TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MOMBASA

CCI 4101 – Computer Systems and Information Literacy

Lecturer’s Name: Hassan Shee Phone: +254 727948172 Email: hshee@tum.ac.ke

Course Purpose
To acquire an understanding of computer systems hardware and software and develop skills necessary
for efficient usage of software tools. In addition, the course will equip students with the necessary skills
to be able to search, retrieve, evaluate, and use information obtained from different sources effectively
and ethically with the ultimate goal of making them independent lifelong learners.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain fundamental computing concepts
2. Identify, describe computer hardware components of a personal computer.
3. Explain the role of operating systems, systems and application software, and communication
systems.
4. Demonstrate competency in word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, multimedia, and
creation of reports.
5. Identify types of information resources in a variety of formats and explain their characteristics
6. Assess the suitability of an information resource using a variety of criteria
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and security issues surrounding information use

Course Plan

Week Topic Key Coverage

1 Introduction  Course outline, definition, computers overview; Computer Terminologies;

2 History of computer
development
3 Computer System
Models
4 Number Systems &
Data representation
5 Computer Softwares
6 CAT 1
 Components of the computer; Hardware; software;
 Advantages and disadvantages; Computer applications areas
 History & classification of computers
 Assignment 1
 General Purpose, Special Purpose and the von Neumann models.
 Computer Organization: central unit, input-output devices, memory, data
transfer between components and interfaces, Computer specs
 Decimal, binary, octal and hexadecimal.
 Data types – text, numbers, images, audio, video and their representation,
 Numbers unsigned, signed, one’s complement and two’s complement IEEE
floating point representation.
 Software Classification
 Operating systems Basics of Windows, UNIX and Linux operating systems;
Computer Viruses:
Covers key areas in topics for week 1 – 5

7 Application software Word processing, spread-sheets, presentations.

8
9 Information Types of information resources – (primary, secondary and tertiary sources)
resources Classification and arrangement of materials in the library
Use of catalogue i.e. OPAC

1
 10 Internet  Web browsers
 Online databases
 Institutional repositories
 Subject databases
 Open and subscribed e-books and e-journals
 Information search techniques- Use of keywords and search terms, Boolean
operators
11 CAT 2 Covers key areas in topics for week 7 – 10

12 Evaluation of  Criteria for evaluation printed resources

Information  Criteria for evaluation of electronic resources
Resources
13 Information security  Legal issues relating to use of information
 Copyright laws (national and international)
 Censorship
 Plagiarism
14 Assignment 1  Research based practical assignment
Revision & Discussion
15 – 16 EXAM End Semester examinations

Course assessment

# Students Assessment Mode Marks

1 CATs and Assignment 30%
2 End of Semester Exam 70%

Core Text Books

i. Brookshear, J. G., Smith, D. T., & Brylow, D. (2015). Computer science: an overview (12th ed.).
Boston; Munich: Pearson. ISBN: 1292061162.
ii. Dale, N., & Lewis, J. (2016). Computer science illuminated (6th ed.). Burlington; MA: Jones &
Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 1284055914.
iii. Schneider, G. M., Gersting, J. L., & Brinkman, B. (2016). Invitation to computer science (7th ed.).
ISBN: 1305075773.
iv. Ceruzzi, P. E. (2012). Computing: A concise history. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. ISBN:
9780262310383
v. Denning, P. J., & Martell, C. H. (2015). Great principles of computing. Cambridge, Massachusetts:
The MIT Press. ISBN: 9780262527125
vi. Lanning, S. (2012). Concise guide to information literacy. Santa Barbara, Calif:Libraries
Unlimited. ISBN:9781598849493

2
Core Journals
i. The CSI Journal on Computer Science and Engineering. ISSN: 1735-9031.
ii. Journal of Computing and Information Technology. ISSN: 1330-1136.
iii. Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology. ISSN: 2334-2366.

Recommended Text Books

i. White, R., & Downs, T. (2014). How Computers Work (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson
Education. ISBN: 078974984X.
ii. Matthews, C. B., Matthews, M. S., & Cronan, J. (2013). Microsoft Office 2013. ISBN: 0071805877.
iii. Shelly, G. B., & Vermaat, M. (2013). Discovering computers: fundamentals (Intl. ed.). Boston,
Mass.: Course Technology. ISBN: 1133596452.

Recommended Journals
i. Computing and Informatics Journal. ISSN: 1335-9150.
ii. Journal of Computer Science and Technology. ISSN: 1000-9000.
iii. International Journal of Computing. ISSN: 1727-6209.