COURSE SYLLABUS:

1. Introduction to Computers
o History and development of computers
- Types of computers (analogue, digital, hybrid)
- Classification of digital computers (micro, mini, mainframe and super
computer)
o Impact of computers and the internet on society
o Introduction to programming languages (high level, medium level and low
level) concepts of compiler, interpreter and assembler.
2. Computer Components
o Central Processing Unit (CPU),
- Control Unit (CU),
Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)
- Busses: Data bus, Address bus, Control bus
o Primary/Main memory (RAM, ROM) Secondary memory,
o Input/output devices,
o Ports: serial and parallel ports
o Motherboard
3. Input/output Devices
o Input devices:
- Key board, mouse, joystick, scanner, trackball, light pen, voice
microphone, digital video camera, disk drive
o Output devices:
- Monitors, printers and their kinds (daisy wheel, line, electrostatic,
inkjet, electro thermal and laser), plotters, CD writer, disk drive (concept
of soft copy and hard copy)
4. Storage Devices
o Main memory:
- RAM, ROM, SIMM, DIMM
o Memory units:
- Bits, byte (K bytes, M
bytes, G bytes and T bytes).
- Secondary memory;
- Floppy disk, hard disk,
compact disk, magnetic tape.
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5. Computer Software
o Types of software:
- System software (operating system, programming language translator,
service software and examples),
- Application software,
o DOS Commands:
- Executable Files, EXE, COM and BAT,
 - DIR with Switches, CLS, DATE, TIME, COPY, VER,
DEL, TYPE, FORMAT, COPY PRINT, SYS, CHKDSK, EDIT,
XCOPY, DELTREE, PROMPT, REM,
o Create or make directory,
o Remove/Delete command, and other commonly
used commands,
o Paths.

6. Network & Communications

o Types of network
o Network topologies
o Communication channels
o Communication models

7. Introduction to WINDOWS
o Startup process of WINDOWS,
o Components of WINDOWS:
- Title bar,
- Status bar,
- Scroll bars,
- Menu bar,
- Dialog boxes,
o Familiarization with WINDOWS icons:
- My Computer,
- Recycle Bin,
- Start Button,
- Control Panel,
- Other sub menus,
- Clicking the start button, beginning with taskbar,
- Shut down process,
o Demonstration of installation procedure for WINDOWS,
o Computer security
- Viruses and anti-virus, security risks, social and ethical issues.
8. Computer Application (Word Processor)
o Introduction to word processing,
o Loading a word processing program (MS WORD):
- Typing, saving, exiting,
- Text formatting,
- Document formatting,
- Blocking, moving blocks of text,
- Indenting,
- Fonts, page layout, printing.

9. Data Representation
o Data definition:
- Numeric, alphabetic and alphanumeric
o Number systems:
- Decimal, Binary, Octal & Hexadecimal
 o Number system conversion
o Representation of numbers using (1’s) and (2’s) complements
o Binary arithmetic:
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
o Fixed and floating point number representation
o Code:
- Coding scheme (Binary Coded Decimal, ASCII)

10. Boolean Algebra

o Boolean constant, variable, logical operators, Boolean expressions,
Boolean functions
o Laws and theorems of Boolean algebra
o Truth tables
o Simplification of Boolean functions, laws and Karnaugh maps
11. Problem Solving
o Defining the problem
o Analysis of the problem, illustrated with examples
o Algorithms
o Flow charts:
- Flow charts symbols, examples of flow charts using daily life
applications
o Computer programming:
- Conversion of flow chart, algorithm into computer language
instructions
o Running and debugging programs
o Implementation
o Documentation
12. Data Types Assignment (INPUT/OUTPUT) Statement
o Character sets, reserved words, commands and statements
o Numeric and strings
o Constants and variables
o Operators: arithmetic, relational and logical
o Hierarchy of operators, expressions
o Arithmetic, relational and logical
o Assignment statements
o Input, READ-DATA
o PRINT, PRINT USING
13. Control Statements
o Go to, ON – GO TO
o If – Then – Else, on Error – Go to…
o For … Next statement, While and Wend statement, Loops and nested
loops
14. Arrays
o One and two – dimensional arrays
o Reading, writing and manipulation of arrays
15. Sub-Program and File Handling
o Functions:
- Built-in functions (ABS, INT, RND, SQR, LOG, EXP, SIN, COS,
TAN, CINT, INT, SGN, FIX, HEX$, LEFT$, MID$, CHR$,
STR$, TIME$, INKEY$, SPACE$) and user defined functions
o Subroutines
o Reading and writing into files

16. Graphics
o Sketching and drawing of graphics using utilities such as DRAW and COLOR
o Generating lines, rectangles, circles etc.

PRACTICALS

- Writing a program to demonstrate simple arithmetic operations (e.g.

calculation of the area of a triangle, volume of a cylinder and speed of an
object, conversion of temperature from °C to °F and vice-versa).
- Writing a program to demonstrate the use of formatted input/output
statements, (calculation of class grades for different students, selection of the
largest number out of given 10 numbers without using a list).
- Writing a program that uses iteration statements (write a program that reads 5
values from user and find the mean value and compare the mean value against
an actual value of 9.8 meters/sec2).
- Writing a program that reads 10 values into an array and after doing some
arithmetic operations, prints the desired results.
- Repeating Experiment No.3 using a sub-routine, named average and call this
sub-routine in the main program.
- Drawing a line, a circle and a rectangle using system defined built-in functions
for graphics.
- Familiarization of DOS commands (external commands)
- Familiarization of DOS commands (internal commands)
- Demonstration of the installation of WINDOWS.
- Demonstration of computer components: (cards, motherboards, buses,
connectors, serial ports and other important ICs).
- Familiarization with WINDOWS (all the WINDOWS icons) including
shutdown process.
- Use of the mouse.
- Opening, creating, saving, editing, deleting and printing files in MS-WORD.
- Opening, creating, saving, editing, deleting and printing files in MS-EXCEL.
Entering formulas, creating charts and formatting chart.
- Opening, saving, preparing presentation slides and modifying files in MS-
POWER POINT.
- Introduction to MS-ACESS.