COSC1078 Introduction to
Information Technology
Lecture 2
Overview
James Harland
james.harland@rmit.edu.au
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Overview
 Questions?
 Overview of Course Material
 What is IT?
 Questions?
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Introduction
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James Harland
Email: james.harland@rmit.edu.au
URL: www.cs.rmit.edu.au/~jah
Phone: 9925 2045
Office: 14.10.1 (Building 14, level 10, room 11)
Consultation: Mon 2.00-3.00, Thu 12.30-1.30
What colour is my office door?
Carpet? Chair?
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
What is IT?
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Introduction to IT
Course objectives
 Exposure to concepts and language of IT
 Some specific technical knowledge (images, audio,
video)
 Experience in talking and writing about IT
 Some practice in research on IT topics
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Introduction to IT
1 Introduction
2 Images
3 Audio
4 Video
WebLearn Test 1
5 Binary Representation
Assignment 1
6 Data Storage
7 Machine Processing
8 Operating Systems
WebLearn Test 2
9 Processes
Assignment 2
10 Internet
11 Internet Security
WebLearn Test 3
12 Future of IT
Assignment 3, Peer and Self Assessment
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Lectures
 24 hours during semester
 Should be “inspirational”
 Will not cover every technical detail in the course
 Aimed to give an overview and motivation
 “Big picture”
 Time for questions !!
 Will follow the book
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Book
 INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(3rd Edition) CUSTOM PRINT, Pearson, 2011
ISBN 978-1-4425-5658-4
 Custom made just for this course!
 Custom printed combination of two other books
 I will assume that you have access to this
 1st edition is from 2010
 2nd edition is from 2011 (!!)
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Tutorials
 Start this week
 Classes of up to 24
 Tutor will answer questions related to materials
 Good place for individual feedback
 Peer and self assessment
 Peer learning groups (5 or 6)
 Assessed on process, not product
 Assessed in last tutorial
 Trial assessments in weeks 4 and 8
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Tutorials
 Tutor as “guide on the side”
 Will answer questions and provide guidance
 NOT “sit down and listen”
 “re-arrange desks, sit down and get to work in groups”
Lecture 2: Overview
Computing Theory
Lab Classes
 Start in week 2 (next week)
 Work on practical exercises and sometimes assignment
materials
 Lab assists present to help and an answer questions
 Details will be in the Learning Hub
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Assessment
 Assignment Part 1 (Images & Audio)
10%
 Assignment Part 2 (Hardware)
10%
 Assignment Part 3 (Research and Reflect)
20%
 Online tests (3 x 5%, 2 best)
10%
 Peer and self assessment
10%
 Exam
40%
Need to pass both exam and assignment
component
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Assessment Process
 Submit all assignments via Blackboard in the
Learning Hub
 Assignment 1 due 11.59pm Sunday 2nd April
 Assignment 2 due 11.59pm Sunday 6th May
 Assignment 3 due 11.59pm Sunday 27th May
 Late assignments attract a penalty of 10% per
day late, up to a maximum of 50%
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Assignment
 Assignment will be in three parts
 Overall task is to produce a video
 Groups of up to 6
 Assessed by final video and group blog
 Part 1: images and audio (end of week 5)
 Part2: hardware (end of week 9)
 Part 3: reflection, research (end of week 12)
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Web Tests
Three online tests via Blackboard system
 Week 4
 Week 8
 Week 11
 Multiple choice
 Designed to assess and give feedback on understanding
 5% of mark for each test
 Best 2 used to make up your overall mark
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Exam
 Sometime in June
 Designed to supplement other assessments
 Sample exam and solutions will available
 Will have at least one question 
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Where is this building?
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Study Tours?
 RMIT very keen on study tours
Typically two weeks somewhere overseas
 Vietnam, China, Italy, UK, US, Germany, …
 Ideally 10-12 students
 Around 1 week of pre-tour work
 Around 1 week of post-tour work
 Credit for a 12-point elective
 Full cost around $3000-5000 (maybe less with
sponsorship?)
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Study Tours?
Only precedent in IT-related courses is
Evolutionary Digital Art to Saigon South in 2007
Where is a good place for an IT study tour?
 RMIT Vietnam?
 US West Coast?
 UK (following steps of Alan Turing)?
 ???
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
What is IT?
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Overview
How does Google work?
query
data
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Overview
“Thomas the Tank Engine”
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Overview
Video
Audio
Text
Thumbnails
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Representation, Storage, Processing
 Images
 Video
 Audio
 Text
 …
Follow `journey of electrons’ on this path…
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT
Conclusion
GET THE
BOOK!
 Go to tutorials this week!
 No labs this week
 Check details in Course Guide
 Start reading (notes, problems, report topic)
Lecture 2: Overview
Intro to IT