Free Online Course offered by Coursera: Technical Support Fundamentals

Coursera Platform is offering, in partnership with Google, a free online course on the theme of Technical Support Fundamentals.

Course background:

This course is the first of a Google IT Support Professional Certificate series that aims to prepare you for a role as an entry-level IT Support Specialist. In this course, you’ll be introduced to the world of Information Technology, or IT. You’ll learn about the different facets of Information Technology, like computer hardware, the Internet, computer software, troubleshooting, and customer service. This course covers a wide variety of topics in IT that are designed to give you an overview of what’s to come in this certificate program.

Course duration:

Approx. 23 hours to complete.

Course topics:

• WEEK 1: Introduction to IT:

Welcome to Technical Support Fundamentals, the first course of the IT Support Professional Certificate! By enrolling in this course, you are taking the first step to kickstarting your career in tech. In the first week of the course, we'll learn about how computers were invented, how they've evolved over time, and how they work today. We will also learn about what an "IT Support Specialist" is and what they do in their job.

• WEEK 2: Hardware:

In the second week of this course, we'll learn about what's inside a computer. We'll learn all about the hardware components or different pieces inside a computer. We'll discover what each component does and how they work together to make a computer function. By the end of this module, you will also know how to build a computer from scratch!

• WEEK 3: Operating System:

In the third week of this course, we'll learn about operating systems. We'll discuss the common operating systems that are used today and understand how they work with the computer hardware. We'll learn about the "boot process" of an operating system and show you how to install Windows, Linux and Mac OSX operating systems from scratch. By the end of this module, you'll use the Qwiklabs environment to interact directly with the Windows and Linux operating systems.

• WEEK 4: Networking:

In the fourth week of this course, we'll learn about computer networking. We'll explore the history of the Internet and what "The Web" actually is. We'll also discuss topics like Internet privacy, security, and what the future of the Internet may look like. You'll also understand why the Internet has limitations even today. By the end of this module, you will know how the Internet works and recognize both the positive and negative impacts the Internet has had on the world.

• WEEK 5: Software:

In the fifth week of this course, we'll learn about computer software. We'll learn about what software actually is and the different types of software you may encounter as an IT Support Specialist. We'll also explore how to manage software and revisit the concept of "abstraction." By the end of this module, you'll use the Qwiklabs environment to install, update and remove software on both Windows and Linux operating systems.

• WEEK 6: Troubleshooting:

Congratulations, you've made it to the last week of the course! In the final week, we'll learn about the importance of troubleshooting and customer support. We'll go through some real-world scenarios that you might encounter at a Help Desk or Desktop Support role. We'll learn why empathizing with a user is super important when working in a tech role.

Course objectives:

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

1. understand how the binary system works
2. assemble a computer from scratch.
3. choose and install an operating system on a computer.
4. understand what the Internet is, how it works, and the impact it has in the modern world
5. learn how applications are created and how they work under the hood of a computer.
6. utilize common problem-solving methodologies and soft skills in an Information Technology setting.

Course costs:

As this course is a part of larger Google IT Support Professional Certificate, learner can to enroll for free and gets:

• Unlimited access to all courses in the certificate including: Watching lectures, trying assignments, participating in discussion forums, and more.
• Canceling option at any time: No penalties - simply cancel before the trial ends if it's not right for you.
• $49 USD per month to continue learning after trial ends: Go as fast as you can - the faster you go, the more you save.
• Certificate when you complete, that you can share on your resume, LinkedIn, and CV.
• Learner who can’t afford to pay required fees is eligible to apply for financial aid, that allows him/her to get everything a fee-payer learner gets.

Upon completing the certificate:

• FREE career resources when you complete the Professional Certificate.
• Includes resume builder and mock interviews (a $948 USD value).

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