Information
Technology
for CSEC® Examinations 3rd Edition
Howard Campbell and Alan Wood
Contributors: Keith Burkette (Trinidad and Tobago),
Desrie Elwin (Dominica), Andrew Samuels (Jamaica),
Nnaemeke Vesprey (Grenada), Camille Bruno-Audain
(St Kitts and Nevis), Jesse James (St Vincent)
CSEC® is a registered trade mark of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY for CSEC® EXAMINATIONS THIRD EDITION is an
independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved
by CXC.
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Contents
About this book
Introduction
v
vii
Countermeasures to mitigate the effects of identified
113
threats
Assess the effects of automation on job security
Theory
1
2
3
Computer fundamentals
2
The concept of information technology
3
Major types of computer systems
4
Describe the roles of various personnel in computer119
related professions
Assess the impact of information and
communications technology on selected fields
The major hardware components of a computer system 10
Productivity Tools
The interrelationship of the major hardware
components of a computer system
5
17
120
Mastering word processing
128
129
Evaluating the relative merits of cloud storage and
local storage
19
Creating documents using content from a variety of
sources
Selecting appropriate input and output devices
20
Using appropriate document-formatting features
133
The role of the different types of software
29
Different types of user interface
33
Using appropriate editing features to structure and
organise a document
140
Evaluating the suitability of a computer system
37
Troubleshooting basic hardware problems
40
Using review features to enhance document
readiness
146
Information processing
46
Information and data
47
Evaluating the reliability of information obtained from
online sources
54
File organisation
61
Choosing an appropriate file access method
66
Computer networks and web technologies
71
Introduction to computer networks
72
Appropriately using features that allow protection of
a document
150
6
Distinguish between different types of network: LANs,
MANs and WANs
73
The functions of the basic components of a network
Key web technology concepts
Social and economic impact of Information and
Communication Technology
90
Generating a table of contents for a document
151
Using mail merge features in a range of situations
152
Creating a fillable electronic form for online use
154
Mastering web page design
161
Planning a website structure and organisation of
pages
162
Designing and creating simple pages
165
Inserting hyperlink into a web page
172
Testing and evaluating a website for accuracy, user- friendliness and effective display
176
82
The importance of mobile communications technology 88
4
117
7
Mastering spreadsheets
182
The purpose of spreadsheets
183
Using appropriate terminology associated with
98
Introduction to the concepts of computer security,
cybersecurity and computer misuse
99
Assess the potential impact of computer misuse on
the main entities impacted
103
spreadsheets
184
Using basic predefined functions
186
Creating advanced arithmetic formulae
193
Replicating (copying) formulae to other cells
194
Manipulating rows and columns: insert, delete
and modify
199
iii
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8
Manipulating data in a spreadsheet
200
Performing charting operations
210
Manipulating one or more worksheets
215
Mastering databases
221
The concept of a database
222
Terminology commonly associated with a database
223
Creating a database
225
Manipulating data in a database
236
Programming
9
Problem-solving and program design
252
Outline steps in problem-solving
253
Using divide-and-conquer approach to decompose
large everyday problems into smaller tasks
255
Defining a problem by decomposing it into its
significant components
257
Distinguishing between variables and constants
265
The concept of an algorithm
267
Representing algorithms in the form of pseudocode
and flowcharts
268
Testing algorithms for correctness
276
10 Program implementation
283
Distinguishing between low-level and high-level
languages
284
The sequence of steps in implementing a program
285
Performing checks and tests on programs to verify
correctness
291
Declaring variables and constants using basic
data types
295
Translating algorithmic statements into high-level
language syntax
296
Documenting programs effectively
322
11 The School-Based Assessment
327
Appendix A Specimen Paper 01
340
Appendix B Specimen Paper 02
346
Glossary
353
Index
358
iv
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About this Book
Unique, practical application-based approach
The 3rd edition takes
a unique approach
Caribbean Travel Services (CTS) operates scheduled bus services
which provides realand vehicle rentals in several towns across several countries in the
life context for the
Caribbean. In each town CTS has an office, a garage and a depot
from which its vehicles operate.
concepts and skills
taught: At the heart of
this approach are two companies: the fictional company, Caribbean Travel Services
(CTS), and a second company created by the students themselves at the start of the
course.
Through examples and activities throughout the course, these companies are
used to first show, and then to actively apply, the ways that a typical organisation
uses Information Technology to help it with all aspects of the company’s operations.
