CSEC Information Technology

  • Computer Fundamentals and Information Processing
    • Computer Fundamentals:
      • Definition and scope of Information Technology
      • Types of computer systems (e.g., micro, mini, mainframe, supercomputers)
      • Hardware components (input devices, output devices, central processing unit, memory, storage devices)
      • Software components (system software, application software)
      • Types of software (general-purpose, special-purpose, integrated packages, custom-written, off-the-shelf)
      • User interfaces (command-line, graphical user interface)
      • Computer specifications and their implications
      • Basic computer troubleshooting
    • Information Processing Fundamentals:
      • Data vs. Information
      • The Information Processing Cycle (Input, Process, Output, Storage)
      • Data representation (e.g., binary)
      • Data validation and verification
      • File organization
  • Computer Networks and Web Technologies
    • Computer Networks:
      • Concept of networks
      • Types of networks (e.g., LAN, WAN, MAN)
      • Network topologies (e.g., bus, star, ring, mesh)
      • Transmission media (wired and wireless)
      • Network devices (e.g., switch, router, modem)
      • Network protocols
    • Web Technologies:
      • The Internet, Intranet, and Extranet
      • World Wide Web
      • Web browsers and search engines
      • Introduction to creating web pages (using appropriate tools, not necessarily requiring in-depth HTML coding)
  • Social and Economic Impact of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
    • Implications of Misuse and Cybersecurity:
      • Computer security threats (e.g., viruses, malware, hacking)
      • Cybercrime
      • Security measures (physical, software, personal)
    • Impact on Job Skills and Careers:
      • Changes in the workplace due to ICT
      • Careers in the IT field
    • Social and Ethical Issues:
      • Privacy concerns
      • Copyright and intellectual property
      • Digital divide
  • Word-Processing and Web Page Design
    • Word-Processing:
      • Creating and editing documents
      • Formatting documents
      • Using features like spell check, grammar check, thesaurus
      • Mail merge
    • Web Page Design:
      • Planning website structure
      • Creating simple web pages using appropriate software or platforms
      • Adding text, images, and links
  • Spreadsheets
    • Purpose and uses of spreadsheets
    • Spreadsheet terminology (cells, rows, columns, worksheets, workbooks)
    • Entering and editing data
    • Formatting cells
    • Using formulas and functions (basic and advanced)
    • Sorting and filtering data
    • Creating charts and graphs
  • Database Management
    • Introduction to databases
    • Database terminology (fields, records, tables, primary key, foreign key)
    • Database models (e.g., relational)
    • Creating and modifying database tables
    • Entering and editing data
    • Sorting and filtering data
    • Creating queries to extract information
    • Creating forms for data entry
    • Creating reports to present information
  • Problem-Solving and Program Design
    • Problem-solving steps
    • Algorithms and their characteristics
    • Using pseudocode and flowcharts to represent algorithms
    • Control structures (sequence, selection, iteration)
    • Modular programming
  • Program Implementation
    • Introduction to programming languages (low-level and high-level)
    • Programming paradigms (e.g., procedural)
    • Steps in program implementation (coding, testing, debugging)
    • Data types and variables
    • Input and output operations
    • Arithmetic, relational, and logical operators
    • Conditional statements
    • Loops
    • Program documentation (internal and external)