Course Outline: SM106 Computer Literacy and Skills, 2011/2012, Semester 1
Recommended Texts:
1.Required Textbook
- Shelly, Gary B., and Misty, E. Vermaat. Discovering Computers Fundamentals: Your Interactive Guide to the Digital World 2012. N.p. : Course Technology, 2011. Web. An old version can be found here: http://www.scsite.com/dc2003/
2.Recommended for Reference
- Introduction to PC. Manchester Computer Centre. Web. November 1991 First Edition:
- Gilbert, H. Introduction to PC Hardware. Web. July 06, 2010.
- OS History.
- Introduction to TCP/IP
- Notes and Handouts: When I use handouts, I will make them available to you. All handouts are posted on the class web page (powerpoint and pdf).
Course Organization:
The course will be taught according the following topics.
- Lecture 1: Introduction to Computers
- Lecture 2: The Internet and World Wide Web
- Lecture 3: Application Software
- Lecture 4: The Components of the System Unit
- Lecture 5: Input and Output
- Lecture 6: Storage
- Lecture 7: Operating Systems and Utility Programs
- Lecture 8: Scan programs and how to make Ebooks
- Lecture 9: Photographic Programs
- Lecture 10: Communications and Networks
- Lecture 11: Database Management
- Lecture 12: Computer Security and Safety, Ethics, and Privacy
- Lecture 13: Internet and Buddhist Studies
- Lecture 14: Latest developments in Web technology and in future computing.
- Lecture 15: Review
Course Requirements:
Students require to read the assigned textbook before joining the class (Each week read one chapter of the textbook).
Exams: There will be one in-class midterm and a final exam.
Assignments: There will be four assignments.
- Assignment 1: "If you want to buy a new computer now, what kind of computer you should buy?" Use your knowledge to find one at Internet shop, and write the reasons why you choose that computer and give weblink to that computer.
- Assignment 2: "Install a Unicode romanized Sanskrit fonts in your system and type one short Pali sutta (one page only) to MS word or Openoffice".
- Assignment 3. "Format a Long Document in Openoffice or Ms Word".
- Assignment 4. "Find out 10 websites for Buddhist studies".
Project: There will be one project.
- "Make one E-book," or “Make One Movie”, or “Make one OS System.”
Allocation of Marks:
- Assignments 20%
- Project 10%
- Midterm 30%
- Final written exam 40%
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- 1. Define commonly used computing terminology, identify the components of a computer, identify and select appropriate software to match the application to be performed, know the purpose of the operating system and execute basic commands.
- 2. Know some sources of information about new software and the relative merits of different software.
- 3. Know what kinds of applications the different types of software packages can be used for, and the skills of using them.
- 4. Know how to input Pali and Sanskrit.
- 5. Know how to use Internet to do research on Buddhist Studies.
- 6. To identify types of computer crime, and exercise ethical practices in the use of computers.
Grading:
All tests, assignments and examinations are graded as follows with grade point and numerical marks:
| Grade | Performance | Grade value | Percentage Equivalence |
| A+ | Excellent | 4.0 | 90-100 |
| A | Almost Excellent | 3.75 | 85-89 |
| A- | Fairly Excellent | 3.5 | 80-84 |
| B+ | Very Good | 3.25 | 75-79 |
| B | Good | 3.0 | 70-74 |
| B- | Fairly Good | 2.75 | 65-69 |
| C+ | Fair | 2.5 | 60-64 |
| C | Satisfactory | 2.25 | 55-59 |
| C- | Minimum Satisfactory | 2.0 | 50-54 |
| D+ | Fairly Poor | 1.5 | 40-49 |
| D | Poor | 1.0 | 30-39 |
| F | Fail | 0.0 | 29 or less |
| I | Incomplete | ||
| W | Withdrawn | ||
| WF | Withdrawn because of failure | ||
| AU | Audit | ||