Department of Copmuter Science and Information Systems

MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF COPMUTER SCIENCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS

INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HCS115)

MODULE OUTLINE

AIMS

The Information Technology Module aims to give students an understanding of the basics of the computer and its processes. How to use computer systems to make their work easier in their learning process and even after. It is also combined with the information literacy training program at the MSU Library which is aimed at making students aware of the limitless possibilities of information available to them.

OBJECTIVES

By the end of the semester students will be able to :

a) Understand the general typing and saving using computers

b) Know all the devices of the computers and their uses

c) Know how to use the computer systems to process data into meaningful information

d) Understand how information is organised and stored in an academic Library.

e) Develop and implement effective research strategies.

f) Identify, locate, retrieve, analyse and evaluate information.

MODULE ASSESSMENT

This module comprise of a continuous assessment which is weighted to 30% of the final mark and 70% is obtained in an exam sitting

CONTINOUS ASSESSMENT

• 2 theory assignments
• 2 practical assignments
• 2 tests

1)WHAT IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (Computer Science)

This topic introduces the students to the module I.T and its concepts

-What is information technology

-What is data

-Difference between information and data

2) a) INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION LITERACY(Library)

This topic introduces students to the concept of information literacy. An attempt will be made to define information literacy, explain the importance of information literacy and identify what the information literate person is able to do.

b) THE CONCEPT OF INFORMATION (Library)

This topic introduces students to the concepts of information. An attempt will be made to define information, discuss its characteristics, categories,types and formats. The various sources of information are also described.

-Information defined

-Characteristics of information

-Categories of information

-Types and formats;and,

-Sources of information

3)ORGANISATION OF INFORMATION(Library)

The topic covers the definitions of the terms and why organise information. It also discusses how information resources are organised in the library.

- What is organisation

-What is information organisation

-Why organise information

4) INFORMATION ACCESS TOOLS(Library)

The topic describes the various aids in finding information. The students should know the tools that they are expected to use to find information

- indexes and abstracts

- bibliographies

- catalogues

• web search tools

-online journals

-e-books

-institutional repository

-LANTEEAL

5) REFERENCE SOURCES (Library)

The topic will define reference sources and give the categories and types of reference sources

- Reference sources defined

- General and subject specific reference sources and

- Categories and types of reference sources

6) PERIODICALS(Library)

Definition of periodicals, it will also give the various types of periodicals, the role of periodical literature in research and finding journals, newspapers and research papers in the M.S.U library.

- Define periodical literature

-Types and uses of periodical literature

-Role of periodical literature

-Finding journals, newspapers and research articles in the M.S.U libraries

- Evaluating articles in periodicals.

7. COMPUTER HARDWARE (Computer Science)

The topic introduces the students to the hardware needed to input, process, output their data.

- input.

– processing and control

- the central processing unit

-output

-storage

8.COMPUTER SOFTWARE(Computer Science)

Describes the differences between the softwares available in the computer system

- system software

application software

factors to consider before buying a software

9.DATA PROCESSING (Computer Science)

Describes the types of data processing and how it is organised in the computer system

-types of processing

-file organization

-Databases

Advantages of databases

10.COMPUTER NETWORKS (Computer Science)

Describes how computers are networked for the reasons of communication and the reasons for networking.

-Definition of terms

-Reasons for networking computers

-Types of network systems

- Local area networks and wide area networks

-Network topologies

-ring networking

-bus networking

-star networking

-mesh networking

11.ELECTRONIC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

. THE INTERNET(Computer Science)

The topic introduces the students to the internet as an information access tool and other uses of the internet. The students should know how to use the internet for academic research purposes.

- requirements for one to connect to the internet

-uses of the internet

-Web search engines

- -electronic mail (e-mail)

-newsgroups

-file transfer protocol

. ELECTRONIC JOURNALS AND DATABASES(LIBRARY)

The use of electronic journals and databases found in the M.S.U library is highlighted and also the definitions of terms under the topic are given

- How to formulate a search strategy

- Simple and advanced searches; and,

- Evaluating internet information.

introduction to online journals (e-journals);

databases defined

types of databases and CD-Roms

12. WORD-PROCESSORS AND SPREADSHEETS(Computer Science)

The use of computer to transform data into information

- Word-processing

- Spreadsheet

- Drawing charts and graphs from given data

- Sorting data in spreadsheets

13. INFORMATION SYSTEMS(Computer Science)

Describes how information systems is used in business by managers to make decisions. The topic describes different types of information systems found in business environment.

- Operations support systems

- Management support systems

- Information systems in business

- Marketing information systems.

- Manufacturing information systems

- Accounting information systems.

- Financial information systems

14. SECURITY AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY(Computer Science)

How information should be used in the society,its benefits and challenges should be highlighted to the students.

- Ethics

-Security in information systems

-administrative controls

-input controls

-storage controls

-physical protection

-Disaster recovery plans

-Ethical challenges of information technology

-Viruses

- Societal implications of information technology

15. E-BUSINESS(Computer Science)

Students should be equipped with information on how Information Technology helps businesses to engage in the e-world and how e-business is used in the business world.

- What is e-business?

- Concepts of e-business

1