CS4051 - Fundamentals of Computing (2024/25)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2024/25 | ||||||||||||||||
Module title | Fundamentals of Computing | ||||||||||||||||
Module level | Certificate (04) | ||||||||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||
School | School of Computing and Digital Media | ||||||||||||||||
Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2024/25(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Students will receive an introduction to the principles of information processing and an overview of the information technologies for digital data processing using computational and communication devices, including an initial understanding of the requirements for usability, quality, complexity, security and privacy of the developed solution. The students will obtain initial practical skills in modelling, design, implementation and testing of software systems for real-world application using a suitable programming language.
Syllabus
• Logical organisation of the information and physical data representation LO1
• Digital representation of numerical information and numerical data processing LO1
• Digital representation of text information and text data processing LO1
• Digital representation of multimedia information and multimedia operations LO1
• Introduction to digital data processing using software programs LO2
• Data structures for digital representation of the information LO2,LO3
• Control structures for program execution LO3,LO4
• Algorithmic operations for data processing LO1,LO2,LO3
• File operations and data file processing LO2,LO3
• Program design and implementation LO3,LO4
• Program execution, testing and error handling LO2,LO5
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Topics will be introduced through the medium of formal lectures, supported by tutorial and workshop sessions and on-line resources as follows:
• Lectures (1 hour / week) cover theoretical aspects of the key topics identified in the syllabus, plus suggestions for further study and directed reading for independent study.
• Tutorials (1 hour / week) consolidate understanding of topics introduced in the lecture via class discussions encouraging reflective learning and informal presentations.
• Workshops (1 hour / week) extend the theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience in using appropriate software, which students should also experiment with during independent study to become more proficient.
• On-line resources: lecture notes, tutorial and workshop exercises and notes, example questions, online tests and suggestions for further study and directed reading available on Weblearn.
Learning outcomes
LO1: understand and formulate the main requirements for developing digital solutions for the business and enterprise by analysing and modelling the logical organisation of the business information using variety of modelling languages and tools
LO2: obtain initial knowledge and practical skills in using second programming language
LO3: exercise the process of designing of data structures and algorithms for digital information processing using sequential, iterative and recursive algorithms for solving typical problems in numerical and text processing
LO4: use appropriate design methods for producing modular software systems using appropriate programming language
LO5: understand the concepts of usability, quality, complexity, security and privacy of the information