iSYS 101: Personal Productivity with Information Systems
(Note: This course was COMS 101: Introduction to Microcomputers before the 2007-8 catalog.)
Contents
Introduction to personal computers as productivity tools for business majors, what personal computers are, how they work and their physical components. Uses Microsoft Office suite of products. Cannot be used toward any major or minor in Information Systems & Technology.
This course (iSYS 101) is not a prerequisite for any other iSYS course.
This course is normally scheduled every fall and spring semester.
(
under construction...)
The following content areas will be covered.
- Systems and IS Concepts (about 5 hours)
- Knowledge Work Software (about 5 hours)
- Problem Solving, Small IS (about 5 hours)
- IS and Society (about 5 hours)
- Work and Activity Concepts (about 5 hours)
- Individual vs. Group (about 5 hours)
- Organizing Personal Data Resources (about 5 hours)
- Database Terminology and Concepts (about 5 hours)
- Developing with Packages (about 5 hours)
- Configure and Customize a Package (about 5 hours)
Additional topics may also be covered based on time and student interest.
By the end of this course, you should be able to
- define hardware, software and related information technology concepts
- list the major hardware and software components of a computing system and define their interaction
- demonstrate how to export a database table (or spreadsheet) to a word processing package for use in a report
- demonstrate how to import a spreadsheet into a database
- implement a "slide show" presentation in a presentation graphics package to communicate a problem and its solution, and a hand-out for an attending audience
- implement and use a simple database
- show how to export a database table (or spreadsheet) to a word processing package for use in a report
- show how to import a spreadsheet into the database
- identify appropriate PC-based solutions using knowledge work software (word processing, spreadsheet, database, statistics and data management, presentation graphics, and communications) to improve personal productivity and increase knowledge work capabilities
- list solutions involving knowledge work software to simple organizational and personal tasks
- identify how information technology has affected everyday activities in society
- define knowledge work activity
- identify methods for achieving productivity in knowledge work
- define individual vs. group technology
- define the process of information analysis and application of information technology solutions
- identify individual vs. organizational information system requirements
- list commonly-used group support technology for common knowledge requirements
- list the additional processing and other issues and needs necessitated by working in a group
- list approaches for transferring data among applications including OLE, importing/exporting, conversion, and alternate methods
- list principles of personal software acquisition and upgrades
- define tables, relationships, referential integrity, and the basic concept of normal forms
- list steps necessary to access organizational databases
- define the term package and list the advantages of using packages
- identify criteria to choose between acquisition of software packages vs. custom development of software
- list examples of general purpose and application software
Final textbook choice is determined by the instructor, who may
choose a textbook similar to one the following. This list can give you an
idea of the course topics, coverage, and depth.
Additional readings may be assigned by the instructor.
