IPT+STUDY+GUIDE

The preliminary IPT course is made up of two parts Part 1: information processes and tech, includes the theoryabout information systems and computing technology, the manipulation of dataand the tasks involved in the development of an information system. Part 2: requires hands on skill development in the use of aseries of software applications. Students are required to undertake twoprojects, one concerning an information system for personal use and the other,an information system for group use. These projects are designed to provide apivot for the development of technical, communication management and problemsolving skills. =Preliminary structure:.= •Information systems in context •Information processes •The nature of data and information •Reasons for digital data representation •Social and ethical issues •Collecting •Organising •Analysing •Storing and Retrieving •Processing •Transmitting and Receiving •Displaying •Integration of processes •Traditional stages in developing a system •Complexity of systems •Roles of people involved in systems development •Social and ethical issues || This link will helpyou understand the outcomes and structure of the course: [] It issuggested that students invest in an A4 binder book for their notes. Handoutsare RARELY given out in this subject a concerted attempt is to include ALLnotes web sheets. If students choose to print out the material keptherein, this also fine. A document wallet of clip binder sleeves would makethis easier. A calculator and pen pencil combo is also useful much of the timewe will be drawing diagrams. An Internet Connection at home WILL assiststudents in this subject as the COURSE MATERIAL and SOFTWARE is delivered viathe net.
 * // IPT STUDY GUIDE... //**
 * **Introduction to Information Skills and**
 * Systems (20%)**
 * Tools for Information Processes (50%)**
 * Developing Information Systems (30%)**
 * What do I need to study this subject? **** A: **IPT is a mixture of theory and hands onactivities. A typical class lesson would involve taking notes and doing stuffon the computer.
 * What are the pre-requisites? **** A: ****// IPT has NO formal pre-requisite subjects. There are no recommendedcourses that lead to IPT. No pre-knowledge is assumed when starting out in IPT.It is assumed, however, that you have a good grasp of English and your maths isalso acceptable - during the course you will learn a number of new, technicallanguages and will be immersed in complex problem solving //**
 * What is the work load like? **** A: ****// Heavy and irregular. Students are engaged in a variety of problemsolving tasks, some minor class tasks, others major projects involving complexsystem development. Often, major projects require significant investment ofout-of-class time. Although homework is not set every night, successfulstudents of IPT are able to find consolidation work each night. Class projectsare taken up t a point where students CAN finish them and then the teacherassumes students WILL complete and extend them. Students need to beself-motivated and be able to work productively in groups and solo. //**

=Key terms and concepts.=
 * How is the content organised? **** A: ****// The course isdivided into 2 Major Year-long Units: Databases including database manipulationdatabase design and artificial intelligence Programming algorithms and softwaredevelopment accompanying the years topics, are minor topics Human ComputerInteraction and Social/Ethical Issues. Each unit compliments the other majorunits are discrete and assessed separately minor topics are integrated with themajor topics and seen as global topics. //**


