736749821-CSEC-INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY-12-HOUR-CC-MAY-2024.pdf

CSEC INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
12 HOUR
CRASH COURSE

Agenda
1. Section 1 + past papers questions
4. Section 4 past papers questions
5. Section 5 past papers questions
7. Section 7&8 + past papers questions

Section 1:
Computer Fundamentals &
Information processing 1. Desktop systems e.g Dell OptiPlex 390 Desktop PC
2. Supercomputers e.g Cray 1
3. Mainframes e.g IBM zEnterprise System
4. Mobile devices e.g laptops
5. Embedded devices e.g GPS tracker, dishwasher
9/3/20XX Presentation Title 3
Types of Computer Systems

Hardware Components of a Computer
1. Input
2. Processing: CPU
3. Primary memory: RAM & ROM
4. Secondary storage
5. Output

Input Devices
Input devices function to communicate information to a computer or other information
processing devices. Input devices are types of peripheral devices that communicate with
processing units.
E.g Keyboard, Mouse, Joystick, Light pen, TrackBall, Scanner, Graphic Tablet,
Microphone, Magnetic Ink Card Reader(MICR), Optical Character Reader(OCR),
Barcode Reader, Optical Mark Reader(OMR)

The CPU is considered as the 'brain' of the computer system because it performs all types of data
processing operations.
The CPU stores data, intermediate results, and instructions (programs). The CPU controls all the
operations of all other parts of the computer systems.
The CPU has three components:
- Memory/Storage Unit
- Control Unit
- ALU: Arithmetic Logic Unit

CPU
Memory/ Storage
- stores all the data & instructions required for processing.
Control Unit
- it is responsible for controlling the transfer of data & instructions among
other units of a computer
- it manages and coordinates all units of
the computer
ALU
- consists of two sections: arithmetic section & logic section
- they perform arithmetic(+, -, /, x) and logical operations (comparing, selecting,
& merging data)

Units of Storage
A unit of storage/memory is the amount of data that can be stored in the storage unit. This storage capacity is
expressed in terms of Bytes.
Bit: A binary digit (a bit) is logical 0 or 1 representing a passive or an active (on/off) state of a component in an
electric circuit.
Bytes: A group of 8 bits is called byte. A byte is the smallest unit, which can represent a data item or a character.
- Kilobytes: (KB) 1 KB = 1024 Bytes
- Megabytes: 1 MB = 1024 KB
- Gigabytes: 1 GB = 1024 MB
- Terabytes: 1 TB = 1024 GB

Important Definitions
Hardware:
this is the term used to refer to all the physical parts of a computer.
Peripheral devices:
are those devices located outside of the CPU but are controlled by it. They are devices that are attached to the
computer system.

Important Definitions
Software: refers to computer programs that instruct the computer on how to work.
Application software: this is what instructs a computer to do a certain task/application. E.g Word processors &
spreadsheets.
System software: aka OS , operating system. It controls the hardware and how other systems work. E.g
Windows, Ios

IPOS Cycle
Computers are electronic devices that operate under the control of instructions (programs)
stored in its memory. Computers do four basic tasks:
● Accept data - input
● Manipulate data - processing
● Produce results after processing - output
● Store the data and results for future use - storage
These four tasks represent the IPOS cycle.
The IPOS cycle has that specific order: Input -> Processing -> Output -> Storage.

IPOS
The IPOS shows how the major hardware components work together within a computer system to make a
computer work:
1. Input
2. Output
3. CPU
4. Primary Memory: Ram & ROM
5. Secondary Storage

CLOUD & LOCAL STORAGE
Cloud Storage is:
A software application, owned by a 3rd party, that allows users to upload their data using the internet.
A service that allows users to store their data on remote storage servers, called “the cloud”.
On the cloud, users’ data is maintained, managed, backed up and made available to the users over a network such as the internet.
Local Storage:
Includes physical hardware. As its name suggests, local storage is kept nearby. In other words, storage is not remote. You are
responsible for your data storage & protection.

