ITA study plan
ITA · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware
Identify and label the function of CPU, RAM, storage, motherboard, PSU, and expansion buses on a diagram you draw yourself
Differentiate HDD, SATA SSD, and NVMe SSD by interface, throughput range, and typical use case
Explain POST and BIOS/UEFI boot sequence in writing, including what happens when RAM or boot device fails
Compare USB, Thunderbolt, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Ethernet ports by speed and typical peripheral
Compute binary-to-decimal and decimal-to-binary conversions for 8-bit values without a calculator
Your checkpoint
A one-page labeled hardware reference sheet plus a 20-question self-quiz scored at 80% or higher
IT Fundamentals and Computer Hardware & Operating Systems and Software
Install and configure a desktop OS in a virtual machine, including partitioning and formatting
Classify at least 15 file extensions by type and default application
Explain the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit OS address space and driver implications
Describe how file permissions and user account types differ between standard and administrator roles
Demonstrate installing and cleanly uninstalling an application, noting registry and filesystem side effects
Your checkpoint
A step-by-step lab log of the VM OS install with screenshots described in text and a 10-item extension classification table
Operating Systems and Software & Networking and Connectivity
Compare Windows, macOS, and Linux file system structures and default permission models
Configure a static IP, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server on a host and verify with CLI tools
Map the OSI and TCP/IP models to each other and place five common protocols at the correct layer
Explain how DHCP and DNS resolve a hostname to a reachable address in sequence
Use ipconfig/ifconfig, ping, traceroute, and nslookup to diagnose a simulated connectivity fault
Your checkpoint
A network configuration worksheet with captured CLI output summarized in text and a correct OSI-to-protocol mapping table
Networking and Connectivity
Distinguish TCP from UDP and name two applications that depend on each
Identify common ports for HTTP, HTTPS, SSH, FTP, SMTP, DNS, and RDP
Explain subnetting logic and divide a /24 network into at least four subnets by hand
Compare wired, Wi-Fi, and cellular connectivity by bandwidth, latency, and failure modes
Describe the roles of router, switch, access point, and firewall in a small office topology
Your checkpoint
A completed subnetting exercise set with all calculations shown and a small-office topology diagram described in words
Milestones
Week 4: Score 80% or higher on a 40-question mixed quiz covering Domains 1-3, and correctly subnet a /24 into four subnets without reference material