Computer Appreciation & Applications

About Course

This paper is incorporated into many programmes to provide a common computer appreciation element that is now expected with business courses Centres should be attempting to instruct learners in the latest developments. As computing develops and new features become common, so minor inclusions will be added (e.g. range of computer CD devices). Deep technical details are not expected, although it must be pointed out that learner performance in past papers suggests that superficial coverage in particular areas often results in learner misconceptions.

Candidates should have an appreciation of how hardware/software is used and works, without detailed technical knowledge (e.g. Optical Character Reading – reflected laser light converted to binary signals – OCR recognition software needed to convert the bit-map image into words by comparison with stored patterns).

Practical experience of the use of common general-purpose packages (word processing, database, spreadsheet etc.) is essential. A significant part of the paper will test these.

Course Content

Hardware and data
Hardware and data

Clear distinction between data and program, data and options/parameters, programmer and user
General configuration of a computer and components of the CPU (ALU, memory, control)
Directions of data flow
Types of memory (ROM, RAM, cache, video)
Features of a modern PC
Input devices – general survey with emphasis on use rather than how the device works – OCR, OMR, MICR devices, bar code reader, types of keyboards, optical scanner, digitiser, voice input device, ATM, touch screen, mouse
Distinction between uses of keyboard and mouse
Output devices – range of current printer types (laser, dot matrix, ink jet etc.) – relative speeds/costs/quality VDU, plotters, microfilm
For a given application, select the most appropriate input/output devices or method of data capture
Data validation – definition and purpose
Identify validation possible with particular data
Check digits
Data types – integer, decimal, text/character, logical, date, currency etc.
The need to define data by type

Business Applications
Business Applications

Accounts
The component parts of an accounts package
Typical input and output documents
Stock control and its purpose
Typical input and output data
Contents of the stock file
Sales and concept of customer, sales orders, purchase orders and supplier files (and stock file) and contents of these files
Concept of cross-referencing (customer number linking sales order with customer file)
General appreciation of who would supply input data and use output data and why (e.g. stores clerk would use a re-order list to place orders with suppliers for restocking)

Files and File Access
Files and File Access

Magnetic and optical storage devices and media – their limitations 
Definitions of file, record and field and examples taken from particular situations
File organisation defined as organisation of records on a file
Consideration of serial, sequential and indexed sequential organisation
The stages of accessing a particular record from serial, sequential or indexed sequential files
Contents of a particular file – fields, data types, sizes, purpose of being on the file
Concept of master and transaction file
System diagram for a general update of a master file using a transaction file
Security of data files
Backups, environmental conditions, restricted access, administrative controls
Distinction between different types of files – program, data, text, parameter files

Software
Software

The role of the operating system in controlling the computer
Basic features of an operating system (command or GUI)
Distinction between general purpose software (e.g. database) and special purpose software (e.g. payroll)
Examples of special purpose packages
Word processing – options available / how to use them (in general terms) / margins, fonts, special effects (underline/centre/bold etc.), spell check, grammar check / standard phrases / inclusion of graphics
Databases – how to create a new file, add records, edit records, delete records, selective search by particular criteria, rearrange data, produce reports
Spreadsheets – formatting a model (decimal places, alignment, extra rows/columns etc.) / adding simple formulae / simple functions such as sum/average / replicating a formula / absolute and relative addresses
Graphics – features available in graphics/drawing/CAD package / standard shapes / moving, enlarging, rotating, stretching, colouring, hatching, dimensioning, layering

Computer Appreciation & Applications

About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

Hardware and data Hardware and data

Clear distinction between data and program, data and options/parameters, programmer and user

General configuration of a computer and components of the CPU (ALU, memory, control)

Directions of data flow

Types of memory (ROM, RAM, cache, video)

Features of a modern PC

Input devices – general survey with emphasis on use rather than how the device works – OCR, OMR, MICR devices, bar code reader, types of keyboards, optical scanner, digitiser, voice input device, ATM, touch screen, mouse

Distinction between uses of keyboard and mouse

Output devices – range of current printer types (laser, dot matrix, ink jet etc.) – relative speeds/costs/quality VDU, plotters, microfilm

For a given application, select the most appropriate input/output devices or method of data capture

Data validation – definition and purpose

Identify validation possible with particular data

Check digits

Data types – integer, decimal, text/character, logical, date, currency etc.

The need to define data by type

Business Applications Business Applications

Accounts

The component parts of an accounts package

Typical input and output documents

Stock control and its purpose

Typical input and output data

Contents of the stock file

Sales and concept of customer, sales orders, purchase orders and supplier files (and stock file) and contents of these files

Concept of cross-referencing (customer number linking sales order with customer file)

General appreciation of who would supply input data and use output data and why (e.g. stores clerk would use a re-order list to place orders with suppliers for restocking)

Files and File Access Files and File Access

Magnetic and optical storage devices and media – their limitations 

Definitions of file, record and field and examples taken from particular situations

File organisation defined as organisation of records on a file

Consideration of serial, sequential and indexed sequential organisation

The stages of accessing a particular record from serial, sequential or indexed sequential files

Contents of a particular file – fields, data types, sizes, purpose of being on the file

Concept of master and transaction file

System diagram for a general update of a master file using a transaction file

Security of data files

Backups, environmental conditions, restricted access, administrative controls

Distinction between different types of files – program, data, text, parameter files

Software Software

The role of the operating system in controlling the computer

Basic features of an operating system (command or GUI)

Distinction between general purpose software (e.g. database) and special purpose software (e.g. payroll)

Examples of special purpose packages

Word processing – options available / how to use them (in general terms) / margins, fonts, special effects (underline/centre/bold etc.), spell check, grammar check / standard phrases / inclusion of graphics

Databases – how to create a new file, add records, edit records, delete records, selective search by particular criteria, rearrange data, produce reports

Spreadsheets – formatting a model (decimal places, alignment, extra rows/columns etc.) / adding simple formulae / simple functions such as sum/average / replicating a formula / absolute and relative addresses

Graphics – features available in graphics/drawing/CAD package / standard shapes / moving, enlarging, rotating, stretching, colouring, hatching, dimensioning, layering

Systems and Programming Systems and Programming

Brief review of system life cycle

Methods of fact finding

An overview of the role of the analyst – to investigate, design and supervise installation of a new system

An overview of the role of the programmer – to convert a systems specification into a program by devising a logical structure, coding into a language, testing and documenting

Distinction between development programmer and maintenance programmer

Distinction between high and low level languages

Brief survey of common high level languages and typical uses

People, Computers and Society People, Computers and Society

Brief overview of tasks performed by computing personnel – data processing manager, systems analyst, programmer, ancillary staff/data input clerks

Social effects of computers – changes in lifestyle, changes at work, need for training, crime and crime prevention, data protection acts treated in outline

Communication Communication

Spread of networks – reasons and advantages

Data transmission

Differences between LAN and WAN

Electronic mail using a provider’s central system

Outline of internet features

Hardware and data
Hardware and data

Business Applications
Business Applications

Files and File Access
Files and File Access

Software
Software

Systems and Programming
Systems and Programming

People, Computers and Society
People, Computers and Society

Communication
Communication