James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

CP1030:03

Introduction to Information Technology

Townsville, Cairns

26 lectures, 39 hours practicals. First and second semester.

Discovering computing via the Web, email and the Internet; searching for information on the Internet; hardware and software components; setting up a personal computer; problem solving with computers; word processing; document layout and production; presentation managers; spreadsheets; databases; data communication and computer networks; multimedia; new technologies; ethics, privacy and the information industry.

Learning Objectives:

  1. learn to use email, Web and the Internet and learn to search for material of interest on the Internet;
  2. understand the design and functioning of hardware and software computer systems;
  3. reflect on problem-solving steps in computing systems;
  4. prepare documents using a word-processing package;
  5. create spreadsheets;
  6. grasp the major aspects of the organisation, retrieval and transmission of information;
  7. use a database package to enter and organise data and make queries;
  8. understand the fundamental concepts in data communications and computer networks;
  9. understand the major aspects of multimedia;
  10. understand the ethical, privacy and security issues in the information industry;
  11. take advantage of the possibilities offered by rapid progress in computer technology in our increasingly computerised society.

Assessment involves significant on-course assessment including assignments and tests and an examination at the end of the semester. The full details of the assessment are handed out to students in the class in the first week of the semester in which the subject is offered and posted on the Web.