Introduction to Computers
AAECTS1_209_ZI_S2 09-10 stands for a one-term course aiming at the full-time and open distance students at the Faculty of Economics, specialised in the Economy of Trade, Tourism and Services - undergraduate studies. The course covers one semester and includes two lectures of two hours and two laboratories of two hours weekly. The main objective of this course is to determine all students to assimilate the basic concepts of informatics, such as history of informatics, hardware and software notions, what is and how works an operating system (type of operating systems), user interface (CLI vs. GUI), Information and Data Processing, Representing and structuring information, introduction into Development of programs, Data communications and multimedia, how to use Office Programmes (OpenOffice vs Microsoft Office) and Computer Networks and Communications.
Specific objectives:
- Knowledge, understanding, explaining and interpreting:
Acquisition of concepts and keywords information technology, by presenting the principles of digital computing systems, computer architecture, operating systems and common applications. Familiarity with modern concepts of the approach to IT projects and desktop applications. - Instrumental - Application:
Design and evaluation of discipline specific practical activities, use of methods, techniques and analysis tools applied in Computer Sciences. - Attitudes:
Course and practical work pursue skills improvement in computer operation, the preparation and selection of hardware products for their intended purpose: the design and implementation of written documents, presentations, spreadsheets, electronic and Internet communications.
Prof.univ.dr ing. Severin Bumbaru - T&L working group
Prof.univ.dr. ing. Viorel Ariton - T&L working group
Lect.univ.drd ing. Florin Postolache - contributor
Programmer Cristian Baciu
AAECTS1_209_ZI_S2 09-10 is a one - semester course where students learn basic concepts of informatics on a 2 – hour set of 2 lectures and 2 laboratories each week. The course is uploaded on issuu.com and linked on Syllabus. It is always accessible to students, so they need to read about it before attending the lecture. During the course, the concepts referred to are discussed and explained. All matters arising are cleared and understood. A part of the laboratory practice is performed in a computer lab. Students are always working in compliance with the theme and data requirements. All content is recorded and posted on the Syllabus so that students can access it anytime. Once in two weeks, students have the self-assessment tests of the concepts presented in class and also make a theme in Google Docs, working in teams by three according to the requirements and concepts taught in the laboratory. The formative assessment can be made anytime and students benefit by an unlimited submission of the formative assessments. During the semester students have two evaluations that will help to round the final mark. The final grade is structured as follows: 20% from 2 evaluations during the semester, 40% from practical evaluations performed in the laboratory and 40% from the final examination.
The course is taught entirely on Sakai. Some students attend lectures and participate in laboratory works, others only participate in those activities online. Both groups of students use the same tools and can work together.
We use all available resources to facilitate collaboration and learning concepts presented in classes and laboratories.
Wiki, chat room, forums, and messages are used but with limited success. Weekly the students have an online consultation meeting with the aim of clarifying aspects of the course or laboratory perspectives. Also, the “Recent Announcements” area is used to warn students whenever is necessary. Each amendment to the course or the laboratory is done with an announcement, and automatically using message systems on idanubius - a collaborative platform.
All courses and laboratory materials are available on the Sakai platform. Because of the integration of Sakai platform into Danubius portal, we can communicate with students using various tools, both during and outside of course. Students are also encouraged to use the tools at their disposal, and are crucial to encourage teamwork.
Written materials and concepts discussed in the lab are always available and are comprehensible both in terms of structure and content. Each material clearly identifies and approaches concepts pertaining to the course components, the overall course structure and sequence, each lesson’s structure and sequence, and course and lesson expectations.
At Danubius University of Galati, Sakai was installed in September 2009, so this was among the first attempts to achieve a complete course on Sakai. The course site was made while learning to use various tools in Sakai and it has defined goals and has provided ample activities for good practice. It was a new experience for all - teachers and students. After the first assessment, the feedback was good and the students were excited about the methods of examination and dissemination of knowledge. Throughout the formative assessments, we could obtain an evidence of the assessment accessing but also a statistical result subsequent to the tests, so we should continuously reveal tender spots through using the material lecture and thus, insist more on such issues. We can also advise students who have obtained negative results to further their notions missing or not properly mastered. Also, student-student and students- teacher communication develops reciprocity and cooperation. Students can collaborate and share their solutions, so they get feedback from both teacher and other students.
Lecture and laboratory materials are well structured and easy to peruse. Courses are completed and discussed in classes, students talking freely about the concepts presented and misunderstandings are removed. In addition to the presentation used during the lecture, students can watch the online course. Laboratory hours are required and can also be tracked in an off-hour scheme because of their being recorded and posted.
All necessary information on how to access the course and resources is very clearly presented, students are notified when added to the course with tools provided.
The biggest innovation in teaching is that use Sakai platform, the platform behind a study that we adopted. The main educational strategy, which was on the basis for achieving the site, was collaboration and socialization among students. Class are made by 24 students. Being grouped by 3 for some assessments, students learn to work in team and each contributes to the assessment work. Teamwork is possible on iDanubius, a portal that allows to design documents in collaboration. Because laboratory classes are filmed, they ensure the possibility of accessing and viewing topics presented, providing an opportunity for recovery concepts and knowledge discussed.
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