 * **// bit depth //** || **The number of bits devoted to each pixel For example, 256 colors requires 8 bits.** ||
 * **// certainty factors //** || **A means by which an expert system deals with partial or uncertain information. They are usually built in by the knowledge engineer or entered by the user when using the system. A certainty factor of 1 means the expert or user is completely certain of the information, while a certainty factor of 0 means they are completely uncertain or have ‘no opinion’ on the certainty of the information.** ||
 * **// CNC lath //** || **Computer Numerically Controlled lath.** ||
 * **// Damping //** || **The process of modifying the magnitude of the response of a system that is controlled by a computer.** ||
 * **// data mining //** || **The use of data analysis tools to try to find the patterns in large transaction databases.** ||
 * **// data warehouse //** || **Hardware and software that extracts data from a transaction database and stores it separately for analysis and archival purposes rather than transaction processing.** ||
 * **// display //** || **Used in a broad sense to include all output from an information system. Includes not only printed and video output, but also audio output and electronic signals that control a device.** ||
 * **// end user(s) //** || **Those people in the organization who the real users are running application programs, generating reports and so on, to help them do their jobs.** ||
 * **// entity //** || **A specific thing about which an information system collects information.** ||
 * **// flash memo //** || **A semiconductor device that stores and modifies data while the computer is operating, but that also retains data when the computer is turned off.** ||
 * **// grandfather, father, son //** || **A backup procedure that enables generations of backups where the most recent backup is the son, the second last is the father, and the oldest is the grandfather. When the next backup is due, the grandfather media will be used becoming the new son.** ||
 * **// guided processes //** || **Features in software that assist the user complete a task, such as wizards and the like.** ||
 * **// head-up displays //** || **Specialized displays originally developed for military applications. They have been used in some automobiles to project auto control panel information in front of the driver instead of forcing the driver to look down.** ||
 * **// including //** || **All items in the list should be covered. Additional items may be added.** ||
 * **// intelligent agent //** || **An autonomous, goal-directed computerized process launched into a computer system or network to perform work while other processes are continuing.** ||
 * **// metadata //** || **Information defining data in the information system.** ||
 * **// methodical //** || **Performing a task in a systematic way.** ||
 * **// namely //** || **Only listed items should be covered. No other items should be added.** ||
 * **// such as //** || **Items in the list are only examples, they need not be the ones covered in a teaching program.** ||
 * **// Teleconferencing //** || **The use of electronic transmission to permit same-time, different-place meetings.** ||
 * **// view //** || **The restricted portion of the database, visible to the user, allowing them to complete a task that requires access to the database.** ||

tech
Informationtechnology has had an enormous impact on our lives in the way we write lettersdo our banking, shop, design, manufacture and communicate with businesses andfriends over seas.

Information tech in context
Informationtechnology involves the processing of information within a system and includeselectronic hardware and software. The processes are carried out within a given environmentand they need to have a specified purpose for being carried out.

Computer hardware
Hardwarecomprises the physical components that make up a computer Theseinclude: *Theperipheral devices witch can be input or output devices * Processingdevices such as the CPU witch contains the ALU, control unit and the clock andtemporary memory registers processing turn’s data that is input intoinformation that is out put.
 * Storage devices such as the floppy disk, hard disk, CD ROMdisks, DVD disks, magnetic tap and ROM.

Types of computers
Computersrange in size and power from the smallest personal PC or desktop computer tothe largest and most powerful supercomputer, where the speed of the processingis measured in MIPS. (Millions of instructions per second).
 * TYPE OF COMPUTER || SPEED OF PROCESSING || DESCRIPTION OF USE || EXAMPLES OF USE || SIZE AND PORTABILITY ||
 * Super computer ||  || NASA ||   || NOT PORTIBAL ||
 * Mainframe ||  || COMPONYS ||   || NOT PORTIBAL ||
 * Minicomputer ||  || HOME USER, COMPONY ||   || PORTIBAL BUT TRICKY ||
 * microcomputer ||  || HOME USER ||   || PORTIBAL ||


 * 2 Rationales for Information Processes andTechnology in the Stage 6 Curriculum **
 * Information systems and the role they play in society have increasedin significance in recent years. The raw ingredients – information, informationtechnology and participants – combine to form information processes withininformation systems. The area of information systems has provided major jobsgrowth for both women and men in recent years. Moreover, fields which have nottraditionally been associated with computers – but in which processinginformation is a vital function – are emerging as exciting new areas ofemployment. These include music, the arts, science and technology as well asnew and fast-growing industries that use multimedia.**
 * The Information Processes and Technology Stage 6 courses, teachesstudents about information-based systems. It covers the processes ofcollecting, organising, analysing, storing and retrieving, processing,transmitting and receiving, and displaying, as well as the technologies thatsupport them. With this background, students will be well placed to adapt tonew technologies as they emerge.**
 * Through this course, students will gain a good working knowledge of:**
 * •The key concepts of data, information and systems**
 * •The interactive nature of effective information-based systems**
 * •Available and emerging information technologies**
 * •The social and ethical issues associated with the use of information technologyand information systems, such as equity and access, privacy, freedom ofinformation and copyright**
 * •The communication, personal and team skills necessary to ensure that aninformation systems solution is appropriate for the needs of the users**
 * •Related issues such as project management, documentation and user interfaces.**


