Information Technolo

Lanceford Spence
Contents
CHRISTMAS TERM...........................................................................2
SURVEY..............................................................................................2
QUESTION..........................................................................................2
Computer fundamentals....................................................................2
Hardware..........................................................................................2
Software............................................................................................3
User interface....................................................................................3
Troubleshooting................................................................................3
Data communication.........................................................................3
Wireless technology.........................................................................3
READ...................................................................................................4
Computer fundamentals....................................................................4
Hardware..........................................................................................4
Software............................................................................................7
User interface....................................................................................8
Troubleshooting................................................................................8
Data communication.........................................................................8
Wireless network..............................................................................9
EASTER TERM.................................................................................10
SURVEY............................................................................................11
QUESTION........................................................................................11
Word processing- Microsoft Word.................................................11
Spreadsheet- Excel.........................................................................11
READ.................................................................................................12
Word processing- Microsoft word..................................................12
Spreadsheet- Excel.........................................................................15
SUMMER TERM...............................................................................18
SURVEY............................................................................................18
QUESTION........................................................................................18
READ.................................................................................................18
CHRISTMAS TERM
SURVEY
 Computer fundamentals
 Hardware
 Software
 User interface
 Troubleshooting
 Data communication
 Wireless Technology

QUESTION
Computer fundamentals
 What is information technology?
 What is a computer?
 Differentiate between data and information.
 What is a computer system?
 What is the IPOS cycle?
Hardware
 What is hardware?
 What are the five major hardware components?
 What are the five types of computers?
 What are input devices?
 State the two categories of input devices and state four examples
of each.
 What are output devices?
 What are the two categories of output devices.
 Differentiate between hardcopy and softcopy.
 Differentiate between printers and plotters.
 What are the two types of printers and list two examples of
each?
 Differentiate between primary and secondary storage.
 What are the two types of primary storage.
  List five examples of secondary storage devices.
 What is the CPU?
 What are the two components of the CPU?
 What are the four functions of the CPU?
Software
 What is software?
 What are the two types of software?
 What are the two types of system software?
 Differentiate between operating system software and utility
system software.
 What is application software?
 What are the five types of application software?
User interface
 What is a user interface?
 What is hardware interface?
 What is software interface?
 What is the three types of software interface?
Troubleshooting
 What is troubleshooting?
Data communication
 What is data communication?
 Differentiate between download and upload.
 What are the four major network configurations?
Wireless technology
 What is wireless technology?
 Differentiate between bluetooth, hotspot and Wi-Fi.
 Differentiate between internet, intranet and extranet.
 What does HTTP, HTML, VoIP, URL, TCP/IP and FTP mean?
 Differentiate between a modem, switch and router.
 What is transmission media?
 What are the three wired transmission media mediums?
 What are the three wireless transmission media mediums?
READ
Computer fundamentals
 Information technology is the use of computers and
telecommunication for storing, retrieving and sending
information.
 A computer is an electronic device, operating under the control
of instructions stored in its memory.
 Data is raw facts with no context in the form of numbers and
text.
 Information is processed data with context and value. It is
summarized, organized and analyzed.
 A computer system includes hardware and software systems to
make the computer function.
 The IPOS cycle:
o Data is input to the computer
o Data is processed into information.
o Information is output to users in various forms.
o Data or information is stored for a short or long time.
Hardware
 Hardware is the physical components that make up a computer
system.
 The major hardware components are output devices, inout
devices, CPU, main memory/primary storage and secondary
storage.
 The five types of computers
o Mainframe- a cabinet system which contains multiple
CPUs. It can process a lot of information and it is used by
banks, airlines, universities etc.
o Supercomputer- used to process large amounts of
information such as weather predications, satellites images
and navigation, and military warfare scenarios.
 o Desktop systems- also called personal computers, it is a
computer that fits on your desk. It is mainly used for office
and schoolwork, games and entertainment.
o Mobile devices- also called handheld devices, they are like
personal computers but smaller, lighter and contain a
battery.
o Embedded systems- embedded as a part of a complete
hardware systems, it is a computer designed for one or two
specific functions.
