ITE 115: Intoduction to Computer Applications & Concepts

Competency List

Computer Hardware

Type given text using a computer keyboard without looking (touch type).
Define the term hardware.
List and describe the four main functions of computer hardware: input, processing, output, and storage.
Describe computer monitors in terms of size and resolution, and connect a monitor to a video port on a computer.
Identify and use computer input devices and connect them to the appropriate ports on a computer.
Identify and use computer pointing devices (mice, touchpads, and joysticks), and connect them to the appropriate ports on a computer.
Describe different print technologies (ink jet, laser) and connect a printer to a computer.
Differentiate among serial, parallel, USB, PS/2, and video ports.
Define the term CPU and recognize a CPU when looking at a mother board.
Describe the function of the motherboard.
Define the term expansion slot and recognize expansion slots on a motherboard.
Describe the processing speed / system clock speed of a computer.
Describe the function of the bus.
Define computer storage and recognize the different types of storage.
Describe the difference between volatile and non-volatile storage.
List the data storage hierachy (Bits, Bytes, Kilobytes, Megabytes, Gigabytes, and Terabytes) and be able to write the decimal value of each.

Communications Technology

Define telecommunication.
List and decribe examples of telecommunication technologies.
Describe LAN, WAN, and the Internet in terms of the areas over which they operate.
Define wireless communication and list examples of wireless technologies.
Describe what an Intranet is and where you would likely find one.
Describe the client-server model and provide examples of it in common use.
Describe web servers and web browsers in terms of the client-server model.
Define the Internet related terms: World Wide Web (WWW), Uniform Resource Locator (URL), file transfer, and remote administration.
Define the term web search engine and list the most commonly used search engines.
Send emails with attachments.
Correctly use To, cc, and bcc when sending email.
Describe blogs, wikis, RSS feeds and other Web 2.0 technologies used to communicate and collaborate.
Explain how to evaluate a Web site for relevancy, bias, and credibility.
Use a file transfer program to move files between two machines on a network.

Operating Systems

Define the term operating system and describe major operating system functions.
Compare and contrast commonly used operating systems.
Distinguish between system software and application software.
Distinguish between a command line interface (CLI) and a graphical user interface (GUI).
Identify and describe the parts and uses of a window in a GUI.
Explain the concept of disk formatting and format media of different types.
Demonstrate desktop management skills:
- Use themes, screen savers, and backgrounds.
- Use tiling and cascading of windows.
- Use short-cuts and icons.
- Use the task bar, quick launch, and desktop menus.
Demonstrate file management skills:
- Create and recognize valid file names and directories.
- Use find, copy, move, rename and delete files and directories.
- Explain the deletion process and file recovery methods.
- View and navigate the directory tree using GUI tools.
Use the operating system help system to find answers to questions about operations and command usage.

Ethics and Security

Describe legal issues regarding copyright and patent law as it relates to information and communication technology.
Define free software and open source software and describe the rights of the user encompassed by these.
Describe the issues associated with using the Web for research.
Define hacking and cracking and discuss the disagreement regarding the definition of hacking.
Define malware and be able to differentiate among computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, and adware.
Define denial-of-service attack and describe the basic ideas behind how one operates.
Define E-mail spam and discuss ways to manage it.
Describe how to recognize phishing attacks and avoid being the victim of them.
Describe codes of conduct and privacy issues associated with computing.
Describe accessibility issues related to computing.
Describe health issues related to computing.
Describe environmental issues related to computing.

Information Literacy

Construct stragies for web searches using phrases, truncation, Boolean operators, and subject terms.
Explain how to evaluate information found online and in library databases for reliability, validity, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias.

Productivity Tools - Word Processing

Identify the main components of the word processing interface.
Use the Help system.
Perform basic editing, text formatting, move, copy and cut and paste functions.
Use available view modes.
Use essential save and backup options.
Use print functions.
Create headers and footers.
Use document identification features such as embedded data, time and pagination in headers and / or footers.
Use document style features such as font styles, sizes, color, margins, alignment, and indentation.
Use document context manipulation functions, such as find, search and replace, spell checker, and a grammarian.

Productivity Tools - Spreadsheets

Identify and explain the significant components of the spreadsheet interface.
Use the Help system.
Perform basic editing, data entry, move, copy, and cut and paste functions.
Perform basic insertion, deletion and modifications to at the sheet / workbook level.
Create and use formulas.
Use basic, built-in spreadsheet functions.
Use various addressing and referencing schemes.
Use essential formatting features, including data type, color, alignment, shading, and font characteristics.
Use print functions.
Perform basic data representation using graphs and charts.

Productivity Tools - Databases

Distinguish among file, record, field, and character.
Describe the purpose and uses of tables, forms, reports, and queries.
Use GUI based design tools for database creation and manipulation.
Use relational concepts such as primary and foreign keys, constraints, and referential integrity.
Create and use simple queries for searching and manipulating datasets.
Create simple reports and forms using a GUI interface, including grouping and sorting features.

Productivity Tools - Presentation Graphics

Describe use of presentions, including appropriate data display techniques.
Create and manipulate simple slide shows with outlines and notes.
Create slide presentation that includes text, graphics, animation, and transitions.
Use a design template to create a presentation.

Web Authoring and Publishing

Create a minimal valid HTML 5 document.
Create a valid HTML 5 document that contains heading elements (h1..h6).
Create a valid HTML 5 document that contains ordered and unordered lists.
Create a valid HTML 5 document that contains a link.
Create a valid HTML 5 document that contains a table.
Use the w3c syntax validator to confirm validation of a web page.
Insert a graphic using the img tag.
Create simple inline and internal styles using CSS.
Publish a Web page on the Internet.

Multimedia Concepts

Describe the difference between vector graphic and raster graphic images and the appropriate uses of each.

Software Development

List and describe the steps in the program development cycle.
Define algorithm and provide example algorithms.
Create a Scratch program to move an object to each of a given sequence of locations on the stage.

Specialized and Emerging Technologies

Define bioinformatics and list examples of its use.
Describe natural language processing and list examples of where it is used. Describe why effective natural language processing is a difficult challange.
Define expert system and list examples of where they are used.
Define cloud computing and explain the basic principals behind how it works.

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