You can find out more about these in the introduction, which is an essential first
lesson for this course.
Welcome to Caribbean Travel Services.
ACTIVITY 1.2 Selecting the correct type of computer
Use the company you created in earlier activities or use St Luago Fashion.
• As you read through the following section, consider whether the type of
computer being described might be utilised in your company.
• Justify your reasoning.
• Record your findings in your notebook.
The 3rd edition aligns directly to the 2017 CSEC® Information Technology syllabus:
• Chapters are grouped into three main parts to mirror the three examination
profiles: Theory (Chapters 1–4), Productivity Tools (Chapters 5–8) and
Programming (Chapters 9–10).
• Each Chapter corresponds to a section of the syllabus.
• Learning objectives from the syllabus are listed at the beginning of every chapter
and then clearly sign-posted within the chapter via the handy ‘objective’ icon
heading – so you’ll always know where in the syllabus you’ve got to.
Key web technology concepts
Re-vamped Productivity and Programming sections
Application and programming skills are taught and practised in a way that instills
broadly transferable skills, ensuring students aren’t limited to using specific
programs and languages.
• In the Productivity Tools
section, examples are demonstrated
in Microsoft Office screenshots.
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Computer
fundamentals
About this book
Major hardware
components
IPOS cycle
storage
Types of
software
periperal
devices
cloud
storage
input
devices
local
storage
ouut
devices
• In
application
software
system
software
secondary
storage
Types of
user interface
operating
systems
system
utilities
Programming
languages
are demonstrated: Pascal,
command line
with which
most teachers
interface
are familiar,
and Python, an
menu-driven
interface
industry-leading
language
that will graphical
equipuser
students with
interface (GUI)
the foundation needed to
pursue programming careers
in the 21st century.
the
software
hardware
section, interfaces
two
interfaces
Pascal program
PROGRAM service;
VAR
kms : REAL;
BEGIN
WRITELN ('A simple program to see if a vehicle service is required');
WRITELN ('Please give the kms covered since last service ');
READ (kms);
WRITELN (kms);
IF (kms >=100000) THEN
BEGIN
WRITELN ('YES Service required');
END;
WRITELN ('Press Enter to finish.');
READLN;
END.
Python program
kmsCovered = 0
print ('A simple program to see if a vehicle service has to be performed.')
kmsCovered = input('Please give the kms the vehicle has covered since last service ')
if int(kmsCovered) >= 100000:
print('YES vehicle need a service')
Key features in every chapter
Information processing
Evaluating online
data
Choosing a file
access method
File organisation
verification &
validation
file access
methods
how data
is stored
how files are
stored
methods of
verification
serial file access
methods of
validation
sequential file
access
random file
access
direct file access
ITQ 1.1
Name the THREE fields of study
that have been merged to form
the field of IT.
Mobile devices ▶
Mobile devices are computing
devices that are small enough to
hold and operate in one’s hand
and are easily portable.
• Concept maps bring together all the different concepts in the chapter and
show how they fit together – a great teaching tool for starting a new topic, or a
handy revision aid later on.
• The activities are central to the learning experience of this book. They
encourage students to apply what they have learnt to their own situation, and
to practise the skills needed to complete the SBA project. Some activities can
be completed individually, but many involve working with classmates in a
collaborative way. Look out for these icons to see which are which.
• In-text questions (ITQs) check students’ understanding as they work
through the text. If students can’t answer the ITQ, they should go back and reread the section. Answers are provided at the end of each chapter.
• Key terms from the syllabus are flagged in the left-hand margin and defined
clearly in the text on first use. These important terms are also listed in the
glossary at the end of the book.
• Smartphone users can use ‘Scan-Me codes’ to access online resources. A list
of these URLs is also provided in the teacher’s resources if teachers want to
show them on a computer.
End of chapter resources
At the end of each chapter you will find:
• a summary of key content for that chapter to help you check your understanding
• revision notes that include suggested answers to the ITQs
• examination-style questions (multiple choice and structured) to check your
learning and help practise your exam skills.
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Introduction
In the following pages we are going to cover all you need to know to achieve
a great grade in your CSEC Information Technology examination. This
introduction is an important place to start as it explains the book’s content and,
most importantly of all, introduces you to a case study that you will be using
throughout the course to help you understand and apply the information in the
book. This is central to all the activities throughout the book, so pay attention!
On completion of this course of study in IT, as well as getting a great examination
result, you will have developed an understanding of important IT concepts and
practical, hands-on IT skills. These are listed in the table below.