CLOUD & LOCAL STORAGE
Examples of Cloud Storage:
● Dropbox
● Google Drive
● Onedrive (Microsoft)
● iCloud (Apple)
Examples of Cloud Storage:
● Flash drives
● Hard disk drives
● CDs

Pros and Cons of Cloud Storage
- It’s inexpensive for the user
- Reduces the chance of data loss due to its backup system
- High usability & accessibility
- Greater storage capacity
- Easy data sharing
- Offers malware protection
*Vulnerable to hackers
*Vulnerable to hardware failure from the 3rd party
* Requires internet connection to access your data

Pros and Cons of Local Storage
- Your data is under your control; no 3rd parties involved
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive when storing limited amounts of data
*Need the hardware in order to access your data
*Hardware devices can be stolen or misplaced/lost
* Risk of damage from natural disasters

I/O

I/O
An output device is
a hardware device used to provide or display information from a computer system in a
human-readable form. This can be as text, images, videos or audio.
It’s basically a hardware device that we use to get information from the computer system.
E.g Monitors, printers

Types of Software
1. System Software
Aka Operating System (OS) because it controls the hardware and how the other software functions. System
software also includes UTILITY SOFTWARE which works to protect & maintain the system software.
2. Application Software
This is software that tells the computer to execute a specific task or application/job.
There are many types of application software:
- General Purpose Application Software
- Customized Software
- Custom-written Software / Bespoke / Tailor Made
- Specialized Software
- Integrated Software

USER INTERFACES
A user interface is what allows you, the user, to interact or communicate with the computer system.
SOFTWARE INTERFACES
There are four (4) main types of software interfaces:
• GUI (graphical user interface)
• Menu- driven
• Command-line or Command-driven
• Touch

USER INTERFACES
HARDWARE INTERFACES
Include touch screens, sensors, digital cameras and special keyboards.
However, these are also input devices. A game controller is an example of a hardware user interface.
The layout and design of the buttons, touch pad, joystick, and hand grips on the game controller all form the user interface
on the controller.

Data vs Information
• Data - is the raw facts and results/readings you get after conducting some activity or experiment.
E.g raw number readings obtained after taking the temperature of countries during the
month of July 32, 29, 33
• Information - is processed data. We take the data and give it meaning. After data is processed, it becomes
useful information. E.g the raw temperature reading can be useful to us when we give it meaning by using
the data to list the hottest countries in July and then use that info to pick your travel destination.

Data - all the reviews on / for a certain restaurant
Information - the average review on this restaurant.
Having this information, you can now use it to help
decide if you’ll give the restaurant a try or not.

Types of Documents
Machine-readable
Human-readable
Turn-around
Hardcopy
Softcopy

Validation vs Verification of Data
Validation of data is checking the input data for errors by using the computer and ensuring that the input data
conforms to the data rules or requirements of the system. So it is a computerized method of checking data for
errors...
Whereas
Verification of data is a way of ensuring that the user inputs what they intended to. That’s why some systems
require you to enter your password twice. They are performing a data verification check to test if the data
matches the both times you entered your password.

Validation vs Verification of Data
Valid: as in it matches a certain format/ data type. E.g the input data is a number when it should be a number.
Verified: as in the data is correct, accurate and free from errors. The email you entered the second time matches the one you
entered the first time. Verifying your email address.
Methods of Validation:
- The Range Check
- Reasonableness Check
- Data Type Check
- Consistency Check
- Presence Check
- Format Check
- Length Check
Methods of Verification:
- Proofreading (to identify & correct
typographical and transposition errors)
- Double Entry

FILE ORGANIZATION TYPES
● Payroll system
Includes files that store all the information on an employee’s paycheck such as their gross salary, deductions and net pay, etc
Sequential access method is best here.
● Real Time Systems
Such as air traffic-control systems and networked multimedia systems are systems in which correct functioning depends on the timely feedback.
Direct file access method is ideal for real time systems.
● Archiving
Is the process of moving data that is not longer in active use and moving it into long term storage.
Archived files may be accessed serially or directly.

