GCO1831

Introduction to computers

S Suthaharan

3 points
* 2 hours per week
* First semester (Gippsland and distance)
* Second semester (Gippsland)
* Note: This subject is not available to computing students. Credit towards BAppSc will be given for only one of the subjects GCO1831, GCO1851 or GCO1815

Objectives On completion of this subject students should know the function and organisation of the hardware components of a computer system and be able to explain the purpose and function of system software and application software; be able to demonstrate proficiency in the use of a range of microcomputer software packages, and apply them to simple problems; and be able to use algorithm design tools and techniques to describe solutions to a range of simple programming problems.

Synopsis General section: the computer's place in society, nature of computers, internal organisation and functions, input/output and storage devices, data representation; an overview of computer system software functions, operating systems, application software, elements of data communication, information systems development, programming languages, program development, algorithms, algorithm design. Applications section: using an IBM PC, this section covers the hardware, DOS, diskettes and files, use of a word processing package, use of an industry standard spreadsheet package, spreadsheet applications, database management applications, and use of an industry-standard information management package. Distance students attend one 2-hour lecture and one 2-hour practical tutorial at each vacation school. Students must have access to a microcomputer.

Assessment Assignments: 40%
* Examinations: 60%

Prescribed texts

Capron H L and Perron J D Computers and information systems: Tools for an information age 4th edn, Benjamin Cummings, 1996
Various authors Microcomputer applications for Word 6.0, Excel 5.0 and Access (2) 0 Addison-Wesley and Benjamin Cummings, 1994