 Input devices are devices used to input data to the computer for
processing.
o Manual data entry
 Mouse, keyboard, keypad, document, microphone,
digitizer, touch-sensitive devices, point devices and
remote-control devices.
o Direct data entry
 Biometric systems, barcode readers, smart card,
optical mark recogintion (used to detect and
recognise marked areas such as checkboxes or circles
on forms), optical character recognition (converts
printeed or handwritten text into machine- readable
text), magnetic ink character recognition (reads
characters printed with magnetic ink) and sensors.
 Output devices are devices that produce the results of processed
data.
o Hardcopy-permanent output that is printed for review
away from the computer.
o Softcopy- temporary output that is either visual or audio-
based which is still on a computer system.
o A monitor is a matrix of luminescent dots of red, green
and blue to display output of a computer display.
o Printers are used to display an output a hardcopy of your
work.
  Impact printers- strike through a carbon or inked
ribbon, like a typewriter. E.g. Dot-matrix and daisy
wheel.
 Non-impact printers- ink and toner is used and the
characters are fixed onto the paper by heating e.g.
inkjet and thermal laser
o Plotters- uses pen or toner to draw an image on paper.
o The two categories of output devices are audio and visual.
 Primary and secondary storage
o Primary storage holds the temporary operating instructions
for the computer, its programs and the data.
 Random access memory/main memory/ primary
memory- holds the temporary operating instructions
for the computer, its programs and data.
 Read only memory- holds the permanent operating
instructions of a computer. These instructions can
only be read, not changed and is available
eveyrtiume the computer is switched on.
 Secondary storage keeps data, instructions and information on
the physical hardware of the computer for future use.
o Local secondary storage- involve having storage devices
or media with data, with knowledge of their locations. Eg.
Magnetic media, hard disks, optical disks, CDs, DVDs,
blu- ray disks, flash memory and flash memory cards.
o Cloud-based storage- storage of user data on computer
servers all around the world. Eg. Google drive, dropbox,
etc.
 Computer processing unit is the brain of the computer and
controls how a computer works.
o Control unit- fetches and decodes data and instruction
from the main memory, and directs and coordinates the
operations of the ALU.
 o Arithmetic logic unit- performs arithmetic operations such
as addition, subtraction, division and multiplication, and
logic operations such as size comparison.
Software
 Software is a set of instructions that tell the computer what to
do.
 The two types of software is system software and application
software.
 System software is used to operate and maintain a computer’s
system.
o Utility system software- programs that assist in improving
the efficiency of the computer system. Eg.
 Utility backup
 Disk defragmenter
 Disk error checker
 Disk cleanup
 Antivirus
o Operating system software- a collection if software that
manages computer hardware resources and provides
services for the computer program.
 Microsoft windows
 Linux
 Unix
 Android
 MacOS
 Application software is any program that enables the computer
to carry out one or more specific tasks.
o General purpose application software- programs that can
be used by anyone.
o Customized application software- general purpose
software that is modified to perform specific tasks for the
user.
o Custom written application software- written for use in
specific organizations.
 o Special purpose application software
o Off-the-shelf application software
o Integrated
User interface
 A user interface is a combination of hardware and software that
helps people and computers communicate with each other.
o Hardware interface- used to connect two or more
electronic devices together.
o Software interface- available after the computer is boated
up and the operating system is loaded.
 Command line software interface- requires you to
type in commands using a special language.
 Menu- driven interface- a menu is a list of options
you can choose from.
 Graphical user interface- gives you the ability to
copy, paste, drag and drop. It has windows, icons,
menus and icons (WIMP).
 System specifications are the requirements a device
must have to use certain hardware and software.
Troubleshooting
 Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem solving
that is often used to find and correct issues with complex
machines, electronics, computers and software systems.
Data communication
 Data communication is the exchange of data between two or
more networked or connected devices.
 A computer network is a series of interconnected nodes that can
transmit and exchange data, voice and video traffic.
o Download- the transmission of information or data from
one computer to another over a network.
o Upload- the transmission of data or information to one
computer from one computer to another over a network.
 o A computer can be linked through a point-to-point link or
through a broadcast.
 Network configurations
o Local area network- a collection of devices connected in
one physical location.
o Metropolitan area network- a computer network that is in a
simple geographical area.
o Wide area network- a large network of information that is
not tied to a single location.
o Mobile network- a telecommunication network that
provides services via radio signals for mobile devices.
