. “Usually we just put the floppy disks in and that’s it.”

With parts purchased through a grant, the students assembled entire bases, motherboards, and memory and power supplies--along with the numerous wires, circuitry and other components--for five IBM-compatible computers that will be used in the school’s classrooms.

Heuer said the school was able to save some money in the process.

The campus was allocated about $8,000 from a corporate grant to buy the computer components, software and accessories. The cost to purchase five similar fully assembled computers would have been much more.

The project was spearheaded by science teacher Nancy Kaahaaina, who said she tries to incorporate hands-on experience into her lessons whenever possible. “It’s said that what you see, you remember 10%, and what you do, you remember 60%,” she said.

In a two-hour session Monday, the students built the entire computer units except for CD-ROM drives and sound components, which they will add Wednesday.

“They’re doing as well as any high school class,” said Bob Mandell, a computer teacher at Tustin High School who supervised the session. Building a computer, however, “isn’t as hard as people think,” he said.

Mandell, who had 25 years of experience as a computer technician before becoming a teacher, said that the computer industry “has kept a mystique about all this. There’s no mystique. Anyone can learn.”

Many of the students agreed.

“It’s easier than I thought it would be, looking at all those wires and parts,” Annalise Olsen said. “It’s a lot of fun, though. I’m glad I got to do this.”

But student Jenifer Reed said the experience was “kind of stressful.”

“I’m worried I might break something,” she said.