IT Tools and Techniques
Module outline
This module teaches a range of software productivity tools, including document authoring tools, data presentation and calculation tools, tools, presentation tools and graphics creation tools. It explores the use of these tools in work and educational environments. It provides extensive hand-on practice with the tools with the aim of bringing students to an advanced user level.
Aims
Students entering study at level three often do not have the required level of basic IT skills to successfully complete further study at levels 4, 5 and 6. This module aims to develop foundation year students’ IT skills to a level that enables them to work effectively at more advanced levels of study.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module a student will be expected to be able to:
- Explain the role of IT tools in a workplace and educational context.
- Demonstrate awareness of currently available open source and proprietary productivity tools.
- Use document authoring tools to effectively perform a range of work and study tasks
- Use presentation tools to create advanced level presentations.
- Use spreadsheets to display data and make calculations.
- Use graphics creation tools to create effective graphics.
Syllabus
- IT Tools in the Workplace and in Higher Education
- Open source versus Proprietary IT Tools.
- Document Authoring Tools and Techniques
- Presentation Creation Tools and Techniques
- Data Presentation using Spreadsheets
- Graphics Creation Tools and Techniques
- Integrating Data and Graphics into Presentations and Documents.
Prerequisites
None
Timetables
Indicative timetables can be found in the handbooks available on programme pages. Personalised teaching timetables for students are available via My Birkbeck.
Coursework
Two practical IT tasks.
Assessment
40% Coursework
60% Class test
Recommended reading
None