Wireless network
 A wireless network refers to technology that allows us to
communicate without using cables and wires.
o Bluetooth
o Hotspot
o Wi-Fi
Internet, intranet and extranet
 The internet is a public, global wide area network based on the
TCP/IP protocol.
 An intranet is a private network designed to meet the needs of
an organization based on the TCP/IP protocol
 An extranet is an intranet that has been selectively open to
specific individuals or organization.
Internet terms
 HTTP- hypertext transfer protocol
 HTML- hypertext markup language.
 VoIP- voice over internet protocol
 URL- uniform resource locator.
 TCP/IP- transmission control protocol/internet protocol
 FTP- file transfer protocol
Modem, switch, router
  A modem (modulator- encodes, demodulator- decodes) is a box
that converts signals and connects your home network to your
internet service provider.
 Routers are boxes that allow wired and wireless devices to
connect to the internet at once and allow users to talk to them
simultaneously.
 Switch- expands the number of devices that can be connected to
a router.
Transmission Media
A communication channel that carries the information from the sender
to the receiver through electromagnetic signals
 Wired or guided transmission media transmit signals through
confined and narrow pathways by physical means.
o Coaxial cable- a shielded and insulated copper wire
o Twisted pair cable- consists of two separately insulated
copper wires wound about each other.
o Fibre optic cable- has a core made of glass or plastic which
is surrounded by a less dense glass or plastic covering
called the cladding. It uses the concept of light refraction.
 Wireless or unguided transmission media- no physical mean is
required for the transmission of electromagnetic signals.
o Microwave- uses unidirectional antennas that send out
electromagnetic signals that travel in a straight line.
o Satellites- consists of a line-of-sight propagation path from
a ground station to the satelite, then back to an earth
station.
EASTER TERM

SURVEY
 Word processing- Microsoft Word
 Spreadsheets- Microsoft Excel

QUESTION
Word processing- Microsoft Word
 What is word processing?
 What are the seven parts of the Microsoft word screen?
 List six page formatting features and six word formatting
features in Microsoft Word.
 List the steps to create a table and how to insert a row, insert a
column and merge cells.
 What is a mail merge and what are the steps to do it?
 What are the three components of a mail merge?
 What is a fillable form?
 List six content control for fillable forms.
 Differentiate between a webpage and website.
 What is a hyperlink?
 What is a navigation bar?
 What are the five types of websites?
 What is a breadcrumb?
 What are the four types of hyperlinks?
Spreadsheet- Excel
 What is a spreadsheet?
 What is a cell address?
 Differentiate between ranges, labels and values?
 What is a formula?
 State what functions are and list 6 examples of functions.
 State 6 errors in excel.
 Differentiate between relative and absolute addressing.
  What are the five numeric data formatting?
 Give five examples of logical operations and three examples of
rational operations.

READ
Word processing- Microsoft word
 Word processing is the act of creating, editing, saving and
printing documents.
 The seven parts of Microsoft word
o Title bar- tells you the name of the document you are
working on.
o Ribbon- gives you a wide range of functions and
commands that can be carried out in MS.
o Quick access toolbar- gives you the option to undo, redo
and save changes to your document.
o Input screen- where you can input data on a document.
o Status bar- updates and shows you the information about
the document you are working on.
o Scroll bar- allows you to navigate through your document.
o Ruler- measures your page
 Document formatting features in MS
o Bold
o Italics
o Underline
o Change text colour
o Typography
o Font size
o Case change- uppercase, lower case, sentence case
o Alignment- left, right, centre, justified
o Line spacing
o Bullets
o Numbering
o Page orientation- landscape and portrait
 o Page margins- normal, narrow, moderate, wide and
narrowed.
o Paper size
o Margins
o Font size
o Columns
o Break
o Line number
o Indentation
o Header
o Footer
o Subscript
o Superscript
 Steps to create a table
o Insert tab
o Table menu
o Specify number of rows and columns
o Confirm it
 Steps to insert row or column
 Click row
 Insert tab
 Press insert row above, row below, left or right.
