3. What is a Computer?: Lesson Plan
Untitled Document Learner: Grades 4, 5, 6

Task 5: New Operating Systems vs. Old Operating Systems

Summary:

Discuss new operating systems vs. old operating systems

Detailed Explanation:

•  If available, use an old computer to identify the ROM chip

•  Tell class that the first computers had all of the operating system built into the permanent memory (ROM)

•  When the operating systems was updated, the permanent chip was removed and a new chip was installed

•  This was difficult to do and parts of the computer would often be broken in the process

•  Ask class how today's computers are updated [Ans: New operating system software is loaded from a CD-ROM or over the Internet. ]