Processor frequency: Specifies the operating (internal) frequency of CPU's core. The higher the frequency is for a given CPU family, the faster the processor is. To save power most laptops include a "Speedstep" feature which lowers the frequency of an idle CPU core. Frequency * Instructions per clock (IPC) is the total CPU efficiency.
Word size: The number of bits a CPU can processes at once. A processors word size is often the same as the external data bus.
Overclocking: Modifying settings to run your CPU (or other parts) past the speed that it is rated at. The gaming community is the driving force behind this practice and today, many manufacturers build and advertise this ability into their products. The common risk is destroying hardware due to overheating.
Data path: The path that data follows within the CPU, along the bus from registers to the Arithmetic Logic Unit and back is called the CPU Datapath. All data in the computer, regardless of type is sent along the Data Path.
SRAM: Static Random Access Memory. SRAM is volatile memory and only holds information until it is overwritten or loses power.
Primary, external and memory cache: Primary cache is referred to as Level 1 cache and is often a reserved area of memory. External cache referred to as Level 2 cache and is not built into the CPU, rather it is installed on the motherboard. Memory cache is the main area of RAM used by the operating system.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
What Does the Research Say About Technology's Impact on Education?
Traditionally, schools and classrooms have tended to discourage many forms of collaboration. In the archetypical system, decisions related to course content and delivery arrive top down from the administration, teachers spend all but a small portion of their day confined to a room, telephones are not easily available to teachers in most situations, students are rewarded for not talking and for working independently, and communication between teacher and parents is scheduled once or twice a year at most. Teachers who value communication with parents and students generally must do it on their own time from home. Students who want to or have to collaborate must often do it outside of the scheduled "work day."
In contrast, success in graduate school, business, or life in general relies on collaboration and teamwork. The traditional education system, being more evolutionary than revolutionary, is unlikely to transform itself any time soon into an environment that teaches and encourages collaboration as a part of learning; emerging technologies, however, can catalyze this change much sooner than it would happen otherwise
In contrast, success in graduate school, business, or life in general relies on collaboration and teamwork. The traditional education system, being more evolutionary than revolutionary, is unlikely to transform itself any time soon into an environment that teaches and encourages collaboration as a part of learning; emerging technologies, however, can catalyze this change much sooner than it would happen otherwise
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