 Mail merge- allows you to create a batch of documents that are
personalised for each recipient at once.
o Primary document- contains the information that is the
same for each document.
o Data source or recipient list- contains the information to be
inserted into the main document during the merge.
o Merge field- a data category that stores a specific type of
information.
o Steps:
 Mailing
 Start mail merge
  Start wizard
 Search for starting document and recipients
 Insert merge field
 Mail merge and finish
 A fillable form is used to gather information in soft copy.
o Content controls for fillable forms
 Rich text- users can type multiple paragraphs
 Plain text- users can only type a limited amount of
text.
 Check box- used for options
 Combo box- used to select from a list of choices or
type information.
 Drop down menu- only select from a list of choices
 Date picker
 Design mode- used to insert text on a form.
 Command button- used to submit the form for
processing.
 Webpage- written in HTML, it can view text, images, videos
and hyperlinks in a browser.
 Hyperlink- an icon, image or word that automatically opens
another file from viewing.
o Types of hyperlinks
 Link to another webpage
 Link to an email
 Link to a file/document
 Link to another location on the webpage.
 Navigation bar- a section of GUI, intended to aid visitors in
accessing information.
 Website- set of webpages located under a single domain.
o Categories of websites
 Static website- the content remains the same in the
form of a paper-based brochure. Information cannot
be searched for.
  Editable brochure website- the content is stored as it
is updated so viewers can view past articles,
webpages or other content.
 Dynamic website- a user can login, create new
content, add content and control what is viewed on
the website.
 E-commerce- website that is integrated to receive
online payments from visitors of the site.
 Web application- provides push notifications and can
be added to a device’s home screen without having
to download it from the app store.
o Breadcrumbs- path a user would’ve taken to access the
current page.
Spreadsheet- Excel
 Spreadsheets- a table consisting of cells that hold accounting
and financial data and simulates the traditional work sheet.
 Features of a spreadsheet
o Workbook- contains one or more worksheet
o Worksheet- single page/sheet within an excel file.
o Columns- vertical divisions of a worksheet
o Rows- horizontal divisions of a worksheet.
o Cell address- the location of a cell. It starts with the
column letter, followed by a row number.
o Range- a location of more than one cell.
o Label- text entered in a cell to identify data in a row or
column.
o Value- numerical data
o Formula- an expression used to calculate, manipulate or
analyse data in the cell of a worksheet.
 Relative addressing- the formula changes whenever a
formula is copied to another cell or auto filled is
used.
  Absolute addressing- the entire formula or a part of
the formula remains the same when copied to another
cell or autofill is used.
 Numeric data formatting
 Currency
 Accounting
 Percentage
 Commas
 Decimal places
o Functions- predefined syntax.
 Sum function- used to add values in a range.
(=sum(cell range)).
 Average function- adds all values in a range and
divides the sum by the number of values.
(=AVG(cell range)).
 Maximum or minimum function- finds the largest or
smallest value in a range of values. (=max(cell
range) or =min(cell range)).
 Count and count a function- count function counts
the cells containing numbers in a cell range while
count a function counts numbers, text or non-blank
cells in a cell range. (=count(cell range) or =count
a(cell range)).
 Count if function- counts the number of cells that
meet a certain criterion in a cell range. (countif(cell
range, “criteria”).
 Date function- combines value in three cells to
produce a data. (=date(year, month, day)
 If function- allows you to make a choice depending
on whether a condition is met or and returns one of
two values. (=if(logical test, “value if true”, “value if
false”)
 Vlookup feature- searches the first column in a table
of data for a value. If the value is found, any other
value in that row can be selected. (=vlookup(value
 you want to lookup, where the data is located in that
column, the number to the first column containing
the additional information you need, whether the list
in the first column of the range is sorted or not.)
 Pmt- do financial calculations. (=PMT(interest rate,
number or payments, loan payments).
 Rate- interest rate
 Nper- the number of periods for payments
 Pv- the present value
 [fv]- future value
 [type]- payments made at the beginning or end
of a period.
 Errors in excel
o #N/A- not available. Can't find the value you're looking
for.
o #VALUE! - invalid value. Wrong arguments in the
formula.
o #REF! - no references. References apart of the excel
formula is removed.
o #NAME? - can't find the name. Excel formula typing
error.
o #DIV/O! - divided by zero. Can't display a cell content.
o ######- can't display value/cell content.
o #NULL! - empty value. Can't determine a range of
formulas.
o #NUM! - invalid number. Invalid numeric value.
o #NAME! - can't find a named range or table.
