Vocational Training Development Institute

School of Applied Technology

Information and communication Technology Department

COURSE OUTLINE

Information Technology- CS115

60 Hours - 3 Credits

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course targets individuals with little or no computer skills. Its goal is to enable students to
develop skills in the areas of word processing, power point, spreadsheet manipulation and
navigation on the World Wide Web. The course provides students with an understanding of the
components and operations of the computer system and its use and impact on everyday life.
Students are also provided with the supporting knowledge necessary for IT professionals to be
able to deal with general legal and ethical issues that are pertinent to the field of ICT.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course students should be able to:-
 discuss the functions of the various components of a computer
 navigate the Windows desktop
 create, format and edit documents using Microsoft Word
 create and manipulate spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel
 create interactive PowerPoint presentations
 use the Internet for research purposes as well as to send and retrieve email
 appreciate computer networks as a necessary element of ICT
 recognize the uses and pitfalls of ICT in everyday life
 be aware of important security issues that surrounds the use of ICT
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 be familiar with relevant legal issues, as it relates to copyright and data protection, that
guides the use of ICT

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
 Work on own initiative
 Plan and organize work
 Accept responsibility for assigned task
 Exhibit appropriate work habits
 Complete assigned tasks in an efficient and timely manner
 Appreciate the importance of attending class promptly & regularly

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
To aid the successful completion of this course, students are expected to:-
 Attend class promptly and regularly
 Pay attention in class
 Complete ALL assignments given
 Submit assignments on time
 PRACTICE!

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COURSE SCHEDULE
ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

 Define what a computer is

MODULE 1: COMPUTER BASICS
 Identify the critical hardware
LESSON 1 – Understanding your
components of a computer
computer
 Distinguish between input and
output devices
 Distinguish between hardware and
software
1
 Discuss the relationship between
RAM and secondary storage devices
 Visually identify the different ports
and the devices they support (e.g.
parallel. Printers, USB..scanners)
 Identify Devices commonly used in
PC specifications

 Boot up a computer
LESSON 2 –Windows Desktop and
Accessories
 Login to Windows system
 Define desktop, icon, taskbar
 Use Start menu to launch programs
 Maximize, minimize, restore and
close windows
 Shut down a computer
 Explain how files are organized on the
2
computer

 Use available search facilities

 Effective work with different types of

files

o Cut/copy/paste/delete/resto
re/explore

 Use file compression utility

 Identify useful accessories that

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

accompany windows
 Manipulate the mouse - click,
double-click and drag effectively
(paint, calculator)

 Create a new document

MODULE 2: MICROSOFT WORD
 Manipulate the following keys –
LESSON 3 – Starting Microsoft Word
Spacebar, Capslock, Arrow keys,
Shift (for capitals and symbols),
Delete, Backspace
 Insert and delete blank spaces/lines

 Open and save a file (using Save

and Save as…)

Formatting text
 Block text
 Underline, embolden and italicize
3
text
 Change fonts and font sizes
 Change the case of text
Align text – center, left, right, justify

Editing text
 Indent text using the Tab key
 Insert bullets and numbered lists
 Copy/Cut and paste text
Check text using Grammar and Spell
Check tools
Tables
 Create a table

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

 Format text within a table

Change alignment of table.

Modifying Tables
 Insert/delete rows/columns
Format table using Table Auto format
Pictures
 Insert pictures/autoshapes/WordArt
Change size of picture/auto
shape/WordArt

Formatting pictures & page printing

 Format pictures/auto shapes
Change position of pictures/auto
shapes/WordArt
Printing
 Change page margins and page
orientation
 Printing multiple copies, current
page, specific pages, text segments

LESSON 4 – Working with pages and  Set Tab stops

page element  Insert symbols
 Insert Page and Section breaks
 Utilize multiple columns on a single
Assignment #1
4 page (e.g. top half of page utilizes
due
two columns, while bottom half of
page utilizes three)
 Insert more than one type of page
numbering scheme in a document.

