MCCCD Program Description

Computer Literacy

Course: CSC180AB

First Term: 2011 Spring

Lecture 4 Credit(s) 4 Period(s) 4 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Introduction to computers and technology and their impact on society. Explores technology, current topics in computing, applications and related issues. Students gain fluency in integrating technology to solve problems using computational thinking. Use of application software to create documents, spreadsheets, databases, e-mail and text files, and use of Internet browsers.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
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, spreadsheats, database software, e-mail, web page development software, internet browsers) to communicate, record, organize and analyze data in scientific, engineering, and medical/healthcare 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 Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
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. Web page development 1. Effective web page design 2. Upload web pages to a server F. Electronic-mail 1. Effective use of e-mail 2. Professional etiquette 3. Attaching files to e-mail G. 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

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 12/14/2010

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.