Learning objectives
The learning objectives pursued in the course are summarized in the following points:
- acquire awareness of the functioning of the Personal Computer and, in a broader sense, of the various technological devices
- know the history and evolution of computers, Web and artificial intelligence
- provide basic tools for the creation of Web pages, which are the cornerstone of modern communication
- broaden the view in the field of typographic composition, providing the basic tools of LaTeX.
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
The course aims to introduce students to the following areas:
- the representation of information in computers
- the Web: development, evolution and applications
- HTML language and other tools for creating web pages
- LaTeX as an effective typesetting tool
- the evolution of the Personal Computer
- artificial intelligence: historical notes and applications
- information technology in the tourism and cultural heritage sectors.
Full programme
1) Information Representation
- Definition of alphabet, string, language and examples
- Binary encoding and properties
- Representation and encoding of texts
- Representation and encoding of sounds
- Representation and encoding of images
- Representation and encoding of videos
- Redundant encoding
- Huffman encoding and applications
2) Web
- History of Web
- Definition of Web, hypertext, internet
- Browser and search engine
- Web 1.0 and Web 2.0
- Web and services; Cloud computing
3) HTML language and CSS style sheets
- Features of HTML language
- Structure of an HTML document
- Representation of colours
- Style sheets (CSS)
4) An Introduction to LaTeX
5) History of Computer Science
6) Artificial Intelligence
7) Computer Science and Cultural Heritage and Museums
8) Computer Science and Tourism
Bibliography
- Marco Lazzari. "Informatica Umanistica", McGraw-Hill (2ed.)
- Dennis P. Curtin et al. "Informatica di Base", McGraw-Hill (6ed.)
It should be noted that the course does not closely follow the two texts.
The prepared and produced teaching material (slides, notes, exercise sheets, lesson recordings) is made available at the end of each lesson on the Elly website.
Teaching methods
Most of the course consists of lectures held in the classroom. The course includes lessons supported by slides, lessons in which simple HTML pages and LaTeX documents are created and exercises on some topics of the course. The course also makes use of monographic seminars.
All the material used and produced during the lessons will be made available to students through the Elly website. The lessons will be recorded and subsequently uploaded to the Elly portal, but it will not be streamed.
Assessment methods and criteria
The final exam consists in a written test, including questions and exercises. After passing the written test students can ask for an oral test, which is not compulsory. The oral test consists in a few questions. If answers to such questions are satisfying the final grade of the exam is incremented of a few points with respect to the grade obtained in the written test. At the opposite, if answers are not satisfying the final grade of the exam is reduced of a few points with respect to the grade obtained in the written test.
Other information
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