Computing Essentials - DSU-106

Course Description: This introductory, six-week online course explores the essential concepts of information technology. Students explore hardware, software, applications, Internet technologies, as well as privacy concerns, systems administration and information technology careers. This course is perfect for those who would like to learn more about the technology they utilize every day.

Prerequisite: None

Course Credit: 3 Credit Hours

Major Course Topics & Course Outcomes

As a result of the group and individual activities included in this course, the student will acquire the following knowledge and skills that can be applied to the workplace:

Information Technology, The Internet and You

• Explain the five parts of an information system.
• Distinguish between system software and application software
• Discuss three kinds of system software
• Distinguish between basic and specialized application software
• Identify the four types of computers and the four types of microcomputers
• Describe the different types of computer hardware including the system unit, input, output, storage and communication devices
• Define data and describe document, worksheet, database and presentation files.
• Explain computer connectivity, the wireless revolution and the Internet

The Internet, the Web and Electronic Commerce

• Discuss the origins of the Internet and the web
• Describe how to access the Web using providers and browsers
• Discuss Internet communications, including e-mail, instant messaging and social networking.
• Describe search tools, including search engines, metasearch engines, and specialized search engines
• Discuss electronic commerce, including B2C, C2C, B2B, and security issues
• Describe these web utilities: Web-based applications, FTP, plug-ins, and filters

Basic Application Software

• Discuss common features of most software applications
• Discuss word processors and work processing features
• Describe spreadsheets and spreadsheet features
• Discuss database management systems and database management features
• Describe presentation graphics and presentation graphics features
• Discuss integrated software
• Describe software suites and the different types of suites

Specialized Application Software

• Describe graphics and software, including desktop publishing, image editors, illustration programs, image galleries, and graphic suites.
• Discuss audio and video editing software
• Describe multimedia, including story boards and multimedia authoring programs
• Explain web authoring, web site design and web authoring programs
• Describe virtual reality and VRML
• Discuss knowledge-based (expert) systems
• Describe robotics including perception systems, industrial robots, and mobile robots

System Software

• Describe the difference between system software and application software
• Discuss the four types of system software
• Discuss the basic functions, features and categories of operating systems
• Describe the Windows, Mas OS, UNIX and Linux operating systems
• Identify the five most essential utilities
• Discuss Windows utility programs
• Describe device drivers, including printer drivers

The System Unit

• Describe the four basic types of system units
• Discuss how a computer uses binary codes to represent data in electronic form
• Describe each of the major system unit components
• Discuss microprocessors, including specialty processors
• Describe the different types of memory
• Discuss expansion slots and boards
• Describe the five principal types of expansion buses
• Discuss the four standard parts

Input and Output

• Define input
• Describe keyboard entry, pointing devices and scanning devices
• Discuss image capturing devices, including digital cameras, digital video cameras and audio input devices
• Define output
• Describe monitors, printers, and audio output devices
• Discuss combination input and output devices, including fax machines, multifunctional devices, internet telephones and terminals.

Secondary Storage

• Distinguish between primary and secondary storage
• Describe the traditional floppy disk and compare it to high-capacity floppy disks
• Compare internal hard disks, hard-disk cartridges, and hard-disk packs.
• Describe ways to improve hard-disk operations, including disk caching, redundant arrays of inexpensive disks, and data compression and decompression.
• Discuss the different types of optical discs
• Discuss mass storage and mass storage devices

Communications and Networks

• Discuss connectivity, the wireless revolution, and communication systems
• Describe physical and wireless communication channels.
• Discuss connection devices, including modems, T1, DSL, cable modem, satellite, and cellular connections.
• Describe data transmission factors, including bandwidths and protocols.
• Discuss networks and key network terminologies
• Describe different types of networks, including local area, metropolitan area, and wide area networks.
• Describe network architectures, including configurations and strategies.
• Describe organizational uses of Internet technologies, including intranets, extranets, and firewalls. 

Privacy and Security

• Discuss the privacy issues related to the presence of large databases, private networks, the Internet and the Web.
• Describe and control cookies, Web bugs, and spyware.
• Describe the security threats posed by computer criminals, computer crime and other hazards.
• Discuss ways that individuals and organizations can protect their security.
• Describe the common types of physical and mental risks associated with computer use and ways to protect yourself against them.
• Discuss what the computer industry is doing, and what you can do to protect the environment.

Information Systems

• Explain how organizations can be structured according to five functions and three management levels.
• Describe how information flows in an organization.
• Distinguish among a transaction processing system, a management information system, a decision support system, and an executive support system.
• Distinguish between office automation systems and knowledge work systems.
• Explain the difference between data workers and knowledge workers.

Databases

• Distinguish between the physical and logical views of data.
• Describe how data is organized: characters, fields, records, files and databases.
• Describe databases, database issues, and database management systems (DBMS).
• Describe five data models: hierarchical, network, relational, multi-dimensional, and object-oriented.
• Distinguish among individual, company, distributed, proprietary, and Web databases
• Recognize strategic database uses and security concerns.

Systems Analysis and Design

• Describe the six phases of the systems life cycle.
• Identify information needs and formulate possible solutions.
• Analyze existing information systems and evaluate the feasibility of alternative systems.
• Identify, acquire, and test new system software and hardware.
• Switch from an existing information system to a new one with minimal risk.
• Perform system audits and periodic evaluations.

Programming and Languages

• Describe the six steps of programming
• Discuss design tools including top-down design, pseudocode, flowcharts, and logic structures.
• Describe program testing and the tools for finding and removing errors.
• Describe CASE tools and object-oriented software development.
• Explain the five generations of programming languages.

Your Future and Information Technology

• Explain what it is important to have an individual strategy to be a “winner” in the information age.
• Describe how technology is changing the nature of competition
• Discuss four ways people react to new technology
• Describe how you can stay current with your career.
• Describe different careers in information technology.

Course Texts:

There is one textbook required for this course. You can obtain it through your favorite bookstore.

Timothy J. O’Leary and Linda I. O’Leary “Computing Essentials: Complete 2008” McGraw Hill Higher Education (ISBN: 978-0-07-351670-7)

 

Please note that textbooks are subject to change. Please contact your advisor before purchasing the textbook for your class to confirm.