Jan 2020 P2
RAM stores the instructions or the programs that are currently
being used on the system or by the user
permanently stores files using some type of secondary storage
media

Permanently stores the start-up instructions of the system. This is
non-volatile memory

Secondary
Direct
Secondary
Serial
Secondary
Random/Direct

9/3/20XX 36
Real-time processing involves receiving instantaneous feedback from the
information systems whereas batch processing involves
doing multiple jobs or copies in one go
Software user interfaces are those interfaces that are primarily programs or
software such as GUI or menu-driven whereas hardware
user interfaces are tangible such as peripheral devices for example a mouse
or special keyboard

Kilobyte -> Megabyte -> Gigabyte -> Terabyte

Jan 2021

Pharmaceutical industry and oil and gas exploration industry

Input
Input

Jan 2022
Ensures that data is free of errors and is what the user intended to
enter by methods such as double entry and proofreading
Ensures that data is correct in that it adheres to the rules and
specifications of the system eg it is in the correct format

Checks to see if the the input data is within the specified
range
months of the year being a
number between 1 and 12 inclusive so the range is 1-12
Checks to see if the the input data is consistent or free
from discrepancies
the entered age matches with
the calculated age using the inputted date of birth

Jan 2023

Sequential the files are most likely ordered
Serial the master file can be a form of a
records
Direct speed is important for this task

Jan 2024

June 2023

June 2021

June 2022

Section 2:
Computer Networks &
Web Technologies
A computer network is basically the term used to
describe connection of several computers and
devices together.
Networks connect computers to each other so they
can share resources such as peripheral devices like
printers and information.
Networks can have various sizes, connecting
thousands or just a few devices together.

Types of Networks
1. LAN
2. MAN
3. WAN
4. Mobile Networks

Wireless Network Technologies
Some common wireless network technologies are WI-FI, bluetooth, and hotspots.
Bluetooth replaces cables, and WiFi provides high speed wireless access to networks.
Bluetooth allows data exchange over short distances among wireless and wired devices.
A hotspot on the other hand, is a public area usually as small as a room or a public park and it allows internet
access via WLAN. WIFI hotspots are is usually set up at cafes, restaurants and other public places & you have
to be within a certain range to stay connected.

Privacy levels of Networks
Privacy levels of Networks
Intranet - very private
Extranet - private but gives access to authorized vendors etc
Internet - public network

Transmission media
This can be thought the same as communication channels because transmission
media are ways or media used to transmit data among computers.
You can use a cabled/wired method or a wireless method to transmit data.
However, wireless media comprise microwaves, satellite, and infrared waves.
Wireless media transmits the data through the air rather than through physical
cables as with wired (cabled) media.
Wired - Coaxial, Twisted pair, Fibre optics

Network components
These devices (components of a computer network) are used to connect to the internet.
Switch - used to increase the number of devices that can be connected to a router.
Router - this is needed if you are using more than one computer with a modem. A router is the component that directs the signal traffic in
a network.
Modem - modulator/demodulator is provided to you by your internet service provider or ISP. A modem functions to convert analogue
and digital signals between a landline and the internet.
NIC - network interface card- A NIC is a hardware component that provides a computer with a dedicated connection to a network and
can be used for cabled or wireless connections.

Web Technology Concepts
● WWW
● HTML
● HTTP
● Hyperlinks
● Web browser
● Web Servers
● Web Pages
● FTP
● URL
● Uploading & Downloading

June 2022

June 2023

June 2021

Jan 2024

Modem
Router
Cables/wires
Switch
The internet is the place where all the resources
are shared whereas the www gives us access to
those resources on the internet

Uniform resource locator
Protocol
domain name
webpage

Jan 2023

4
1
2
3

Private - Public
Limited users - Unlimited users
Requires authorization - Doesn’t require authorization
Costly to build - Not costly
Secure - Not secure

Jan 2022
LAN
MAN
WAN
LAN

An intranet is a private network that only allows the employees of
an organization access whereas an extranet allows access to outside
parties such as vendors, customers and stakeholder

Jan 2021
Fibre optics , coaxial,
twisted pair
fibre optics

Jan 2020
Simplex is when data can be transmitted in one direction only whereas half duplex
involves data being transferred in both directions but one direction at a time

Section 3:
Social & Economic
Impact of ICT
Computer security is very important in today’s
world. Businesses invest lots of capital to ensure
that their information is secure against threats,
hackers, and just any disaster (man-made or
natural) that might occur and cause them to lose
their valuable information.
The fear of losing their data and resulting
frustration and havok, is why organizations hold
securing their computer systems, data, and
networks in such a high regard.

