MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

CSC180AA  2009 Fall – 2010 Fall

Computer Literacy

1.

Identify fundamental computer concepts and terminology. (I)

2.

Describe numeric and logical conceptual foundations of computers. (I)

3.

Describe advantages, disadvantages, and future prospects for different types of software distribution. (II)

4.

Explain how computers and technology affect individuals in society and science, engineering, and medical/health care occupations. (I, IV)

5.

Demonstrate how computers can be used to increase personal productivity and job productivity in science, engineering, medical/health care and other fields. (I, III)

6.

Describe and simulate computer and technology use in scientific, engineering, medical/health care and other occupational fields. (III)

7.

Apply general types of software tools (text editors, word processors, spreadsheets, database software, e-mail, internet browsers) to communicate, record, organize and analyze data in scientific, engineering, and medical/health care areas. (III)

8.

Use a word processor to create a scientific, engineering, or health care report containing text, tables, and charts, graphs, or diagrams. (III)

9.

Use a spreadsheet to perform data computation and statistical analysis on scientific, health care, or engineering data, and convert appropriate data to graphs. (III)

10.

Describe conceptual foundations of software development. (III)

11.

Present research on current topics and issues in computing and how they affect scientific, engineering, or health care computing. (IV)

12.

Present arguments for and against an ethical issue related to computing in scientific, engineering or medical/health care fields. (V)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

CSC180AA  2009 Fall – 2010 Fall

Computer Literacy

I. Computer Fundamentals

A. Historical Perspective

B. Concepts and terminology

C. Processing and memory

1. Input/output

2. Data storage

D. Number systems

E. Computer logic

II. Software Concepts

A. Types

1. Operating systems

2. Application software

a. Centralized

b. Distributed

c. Ubiquitous

B. Software development process

1. Software lifecycle

2. Algorithm development

3. Programming languages

C. Software distribution

1. Proprietary software

2. Free software

3. Open source software

4. Others (public domain, freeware, shareware, charityware)

III. Software Tools and Their Usage

A. Text editors

1. Create/edit/save/retrieve data files

2. Convert data to other file formats

B. Word processing

1. Developing reports based on scientific methodology

2. Creating scientific, engineering or medical/health care reports containing text, tables, charts, graphs or diagrams

3. Creating forms for scientific, engineering or medical/health care use

C. Spreadsheets

1. Data computation and statistical analysis for scientific, engineering or medical/health care

2. Converting data to graphs to analyze and communicate results

D. Databases

1. Online scientific or medical databases

2. Organizing data into databases

E. Electronic-mail

1. Effective use of e-mail

2. Professional etiquette

3. Attaching files to e-mail

F. Internet browsers

1. Using search engines to locate scientific, engineering or medical/health information

2. Evaluate integrity of websites

3. Download files

IV. Computers in Society

A. Uses in various segments of society

B. Current topics

1. Multimedia

2. Telecommunications

3. Networks

4. Wireless technology

5. Internet and WWW (WorldWide Web)

6. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

7. Artificial intelligence and expert systems

8. Security and privacy

9. Viruses and computer crimes

10. Professional computing organizations and local computing groups

11. Purchasing a computer

a. Memory

b. CPU (Central Processing Unit)

c. Modems

d. Ports (parallel, serial, and universal serial bus/USB)

e. Connecting to other hardware and laboratory equipment

12. Computing services on campus

V. Ethics and Responsibilities in Computing

A. To employers

B. To peers

C. To clients

D. To the public