 Logical operations
o = equal to
o <> not equal to
o <less than
o > greater than
o <= less than or equal to
o >+ greater than or equal to
  Rational operations
o Or- only one condition must be more
o AND- both conditions must be true
o NOT- return the opposite value.

SUMMER TERM

SURVEY
 Problem solving

QUESTION
 Differentiate between a program and problem solving.
 What are the five steps in program solving?
 What are the two phrases of problem solving and what do they
entail?
 What are the three types of errors in programming?
 What are the two types of algorithms?
 Differentiate between the five types of programming languages?
 Differentiate between constants and variables?
 What are the five data types?
 How to write a psuedocode?
 What is IPO cycle?
READ
 A program is a set of instructions to the computer that is used to
carry out a task or solve a problem.
 Problem Solving: It involves defining a problem and creating
solutions for it.
o Steps in problem-solving
 Definition of the problem
 Propose and evaluate solutions
 Determination of the most efficient solution
 Develop and represent algorithm
 Test and validate the solution
 The two phases of problem solving
o Algorithm phase- define the problem, propose solutions
and evaluate each one, select the most reasonable one,
design a precise and educated algorithm and test the
algorithm.
o Implementation phase- translate your algorithm using a
programming language such as BASIC, Pascal, C or
VisualBasic, execute the program code, and maintain the
program.
 Errors in programming
o Syntax errors- errors that result from the programmer not
obeying the rules or syntax of the programming language.
Eg.missing a comma or quotation mark, misspelling a
word.
o Logic error- erros that result from mistakes made by the
programmer, such as dividing by 0. e.g. incorrect use of
rational and logical operations.
o Run time error- when a computer doesn't know how to run
a command. E.g. when the computer doesn't know how to
divide by 0.
 Concepts of algorithm
o Pseudocode- a language that consisting of English-like
statements used to define algorithms.
o Flowcharts- a picture of separate steps of a process in
sequential order.
 Characteristics- it has a finite number of steps, it is
precise, it is unambiguous, it has a flow of control
from one process to another and it terminates
o Machine language 1st generation - consists of strings made
up of 1s and 0s. It is the only programming language the
computer can understand. All programs written in other
languages have to be translated into machine language.
o Assembly language 2nd generation - uses a special code
called mnemonic to represent machine language
 instructions. E.g. SUM 4, 5, 7; DIV 10, 2; ADD 3, 4; MUL
10, 6.
o High level language 3rd generation- languages that closely
resemble human language and mathematical notations.
The program is written in source code and the translated
version is called object code. The two types of translator
languages are compilers and interpreters.
 Compilers- translate the entire source code (all
statements) to the object code before the execution
takes place.
 Interpreters- translate high level language statements
one at a time, executing each step immediately after
it has been translated.
o Fourth generation languages 4th generation- requires much
less effort in creating programs than HLL. It increases the
speed of program development; it minimizes end-user
effort to obtain information from a computer and it
increases the skill level required by end users.
o Natural language- computer language as close to a human
as possible. E.g. Alexa, Siri, Bixby, google assistant.
 Variables- an area of storage whose value an change during
processing.
 Constant- is an area of storage whose value never changes.
 Data types:
o Sting- used for a combination for any characters that
appear on a keyboard e.g. name, numberOne
o Character- used for single letters. E.g. A, X, Y
o Integer- used for whole numbers. E.g. 72, 109, 23.
o Float- decimal numbers. E.g. 2.3, 23.7, 76.9
o Boolean- appears in two states. E.g. true or false, yes or
no.
 How to write a pseudocode
o An assignment state is what is done to the date entered
from the input.
 o Output is what the program requires you to show, display
or print.
Start
Read (data types)
Assignment syntax statement(s) (has an arrow pointing
after after the statement).
Print (output, display or print: it is written as “assignment
statement (is):”, assignment statement).
Stop
 The IPO chart
o Input- any data that is needed to solve the problem.
o Processing- the task that will be carried out to solve the
problem.
o Output- the result of the problem.
o Storage- variable used to store data/values to perform
calculations.