Important Terms
• Vulnerability - a weakness in a computer system that can be exploited
• Threat - a potentially harmful action to the computer system
• Attack- any harmful or offensive action to a computer system or its
data
• Countermeasure - an action or step taken to prevent another action,
usually to prevent danger or an attack

Internal & External Vulnerabilities
Vulnerabilities of a computer system include:
1. Its hardware & software
2. Its users & data communications (methods of transmitting data e.g cables)
Vulnerabilities of a computer system and its data can be categorized as internal
weakness and external weakness.
Sources of External vulnerabilities:
3. Little to no protection of the systems and its data (from natural disasters or power
surges & spikes)
4. Terrorists’ activity that destroy buildings with computer systems

1. Sources of Internal vulnerabilities:
2. Failure to backup files/data
3. Human error (employees’ mistakes, erase data)
4. No protection from viruses (lack of anti-virus software)
5. Fraudulent behaviour by employees
6. Lack of passwords and ID authentication that grants only authorized access to the system.

Computer misuse by people/organizations
Certain people intentionally try to cause damage to others’ system and corrupt
or try to gain unauthorized access to them systems or network.
Some examples of intentional threats caused by people are:
• Hacking - Electronic Eavesdropping
• Phishing - Software and Music Piracy
• Industrial Espionage - Propaganda
• Identity theft
• DOS attack
• Financial abuse
• Cyberbullying

Countermeasures against computer threats
A countermeasure is an action or procedure that eliminates or prevents some danger or threat. In the computing
scope, it is something that mitigates the effects of the computer threats we discussed earlier.
There are physical measures such as backing up files and implementing other recovery systems or procedures,
setting up hardware firewalls, implementing intrusion detection systems on your devices, and using biometrics
to access the computer systems.
There are software measures such as having effective passwords and authentication/validation systems,
encrypting your data, establishing firewalls, and installing anti-virus and malware detection software.
There are also personal security practices such as verifying the authenticity of emails from companies or
unfamiliar persons, actually looking over and assessing website URLs for authenticity, restricting access to open
Wi-Fi networks, and securing mobile devices.

Health Concerns of IT in the workplace
I.T has impacted persons in the workplace in relation to their health and safety. There are some common issues
that working with computers have caused:
~ Repetitive strain injury (RSI) ~ Back problems
~ Eye problems ~ Stress

The Roles of Personnel in Computer-related
professions
The computer-related professions we’ll be looking at are:
- Networks engineers
- Computer Programmers
- Computer support specialists
- Computer system Analysts
- Software Developers
- Database Administrators, Network and System Administrators
- Web Developers
- Social media specialists

Jan 2020
A
B
C
D

Jan 2021

Jan 2022

Jan 2023

June 2023

June 2021

Section 4:
Web Page Design
What’s a webpage
A web page is a document that users can view by
using a web browser. Web pages contain text,
images, videos, and hyperlinks to other web pages
and files.
Web pages are usually written in a language called
HyperText Markup Language ( HTML). HTML is
not a programming language but it is a universal
language that was made specifically to design the
layout of web pages through the use of tags to
present text and images on the page.

HTML ?
HTML helps users share documents on the internet because using this
standard language, any web browser can read a basic HTML document.
They also help users link to other documents through the use of
hyperlinks.
Websites can be a standalone web page or be multiple web pages linked
together. So in the lesson, when I say ‘website’, I can mean either a
singular web page or multiple pages.

Jan 2023

Specimen P32

Productivity Tools
1. Word processing
2. Spreadsheets
3. Database management
4. Programming

Section 4:
Word Processing
JAN 2020 120

JAN 2021 Presentation Title 122

JUNE 2021 Presentation Title 128

Section 5:
Spreadsheets

Section 6:
Database Management
Database Terminology
Table/relation - the files in which data is stored;
consist of records
Record/row/tuple - a line of data that includes info
from each
field
Field/column - an attribute of the entity on which
data is
stored (e.g name field) or column in the table

More database Terminology
When creating your db tables and linking them together, you’ll come across the following terms:
Primary key - a unique identifier (field) that is used to find records e.g student ID field. No null
Secondary key - a key that is considered a candidate key for the primary key
Candidate key - can also be a primary key if it is unique. These keys are optional and can be excluded from a db table. They
can have null values and a table can have multiple of these. (Just another field(s) that can be used as the primary key).
Composite key - is a primary key that consists more than one field.
Foreign key - is the key field that needs to be present in two tables, to link them. This field enables the linking
tables/relations together.