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

LESSON 5 – Mail Merge

 Use mail merge to merge documents
 Modify data files
 Import data from other applications
5 (eg .dbf)
 Create envelopes and labels

 Automatically sort merged data

 Lab Exercise

 Create a new worksheet

MODULE 3: MICROSOFT EXCEL
 Identify a cell’s address
LESSON 6 – Excel Basics
 Format data – bold, underline,
change alignment, Auto Format etc.

 Use different blocking techniques –

to block a row, column, entire
worksheet, a non-adjacent set of cell
ranges
Formatting worksheet Assignment #2
6  Format data – currency, comma, due
percentage, decimal etc. using the
Formatting toolbar
 Insert/delete rows/columns
Increase/decrease the height/width of
rows/columns.

Calculations
 Write simple formula
 Copy formula to other cells
 Use AutoSum.

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

 Write simple formula (cont’d)

LESSON 7 – Functions
 Use simple functions – SUM,AVG,
MAX, MIN.

 Use simple functions – IF

Charting Operations
 Distinguish basic chart types – what

7 they are and when to use them (bar,

column, pie and line graphs)
 Create a chart from spreadsheet data
 Label a chart – chart title, legend,
axes labels

LESSON 8 –Manipulating Data Working with A Lot of DataSort data

 Given raw data, display summary
information (e.g. pass rates, the
number that satisfy a given criteria)
o Use of count, counta,
countif
8  Given raw data, extract data that
satisfy a given condition.
o Use Autofilter
 Scale a worksheet
 Freeze panes

 Set/Clear a Print Area

Module 4: PowerPoint  Explain the purpose of different

9 LESSON 9 – Understanding Power Point views of a presentation

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

 Create a simple presentation

 Navigate among slides
 Choose appropriate slide layouts
 Copy, delete, move slides
 Insert a picture
 Insert a table

 Delete/Add rows/columns from/to a

table

LESSON 10  Insert an autoshape

 Apply a fill colour/effect
 Insert a chart
 Insert an organizational chart

10  Insert a diagram
 Insert design templates
 Apply slide transition effects

 Set up a presentation that runs

automatically

LESSON 11 – Making Presentations ASSIGNMENT # 3

11  Presentation DUE

Module 5: ICT Fundamental  Define computer network

LESSON 12 - COMPUTER NETWORKS  Characterize computer networks

 Distinguish between client/server and

peer-to-peer networks
12
 Define data transfer terminologies

 Explain what the Internet is

 Outline the main uses of the Internet

 Describe different ways to connect to the

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

Internet
 Differentiate between intranet,
Internet and extranet
ICT in Everyday Life

 Define the term Information And

Communication Technology (ICT)

 Define virtual community

 Identify types of virtual communities

 Describe Internet services for consumer

 Describe e-learning

 Describe teleworking

 Identify security risks associated with

virtual communities along with possible
safeguards

 Explain possible health risks associated

with the use of information and
communication technology

 Define the term ergonomics

 Propose ergonomically sound solutions

to health risks identified

 Identify possible bad effects the usage

of ICT can have on the environment

 Describe environmentally friendly

solutions to given environmental
problems that are as a result of the
usage of ICT

LESSON 13 – Security  Define the term computer security

 Identity the types of security that can be Assignment #4

13 employed due
 Describe possible security threat to

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 ASSIGNMENT
WEEK LESSONS COMPETENCIES
SCHEDULE

o Computer users

o Data

o Computer system

 Describe possible security measures

that can be put is place to protect:

o Computer users

o Data

 Computer system
Legal Issues

 Define the term intellectual property

rights

 Define the term copyright

 Outline the importance of respecting

intellectual property rights and copyright

 Describe the types of copyright that can

be placed on a software

 Define the term license

 Identify licensed software

 Explain the term end-user license

agreement

 Outline local data protection rights

14 STUDY BREAK

15 FINAL ASSESSMENT PERIOD

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ASSESSMENT STRATEGY

Module Assessment Max Score

Module 1: In class test 100%

Module 2: Assignment #1 60%

40%
In class Test
Module 3: Assignment #2 60%
40%
In class Test
Module 4: Assignment #3 60%
40%
Presentation
Module 5: Assignment #4 100%

Overall score will be obtained by finding the average of the scores obtained per module.

REFERENCE MATERIAL
 Supporting booklets available at VTDI

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