Unit 1

Topics to be addressed:

• Computers and the internet
• Models of Intelligent Behavior
• Societal impacts of computing

Topic Description:

In this unit students are introduced to the concepts of computer and computing while investigating the major components of computers and the suitability of these components for particular applications. Students will experiment with internet search techniques, explore a variety of websites and web applications and discuss issues of privacy and security. Fundamental notions of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and ergonomics are introduced. Students will learn that “intelligent” machine behavior is not “magic” but is based on algorithms applied to useful representations of information, including large data sets. Students will learn the characteristics that make certain tasks easy or difficult for computers, and how these differ from those that humans characteristically find easy or difficult. Students will gain an appreciation for the many ways in which computing- enabled innovations have had an impact on society, as well as for the many different fields in which they are used. Connections among social, economical and cultural contexts will be discussed.

Objectives:

The student will be able to:

• Analyze the characteristics of hardware components to determine the applications for which they can be used.
• Use appropriate tools and methods to execute Internet searches which yield requested data.
• Evaluate the results of web searches and the reliability of information found on the Internet.
• Explain the differences between tasks that can and cannot be accomplished with a computer.
• Analyze the effects of computing on society within economic, social, and cultural contexts.
• Communicate legal and ethical concerns raised by computing innovation.
• Explain the implications of communication as data exchange.