| CODE | DGP0301 | ||||||
| TITLE | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | Not Applicable | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Degree Plus Programme | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Contact: E-mail: ict.degreeplus@um.edu.mt Website: https://www.um.edu.mt/degreeplus/ict.html Objectives: The aim of the ICT option within the DegreePlus programme is to address misconceptions students may have with certain principles of computing, to make them more “savvy” about how computers work, and to understand the differences between the Internet and the World Wide Web; to be able to create a simple web presence for themselves; and to unlock the potential of using the Internet as a powerful research tool. Content: There are three main sub-activities within the ICT DegreePlus activity: How to… Understand Computers, the Internet, and the World Wide Web; How to… User the WWW as a Research Tool; How to… Build your own Web Site. Each sub-activity is described below. Method(s) of teaching: As discussing misconceptions can be embarrassing, cards with different common misconceptions will be placed on each seat. Participants can either read out their “given” misconception, or can give a real misconception that they have. Nobody will know. Misconceptions may first be addressed by other students, before the facilitator intervenes, to encourage discussion. A. How to… Understand Computers, the Internet, and the World Wide Web: Week 1 – Week 4 (8 contact hours) Objectives and Learning Outcomes: The course will focus on how computers, the Internet, and the World Wide Web actually work, from a layperson’s perspective. The over-riding intention is to address common misconceptions, and to empower participants to be more confident about their knowledge, especially when dealing with others who may try to take advantage of the layperson’s lack of knowledge (e.g., computer repair). Participants are encouraged to keep an electronic diary of their misconceptions. Week 1: How do Computers Work? A very simple explanation of computers in action, to explain the roles of each of RAM, hard disk space, the CPU, what clock-speed really is, and why do clock-speed, memory, and space requirements keep increasing at such a phenomenal rate, when computers are getting smaller and smaller? Week 2-3: How does the Internet Work? A layperson’s explanation of the underlying Internet protocols (Internet Protocol and Transmission Control Protocol) and comparison to a traditional post office; Domain Name Service; how the simple TCP/IP protocols support more complex protocols to support services such as e-mail, Skype and other conferencing software, peer-to-peer software, etc. Week 4: How does the World Wide Web work? The World Wide Web is just another protocol (HTTP) sitting on top of TCP/IP, coupled with a markup language (HTML) that enables Web browsers to display web pages. Most Web browsers integrate multiple (non-HTTP) protocols, such as the File Transfer Protocol (FTP), news (NNTP), etc., and may allow files in other formats (e.g., DOC, PDF, etc.) to be viewed through the Web browser. What’s a URL? The WWW assumes that you know the URL of a document or that you can reach a document by following links. The basic role of search engines. An overview of the differences between the Internet and the World Wide Web, (again, perhaps using cards that participants may read from). B. How to… Use the WWW as a Research Tool Objectives and Learning Outcomes: At University, students are expected to conduct research as a matter of course. However, students are rarely taught research methods. This inevitably leads to ineffective methods of locating relevant information, unethical use of Web-based material, and the use of inappropriate material or unreliable sources. This activity will give participants enough knowledge to make appropriate use of Web-based information and to realise the advantages of proper citation. Of course, this will benefit students not only during their stay at University, but will be an indispensable skill for postgraduate studies and work. Teaching Method(s): Participants are encouraged to use the Web to find out about common misconceptions about computers, the Internet, and the World Wide Web, and to write a short literature review. Alternatively, they may research any topic of interest to them, as long as it is not a required component of their degree. Alternatively, participants may keep a logbook of a piece of Web-based research that they carry out for a study-unit of their choice in the same semester that they follow this degree+ ICT activity. Week 5-6: (4 contact hours) Why do we do research? Finding information on the Web using Search Engines. Search Engines demystified. Tips and tricks for getting the most out of your favourite search engine. Can I use this source?: finding authoritative information on the Web; Note taking and literature reviews; how to find and use Web-based tools to help with research activities; Referencing; the role of the library in the Internet age. C. How to… Build your own Web Site Objectives and Learning Outcomes: Participants will be assisted in finding free Web space to host a personal web site. They will be shown how to create and edit simple web pages, and they will be exposed to mechanisms to create more complex web pages. The skills that participants learn in this activity will be useful for any information that they may wish to place on-line, in either a personal or a professional capacity. Teaching Method(s): This activity will be mostly facilitator led, although the more experienced participants will be encouraged to share their experiences with others. Week 7-10 (8 contact hours): Brief introduction to HTML and HTTP; Introduction to freeware/shareware tools to help build simple web pages; How to link web pages together to build a web site; How to build more powerful Web pages; Brief introduction to CSS/DHTML. (As it is unlikely that the university will provide web space for this activity, participants will need to find and use their own Web space. Normally, it is possible to get free Web space by registering for some advertising-related services.) The logbook must be published as a Web page (although there need not be an explicit link from the participant's 'public' Web page to it). The logbook should exemplify what the participant has learned from this activity. Then the logbook for each activity may also be published on-line. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Noel Grima (Co-ord.) Christopher D. Staff (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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