PHY1008 Computing I

1999-2000

Assessment Methods

Class and home assignments (60% ) and two class tests (40% )

Rationale

All students require some information technology (IT) skills, e.g. e-mail and use of the Internet. It is now a basic life-skill. Physicists require computer literacy to enable them to write technical reports which include technical drawings and equations, to analyse experimental data, and to use computers for problem solving. In addition, physicists in the work place will need to access and manipulate the information available in databases and also to make full use of the Internet.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• use a word-processing application to type letters, produce scientific reports which include diagrams and mathematical equations;
• use a spreadsheet to manipulate experimental data in both a statistical and graphical way;
• use a database to extract data;
• use a spreadsheet to solve equations using the matrix method;
• transfer information between a PC and an Apple Mac;
• send and receive e-mail and use the "Internet";
• design a simple Web page using HTML.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The module is practically based. Comprehensive work sheets have been produced for each session and demonstrators are present to answer any queries that may arise during the organised sessions. Students are encouraged to work at their own speed depending on their previous computer experience. This means that students with next to no computer experience will require to spend more time than their more experienced counterparts outside the class sessions to complete the assignments contained in the work sheets. The students' assignments are marked during the sessions by the demonstrators who are there to discuss with individual students any questions that arise from the marking exercise.

Transferable Skills

IT skills, self-study, problem solving, time management, information retrieval, communication skills.

Assignments

Worksheets to be completed at a rate of approximately one per week.

Module Text

Supplementary Reading

Syllabus Plan and Content

1. The Macintosh Graphical User Interface
   the mouse, creating and deleting folders, formatting a disk, finding a file (folder), copying a file onto a disk, ejecting a disk, starting-up and shutting-down the system
2. Setting up a private account on the file-server
3. Word processing using Microsoft Word
   the keyboard, ribbon and ruler, selecting text, copying and embedding one document in another, symbols and equations, getting help, tables, drawing, style, letters.
4. Transferring files between PCs and Macs
5. Spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel
   graph plotting, linear regression analysis, statistical analysis, bar charts, histograms, simple modelling, Binomial, Poisson and Gaussian distributions, solution of linear equations using matrix inversion
6. Electronic mail
7. Databases
   creating and sorting, searching and extracting records
8. Use of the Internet
9. Writing a simple Web page using HTML.

Feedback to Students

Feedback occurs during the practical session via demonstrators and students are able to monitor their own learning by attempting the assignments and having them marked. Two Continuous Assessment tests allow students to gauge their level of progress.

Feedback from Students

Feedback from students on the module is gathered via the standard student representation mechanisms.