Introduction to Information Technology
What is Information Technology?
Defines Information Technology and its role in modern life — from personal computing to global business systems.
Explores how IT differs from computer science, and why understanding it matters for everyone, not just engineers.
A brief history: from mechanical calculators to smartphones and cloud computing.
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How Computers Work
The fundamental model of a computer: input → process → output → storage.
Introduces the CPU, memory (RAM), and how they work together to execute instructions.
Explains the fetch-decode-execute cycle in simple terms, without requiring prior technical knowledge.
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Hardware Components
A tour of the physical parts of a computer system: motherboard, CPU, RAM, storage drives (HDD and SSD), GPU, and power supply.
Covers input devices (keyboard, mouse, microphone, camera) and output devices (monitor, speakers, printer).
Helps learners identify components and understand what each one does.
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Data Representation
How computers represent all information — numbers, text, images, and audio — using binary (0s and 1s).
Covers bits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes, and terabytes with everyday analogies.
Introduces ASCII, Unicode, and how colour is encoded as RGB values.
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Software — Types and Layers
The distinction between hardware and software, and the layered model: firmware → operating system → system software → application software.
Covers system software (device drivers, utilities) and application software (productivity apps, browsers, games).
Introduces the concept of open-source vs proprietary software.
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Operating Systems
What an operating system does: managing hardware resources, providing a user interface, and running applications.
Compares popular operating systems: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.
Key OS concepts: processes, multitasking, file permissions, and user accounts.
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Files, Folders, and File Systems
How data is organised on a storage device using files and folders (directories).
Covers file naming conventions, extensions, and common file types (documents, images, audio, video, executables).
Explains file systems (FAT32, NTFS, ext4) and what happens when you save, move, copy, or delete a file.
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Networks and the Internet
How computers communicate: LANs, WANs, IP addresses, MAC addresses, routers, switches, and DNS.
The difference between the Internet (the global network infrastructure) and the World Wide Web (a service on top of it).
Covers common protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and email (SMTP/IMAP).
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The World Wide Web and Browsers
How the web works: clients, servers, URLs, HTTP requests and responses.
The role of a web browser — rendering HTML, CSS, and JavaScript into a visible page.
Introduces web servers, hosting, and domain names.
A glimpse at what web developers build and how it connects to this course series.
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Cloud Computing and Storage
What "the cloud" actually means: remote servers accessed over the internet.
Covers cloud service models — IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS — with familiar everyday examples.
Popular cloud platforms and services: Google Drive, Dropbox, AWS, and Azure.
Advantages and trade-offs: accessibility, cost, privacy, and vendor lock-in.
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Cybersecurity and Privacy
Common threats: malware, phishing, ransomware, social engineering, and data breaches.
Foundational defences: strong passwords, two-factor authentication, software updates, and firewalls.
Digital privacy: what data websites and apps collect, cookies, and how to protect personal information online.
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Digital Literacy and Responsible Use
Evaluating online information: identifying credible sources, fact-checking, and spotting misinformation.
Ethical use of technology: intellectual property, copyright, and fair use.
Screen time, digital wellbeing, and the environmental impact of computing.
Careers in IT: an overview of roles — developer, designer, analyst, sysadmin, cybersecurity specialist, and more.
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