Department of Textiles
UMIST
Manchester

Title of Course Unit - Computing

Degrees of which this Course Unit is a Component Part

BSc(Hons) Management & Marketing of Textiles.

BSc(Hons) Management & Marketing of Textiles with a Modern Language.

Level - 1

Credit Rating - 5

Pre-requisite Course Units - None

Course Units to which this Unit is a Pre-requisite - None

Criteria for Satisfactory Completion of Course Unit

Assessment test with 20 mark maximum.

Course Co-ordinator - J M Bailey

Staff involved in Course Unit - J M Bailey

Location of Staff involved in Course Unit

C58d - see notice board for times.

Student Feedback on Course Unit - Questionnaire

Mechanisms for Feedback on Student Progress

Constant feedback by means of tutor guidance and self-assessment exercises.

Course Length - 10 sessions of 2 hours plus assessment.

Course Aims

The aim of the course is to ensure a basic computer literacy and an introduction to current commercial software, in order to ensure the availability of facilities for each student. The course is both theoretical and practical. The aim of the course is to provide students with a coherent view of information technology and its use in management and commerce. The course concentrates on the use of two major software packages, the requirements and the advantages of their usage. The students will be expected to be adept in the full use of both packages which will offer valuable facilities for their final year project work.

Method of Achievement of Aims

Introduction to the main items of software available, plus the use of a database system to ensure familiarity with the system.

Course Objectives

The student is expected to :

be familiar with the basic interface;

appreciate the range of facilities available;

be familiar with the different classes of software and their operating systems;

be able to use a word processing package for coursework preparation;

be able to use a database system to analyze data.

Mode of Teaching

Lectures followed by individual working on departmental computers. The students follow the recommended course guide.

Course Content - Major Topics

Introduction to spreadsheet and database packages using DBase III+ and Lotus 1-2-3. The course includes a short introduction to spreadsheet which is followed by a more in-depth study of database systems.

Mode of Assessment

There is a timed assessment in week 11, which carries 20 marks.

Schedule of Assessment

The timed assessment is in week 11, in the normal timetabled session.

Assessment Criteria

The criteria for this assessment is the successful access and manipulation of data from a set collection of stored data. Accuracy, method and presentation are assessed.

General References

  1. DBase III Plus Programmer's Reference Guide - Simpson A - Pub. Sybex.
  2. Database in Practice - Bailey J M - Pub. HHero

Books Recommended for Purchase

Teaching Philosophy

The basic introduction is lecture and demonstration. The database activity has one lecture and is followed by individual student paced work following the recommended guide. This allows each student to work at their own pace and to work out their own problems, whilst having constant access to the instructor when necessary.

Lecture Topics (incl. special refs.)

1. Introduction to Windows 95 and to Excel.

2. More features of the spreadsheet and their use

3. Databases, their uses in commerce and industry.

4. Database sorting and indexing, simple output, screen and printer

5. Database reports, selection and deletion methods.

6. Advanced inspection and output methods. Appending from other data files.

7. Updating from other data files. Using two data files together.

8. Introduction to programming in database

9. Programming as a solution to simple problems.

10. Revision and self-assessment

11. Assessment test.





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