5006 - COMPUTER SCIENCE FOR BUSINESS

The overall objective of the course is to provide basic knowledge about Information Technology (IT) and basic competences in using personal computers and common end user computing applications.

For this reason the programme required by the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) - START level has been adopted.

In practice, the ECDL Start certificate states that the holder has passed four of the seven tests which represent the basic knowledge about Information Technology (IT) and the use of a PC, a word processor and a spreadsheet.

The modules of the ECDL Start are the following:

1. Using the Computer and Managing Files (6 hours): the goal of this module is to teach the students the knowledge and competence in using the basic functions of a personal computer and its operating system. At the end of this part the students shall be able to operate effectively within the desktop environment. He or she shall be able to manage and organise files and directories/folders and know how to copy, move and delete files and directories/folders. The candidate shall demonstrate the ability to use search features, simple editing tools and print management facilities available within the operating system.

2. Word Processing (8 hours): in this module the teacher will explain how to use a word processing application on a personal computer. The students shall understand and be able to accomplish basic operations associated with creating, formatting and finishing a word processing document ready for distribution. The students shall demonstrate competence in using some of the more advanced features associated with word processing applications such as creating standard tables, using pictures and images within a document, importing objects and using mail merge tools.

3. Spreadsheets (10 hours): the goal of this module is to illustrate the basic concepts of spreadsheets and the ability to use a spreadsheet application on a personal computer. The students shall understand and be able to accomplish basic operations associated with developing, formatting and using a spreadsheet. The students shall be able to accomplish standard mathematical and logical operations using basic formulas and functions. The students shall be able to use some of the more advanced features of a spreadsheet application such as importing objects, and creating graphs and charts.

4. Information and Communication (8 hours): it is divided in two sections. The first section, Information, will illustrate how to accomplish basic Web search tasks using a Web browser application, available search engine tools and Usenet, to bookmark search results and to print Web pages and search reports. The second section, Communication, will describe how to use electronic mail software to send and receive messages, to attach documents or files to a message and to organize and manage message folders or directories within electronic mail software.

For a detailed program see the modules 2, 3, 4 and 7 of the ECDL´s Syllabus (http://www.ecdl.com/syllabus/index.html). Detailed program and agenda will be published in the Informatics board (beside class A) just before the beginning of the lessons.

The text book will be communicated during the first lesson and published in the Computer Science board.

At the end of the course a test will certify the student´s basic knowledge in Computer Science.

The University will pay for the skills card (which is an official record of the tests passed so far) and for the first exam of every modules. If a student does not pass the first exam, he or she will has directly to pay for the subsequent tests. The price is € 10,33 for every exam.

The student can finf a list of exam dates in the Computer Science board.

To attend an exam the student has to sign in advance at the Centre for IT Teaching Services.