Week 1

Lecture Overview :-

There were two parts to this lecture. one being the introduction to the course and the second about basic computing.

1. Indroduction

The first lecture, for the UPC0004 course, introduced us to what this unit provides. There are 6 modules that we will cover throughout the semester. These are :-

• Using Computers
• Online Research Strategies
• Communications
• Information Management
• Building Knowledge
• Social and Ethical Issues

By completing the tasks set in these modules I will learn how to effectivly use a computer and this will help prepare me for university as an undergraduate.

The assessment for UPC0004 is based on two assignments and one exam. We have a journal(learning log) that is due in week 13 and compensates for 40% of our final mark. Our second assignment is completed as a group, is worth 30% and is due in week 8. The rest of the final mark is based on our performance in the exam and is worth a further 30% towards our grade.

In order to achieve the best possible grade we were shown a list of responsibilities that we must try and adhere to. These are :-

• Attend Lectures
• Complete all Workshops
• Know the ECU Plagiarism Policy
• Check ECU email regularly
• Log on to Blackboard regularly

We were also shown a list of emails that can be used to communicate with our lecturers and tutors if needed.

2. Module One - Using Computers

Here the lecturer talked about basic computing.

PC's have become very important in every aspect of our lives; especially for business, personal productivity and leisure. As a University student we will need computers for research, word processing, creating presentations and communicating with peers, tutors and the outside world.

In UPC0004 we will need to have:-

• MyECU profile
• A USB (thumb-drive)
• ECU email account
• Internet Access from home

The required and aquired skills we will be learning in this course will give us the ability to use computers effectivly and teach us basic computing knowledge. The following areas will help us to gain these skills:-

• Windows OS
• MS Office applications (MSWord, Excel and MSPowerpoint)
• SIMO
• Blackboard
• File Formats and the applications that use them
• File/Document managment and retrieval
• Searching and Finding information on the World Wide Web
• Endnote

Tutorial Overview :-

1. Log into SIMO by visiting the ECU website http://www.ecu.edu.au/

Here we had to make sure our log in information was working. Once it was we had to use SIMO to check our enrolment details, our timetable of activities (labs, lectures etc) and then send an email to our teacher to confirm our email addresses were operational.

Screenshot of me accessing my enrolment details :-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

Screenshot of me accessing my timetable:-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

Screenshot of my sent email folder showing that the test email worked and was recieved:-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

2. Set up a web blog at http://www.blogger.com/

For one of our assessments we must write a blog, each week of UPC004, detailing what we learnt that week and outlining the tutourial activities we completed. To do this blog we must first set up an account at the chosen blogging site.

Screenshot of me setting up an account at http://www.blogger.com/:-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

3. Set up an image storage account at http://www.imageshack.us/

In order to provide proof that we did the tutourial activities or to help explain certain aspects in our blogs; pictures and screen captures may be needed. To transfer these images onto our blogs an account with imageshack is required.

Screenshot of me setting up an account at http://www.imageshack.us/:-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

4. Produce a Screen Capture

The process of doing this is simple. Put simply you press the print screen button on your keyboard, go into an image program like MS Paint, right click the mouse and select paste, edit or crop the image however you would like and then save it into your files as a JPEG. To insert the picture into your blog you must upload it on image shack and copy and paste the image code into your blog before you publish it.

My Screen Capture:-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

Edited/Cropped:-

By danijolly22 at 2008-03-23

Reading overview :-

1. PC Lube and Tune

The following website http://www.yale.edu/pclt/default.htm is a site which provides the viewer with articles relating to the introduction, tutourial and education of computers and their software. I think the articles provided could be both useful for the beginner and an experienced person wanting to enhance their computer knowledge. Topics include An Introduction to PC Hardware, The Graphic User Interface, and the Microsoft .NET Framework.

2. How Stuff Works

http://www.howstuffworks.com/pc.htm is a site that provides the viewer with information on how the computer actually works. The site explains all the different components of a computer and their functions. Some of the main components that make a computer run are the CPU, Motherboard, Memory, Harddisk and Operating System. The site goes on to explain how computers connect with the outside world; via the use of ports, removable storage and the internet. The site provides much more information such as what happens when you turn on the computer or even the future of computers. I found reading this was quite boring but i am sure it would be very useful for people that need it.