 * On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:**
 * •select the most appropriate technology for a given situation**
 * •design and implement an information-based system using a creative andmethodical approach.**


 * This course complements another Stage 6 course, Software Design andDevelopment, which focuses on the design and development of software solutions.**
 * Studentswho successfully complete Information Processes and Technology will beconfident, competent and discriminating users of information processes andinformation technology. They will appreciate the nature of information, itsethical use and its impact on many aspects of life. As such, they will be wellprepared to pursue further education and employment across an especially widerange of contexts. **

= Information systems and Database =
 * What the informationsystem diagram looks like and the many components that makes it up.**
 * That an informationsystem provides an interface for a user to obtain information from inputteddata. Database management systems form the largest proportion doinformation systems.**
 * The characteristicsare that the data is organised into information and then the process ofanalysing the information to derive knowledge.**
 * The emphasis in thistopic is on the processes of organising, storing and retrieving with databasesystems and hypermedia.**
 * Create, modify orrepresent an existing relational database in a schematic diagram**
 * Describe thesimilarities and differences between flat-file and relational databases**
 * Create a datadictionary for a given set of data**
 * Demonstrate anawareness of issues of privacy, security and accuracy in handling data andidentify and apply issues to these issues.**
 * Compare and contrasthypermedia and databases for organising data**
 * Design and develop astoryboard to represent a set of data items and links between them**
 * Search a databaseusing relational and logical operators**
 * Construct an SQL queryto select data from a given database, matching given criteria**

= Project plan = **Whoare the participants and who manage and complete the tasks?** **Whatare the goals and objectives??** **Howresources will be used and the methodologies used when each stage is commencedand finished?**
 * Helpful tips to help with yourprojects. **
 * The plan should be SAMbased specified, achievable and measurable!**
 * Key Terms that appearin chapter 1 of your text, which are explained in the glossary in pages 267through to 278.**
 * The system development cycle?**
 * 1) **understanding the problem:the preliminary investigation, what modelling means: use of the prototype**
 * 2) **communication skills: what are active listening,conflict resolution, negotiation skills, interview techniques, team building**
 * 3) **making decisions: the feasibility study whichincludes financial, technical, schedule, organisational constraints, what areand how to use analysis report, identify resources, tool forplanning such as Gantt chart**
 * 4) **Designing solutions: typesof participant-based solutions, tools for designing such as contextdiagrams, data flow diagrams, system flow diagrams, decision trees, decisiontables, and data dictionaries.**
 * 5) **Implementing: implementation plan, what are and whya conversion method such as direct, parallel, phased, pilot would be used. Whatare and the importance of participant training, data conversion, systemtesting, user documentation**

Students
 * Documentation tool for planning? **
 * Gantt chart.**
 * Social and ethical issues? **
 * Social and ethical issues are vital and need to b considered at eachstep of the development cycle. These issues include privacy, equity, accuracyof data, security of data, changing nature of work, occupational health andsafety and ergonomics, copyright laws, freedom of information. Also the workenvironment of ergonomics and the human centred or machine centred system**.
 * Students should identify the purpose for theinformation system, the participants, data/information and informationtechnology that work with the information processes. **
 * Be able to apply the learning to a problem. The benefitsof a system that is computerised. The processes that occur through out thedevelopment cycle. **
 * How to construct and understand the range of tools **
 * Link to helpful project management: **[|**http://www.slideshare.net/ldunphy/ipt-syllabus-changes-project-management**]**copy and paste into web browser**


 * System diagrams. **
 * 1: **


 * 2: **


 * System diagram for a car: **