Data types found in db tables
Numeric
This type deals with numbers e.g 25, 36, 40
Text
Allows long or short text- alphanumeric & special characters
Logical/Boolean = Yes/No
Can select only one of two values, either Yes or No, T/F

Data types found in db tables
Date/time
Date: dd/mm/yy and time information
Currency
Different money currencies - dollar, pound, euro
Data types tell what kind of data can be allowed or entered in the table and what operation the db can carry out
on or using the data.

Relationships in a Database
● one-to-one
Denoted by 1:1
This relationship occurs when the primary key or one record from one table links to one and only one
record of another table.
E.g one clerk links to only one employee record

Relationships in a Database
● one-to-many
Denoted by 1:M or 1:∞
This relationship occurs when one record from a table links to many records in another table. E.g one
student links to many courses because they are registered to many

MANIPULATING DATA IN A DATABASE
Here we’ll learn to create forms, reports and make queries.
FOR FORMS WE’LL LEARN TO:
(i) Use form wizard
(ii) select suitable fields
(iii) use subforms.
FOR QUERIES, WE’LL LEARN TO:
(i) use more than one criterion;
(ii) use select;
(iii) use a calculated field
(iv) two or more fields involving the use of relational and logical operators.
FOR REPORTS, LEARN TO:
(i) use report wizard;
(ii) sort, group,use statistical & summary features e.g count,sum,& average;
(iii) generate a report to screen, printer & file;
(iv) rename the report title.

Section 7&8:
Problem solving &
Programming

The program implementation process
1. Create source code by transforming your pseudocode algorithm using a programing
language e.d JAVA, Pascal
2. Identify errors & debug source code
3. Execute/run the program to test that the code is working properly i.e displaying error
messages when needed and producing the correct results
4. Maintain the program

Program errors
1. Syntax errors
2. Logic errors
3. Runtime errors

Data Tyes
Data types:
- Integer = a whole number e.gs 36, 25, 1
- Real/Double/ Float = a real number incl. decimal form e.g 30.9994
- Character = a singular keyboard character e.g A or 4 or ;
- String = a word or list of characters
- Boolean/Logical = True or False

A constant is a variable whose value does not change throughout the life of the program.
Its value remains constant.
E.g const
max = 100;
A variable then, is a ‘container’ used in the program to hold values. The values of variables
may change and be updated during the runtime of the program. Variables are used in the
calculations in the program.

Conditional Statements
E.g of IF THEN
if age < 18 then
print (“This person is a child”)
E.g of IF...THEN...ELSE
if age < 18 then
else
print(“This person is an adult”)

Conditional Statements
E.g of IF...THEN...ELSE If
if age < 18 then
else if age == 18
print(“This person is a young adult”)
else if age > 30 then
Print (“This person is an adult”)

Loops /Iterations
Looping Statements
These are aka iteration (Loops). We’ll be looking at these three types of iteration:
- For
For loops use a specified range, from start to stop, and carry out an action.
E.g: for num = 1 to 10 do
write (“I’m passing I.T with a grade 1”)
End for
Notice the range of the variable ‘num’. The loop will run 10 times, then break.

Loops /Iterations
- While
While loops do not use a specified range or does not have a predetermined number of times to
iterate. They are used when you only know the condition that stops the loop. E.g in C++:
x=10
while x > 0
print (“TSH for the win”)
x = x-1 // this will alter the value of x
End while

Loops /Iterations
Repeat...Until loops follow the syntax below:
repeat
Cost = cost + num
num = num - 2
until num = 0
So we are repeating the statements above, until the value of ‘num’ is 0.

Program Documentation
Documenting your code really is describing or explaining what the code does, how it functions.
This documentation commonly includes:
- The date the program was created/modified & author names
- An overview of the tasks and processes involved
Features of external documentation (user manual)
There is also user documentation which is written for the users.
User documentation should explain to the user how the program works and how to use it.
It includes instructions on how to input data into the program, format output, access the program features,
and how to understand system messages that may pop up.

Program Documentation
Features of internal documentation (program documentation)
- use of mnemonic, variable names,
- use of comments, indentation,
- effective use of white space
It is recommended that you write comments in your code as you are coding and not wait until the end
when the program is working, as you may forget certains things.

Thank you, guys, for attending
And wishing you all the very best in all your
exams !
Questions?
Miss Ariel

736749821-CSEC-INFORMATION-TECHNOLOGY-12-HOUR-CC-MAY-2024.pdf

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