Important IT knowledge
Essential IT skills
• Develop an understanding of the
• Maintain safe and secure computing
fundamental hardware and software
environments
components and the interrelationships
• Develop computer-generated documents
among them
using a range of tools
• Develop expertise in evaluating computer • Apply a structured approach to solving
systems
problems
• Develop an understanding of basic
• Translate algorithms into high-level
information-processing principles and basic
programs
networking concepts, including mobile
networks and Internet and web technology
concepts
The School Based Assessment (SBA) part of your examination requires you to
apply the knowledge, skills and aptitudes you have learnt in a practical way.
If you complete all the activities in this book, you will have all the skills you
will need for a great SBA. We recommend that you start a notebook to record
everything in one place.
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Introduction
What is Information Technology?
Information Technology is the use of technology to process data into useful
information. You will already be familiar with some of the technologies because
you will have used or seen computers, smartphones, laptops, tablets and games
consoles in action.
ACTIVITY
Introductory activity
• Write down all the computers, smartphones, laptops, tablets and games consoles
you have used or seen in the last week. Include devices that you have seen on
TV or in films.
• For each device in your list, record what it was being used for.
• Review your list with the other members of the group to create a combined list.
• Share this list with the class by displaying it on the class noticeboard.
An example of Information Technology in action that you will be familiar with is in
your school. Students’ attendance, and examination and test scores, will be stored
on a computer and processed so that questions such as ‘Which students passed the
test?’ and ‘What is the attendance record of a particular student?’ can be answered
quickly and easily. The answers are incorporated in the student’s term report to be
viewed by parents or guardians.
This is what Information Technology is all about: technology that manages
information to make solving problems, answering questions and displaying results
quicker and easier.
Information technology in the real
world
In this book we will be looking at how to use Information Technology to help
Caribbean citizens operate more effectively. Whether the task is to process the
payroll in a factory, advertise new products on the World Wide Web (WWW, a
huge number of documents that can be accessed using the Internet) write letters to
customers or keep supplier records up to date, Information Technology can help.
Introducing our study example
Throughout this book we are going to use an example Caribbean company to show
you how a typical organisation uses Information Technology to help with all aspects
of its operations. Whenever you learn about a new topic in the book, you will be
shown how it can be applied in the real world, using this company as an example.
Welcome to Caribbean Travel Services.
Caribbean Travel Services (CTS) operates scheduled bus services
and vehicle rentals in several towns across several countries in the
Caribbean. In each town CTS has an office, a garage and a depot
from which its vehicles operate.
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1 • Computer Fundamentals
Introduction
Creating your own study example
As well as seeing how the principles from the book can be applied to Caribbean
Travel Services, you will be asked to apply them yourself, to your company. You
are now going to get into groups and create that company.
ACTIVITY
Create a Caribbean company
Working with a small group of classmates (groups of four to six), invent a Caribbean
company and establish:
• a name for the company
• the main product area of the company.
If you are short of ideas, think of a clothing retailer. Your company might specialise in
selling shoes, outdoor clothing, wedding clothing or children’s clothing.
Don’t forget, you’ll be using this company and working with your group all the way
through the two years of your course, so make sure you are all happy with it.
The syllabus in context
Each of the chapters in this book relates to a section of the CXC syllabus. These
sections cover really important aspects of Information Technology that will be
relevant to almost any company, including the one you have created. Below is
a summary of what each chapter is about. We are going to use these chapters to
guide us through the development of your company and learn new skills on the
way.
Chapter 1 Computer fundamentals
An understanding of the major types of computer systems and how they work
will enable you to choose the correct technologies for your company. You will
also need to consider what extra peripheral devices are required: a barcode reader
or 3-D printer perhaps. What programs will you need to install on the company
computers? You will certainly need a system to operate your computers, a word
processor for documents, a spreadsheet to manage the finances and a database for
storing all your records. You will also need to know how to fix any problems that
may occur. We will cover all this in Chapter 1.
Chapter 2 Information-processing
Data and information are of central importance to almost all organisations.
Your company will soon fail if you don’t know who your employees are, how
they can be contacted or whether they have been paid or not. You will need to
understand where any data comes from and how it will arrive. Will it be taken over
the telephone (oral), written on a printed form, produced by another computer
(a barcode for example), or directly captured by a sensor or measuring device
(perhaps an anemometer, which is used to measure wind speed)? It is important to
consider how reliable all this data and information is and how it can be checked to
make sure it is correct. Finally you will need to know how the data will be stored
and used inside the company’s Information Technology computer systems. As you
work through Chapter 2 you will consider all this in relation to your company.
