Prelim Topic 2: Tools for Information Processes
Timing and resources
Time: 4 weeks
Syllabus: pages 18–25 Section 8.2
Texts: Heinemann IPT Prelim—G. K. Powers (chapter 2)
Syllabus outcomes
P1.1 Describes the nature of information processes and information
technology
P1.2 Classifies the functions and operations of information
processes and information technology
P2.1 Identifies the information processes within an information
system
P2.2 Recognises the interdependence between each of the
information processes
P3.1 Identifies social and ethical issues
P4.1 Describes the historical developments of information systems
and relates these to current and emerging technologies
P5.1 Selects and ethically uses computer based and non-computer
based resources and tools to process information
P6.1 Analyses and describes an identified need
P6.2 Generates ideas, considers alternatives and develops solutions
for a defined need
Students learn to:
1. Collecting
(a) Describe and use a range of hardware collection devices—
pointing devices, scanners, digital cameras, video cameras,
microphones, keyboards and optical character readers.
(b) Describe and use software for collection—operating system,
data entry into application software and Internet as a
collection source.
(c) Identify some of the non-computer tools for collection—
literature searches, surveys, interviews, form design and
manual recording.
(d) Describe the social/ethical issues related to collection—bias,
accuracy, copyright, privacy and ergonomics.
2. Organising
(a) Describe how hardware collection devices organise data by
digitising—text, numbers, images and audio.
(b) Explain how application software organises data
(c) Identify some non-computer tools for organising—hardcopy
systems, pen and paper methods.
(d) Describe the social/ethical issues related to organising—
current trends, poorly organised data, suitable data.
3. Analysing
(a) Identify the hardware requirements to carry out analysis—
large amounts of storage, fast processing.
(b) Describe and use software analysis features for analysis—
searching, sorting, modelling and simulations, ‘what-if’
predictions, charts.
(c) Identify some non-computer tools for analysing.
(d) Compare and contrast computer/non-computer tools.
(e) Describe the social/ethical issues related to analysing—
unauthorised analysis, incorrect analysis, privacy.
4. Storing and retrieving
(a) Describe and use a range of hardware devices to store and
retrieve data—magnetic disk, magnetic tape, optical disk and
flash memory.
(b) Describe and use the software used in storing and
retrieving—hard interface software, file management
software, file formats, DBMS, browsers, passwords.
(c) Identify non-computer tools for storing and retrieving—
paper-based storage systems, microfiche, library.
(d) Describe the social/ethical issues related to storing and
retrieving—security, unauthorised retrieval of data.
5. Processing
(a) Describe the hardware used for processing—system unit,
CPU, integrated circuit, motherboard, control unit, ALU,
registers, processing speed, memory (RAM, volatile, cache,
ROM).
(b) Explain the operation of the CPU—fetch-execute cycle, itime, e-time, pipelining.
(c) Identify the different types of processing—centralised,
distributed, parallel.
(d) Explain how each piece of application software processes
data by editing.
(e) Identify some non-computer tools for processing—
documentation, DFD, system flowcharts.
(f) Describe the social/ethical issues related to processing—type
of processing, ownership, bias.
6. Transmitting and receiving
(a) Explain communication concepts—serial/parallel,
asynchronous/synchronous, simplex, half duplex and full
duplex, baud rate, bits per second.
(b) Describe the hardware used in transmitting and receiving—
communication within the computer (bus, expansion cards,
port), modem, networks.
(c) Describe the software used in transmitting and receiving—
communication software.
(d) Identify some non-computer tools for transmitting and
receiving—mail system, telephone, fax, radio, TV.
(e) Describe the social/ethical issues related to transmitting and
receiving—accuracy, security, net-etiquette,
acknowledgment of source, privacy, nature of work, impact
of the Internet on traditional business.
7. Displaying
(a) Describe and use a range of hardware devices for display—
screens, printers speakers, plotters.
(b) Describe software display features—reporting, formatting,
spacing, mail merge, tables, charts.
(c) Identify some non-computer tools for display—storyboard,
traditional methods.
(d) Describe the social/ethical issues related to display—
communication skills, current trends, visually impaired,
offensive material.