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Introduction
Chapter 3
Computer networks and web technologies
An organisation of any size will have many computing devices. Company
administration in head office will have computers that need to be connected to
each other as well as to the sales offices. Travelling representatives, using mobile
devices such as smartphones and laptops, also need to be connected to head office.
As your company grows you need to understand the basics of computer networks
and the different options (wired and wireless) for networking devices together. The
Internet and World Wide Web are likely to be important to your new company so
you will need to understand key web technology concepts, such as “hyperlink”
and “web server”. We will lead you through the basics of computer networks in
Chapter 3.
Chapter 4
Social and economic impact of Information and Communication Technology
As the world, and your company, become more connected, it becomes more
important to understand the need for computer security and cybersecurity.
Unfortunately, successful companies like yours can become the target of criminals.
You need to consider the vulnerabilities, threats and potential attacks but most
importantly the countermeasures that you can employ to eliminate or minimise
these risks. You are not alone as there is a range of computer-related professionals
you can call on to help you develop, maintain and secure your computer systems.
In Chapter 4 we will introduce many of these professions and explain how they
can help your company.
Chapter 5
Mastering word processing
A word processing program is a tool with which you can manipulate text. All
companies rely heavily on documentation: letters to clients, brochures, reports,
memos and user manuals to name a few. All your company documents need to be
well presented and will probably include formatted text, images, tables and bullet
points, and may include headers, footers, a table of contents and forms. Of course,
all your documents need to be free of spelling and grammar errors and may need
to be reviewed by others within the company. Finally we will show you how to do
a bulk mail to your customers. Chapter 5 is a practical chapter, giving you a range
of skills to create great-looking documents.
Chapter 6
Mastering web page design
Companies like yours need a presence on the WWW to advertise and attract
customers. In order to do this you will need to understand the main concepts of web
page design and develop the practical skills to create, evaluate and test a website. We
cover this in Chapter 6.
Chapter 7
Mastering spreadsheets
A spreadsheet program is an automatic calculation tool. The finance department
in your company will almost certainly be using a spreadsheet program to manage
the finances. We will introduce you to the basic concepts of spreadsheets. You
will gain the practical skills to sort, filter and even create charts from the data in a
spreadsheet. In Chapter 7 you will gain the skills necessary to keep your company
on a strong financial footing.
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Introduction
Chapter 8
Mastering databases
A database management system is a powerful tool for manipulating records of data.
All organisations need to keep records and your company will be no exception.
Staff records, stock records, sales or rental records and supplier records are just
a few of the types of records your company may need to keep. A well-designed
database management system can store all your records in a set of related tables
and provide the tools to search, sort and view the data in meaningful ways. You
will need to summarise the data in the database and generate professional-looking
reports. Chapter 8 will give you the understanding to design and create a great
database system.
Chapter 9
Problem-solving and program design
As your company grows, problems may arise for which general-purpose programs
such as word processing, spreadsheets or database programs don’t offer a good
solution. You will need to create your own special-purpose program. We will help
you define the problem by decomposing it into its significant components, which
can be easily solved. You will then propose and evaluate possible solutions before
selecting the best. From this you will need to develop an algorithm, test it and
validate the solution. In other words you will need to split the problem into small,
easy-to-deal-with parts and then write the instructions to solve each part of the
problem before testing and checking the whole solution. Don’t worry, in Chapter 9
we will lead you through this process step by step.
Chapter 10 Program implementation
Following on from Chapter 9 you need to take your program design and use it
to develop a computer program that will run on the company’s computers. In
order to do this you will need to understand the sequence of steps that must be
followed to implement and run a program. We will lead you through translating
your algorithm into a working computer program written in a high-level language.
You will also need to test your new program and create a user manual document
for it. Chapter 10 covers all the essentials for program implementation.
ACTIVITY
Creating departments for your company
Working with your small group of classmates, build on the Caribbean company you
established in the earlier activity. You already have a name and the main activity; now
identify some of the departments your company might have and how they will support
the company. These are some ideas to get you started:
• The advertising department is responsible for activities such as the company
website, bulk emails to customers and production of brochures.
• The human resources department manages all aspects of employee wellbeing
including recruitment, training, benefits and holiday entitlements.
• The finance department manages the income and expenditure of the company.
• The operations department is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business.
Now your company is set up, we think you are ready to start.
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