Exploring Information & Software Systems: Digital Edition
An integrated project approach to Information and Software Technology. Exploring Information and Software Technology Fourth Edition continues to provide a variety of theoretical and practical experiences in an integrated project-based approach that encourages students to analyse, design, develop, test, document, implement and evaluate their own work.
This full colour text is at once engaging, challenging and accessible for every student.
Core content is introduced in Chapter 1 and then integrated and reinforced throughout each of the following eight chapters. Integrated core content is highlighted throughout: Great Idea (Past, present and emerging technologies) Try This (Core skills), Think About This (Legal, social and ethical issues) and Career Path (Career paths). Key concepts are explored through different learning approaches and under different circumstances to give students plenty of opportunities to grasp new ideas. Each chapter presents a wide variety of exercises, activities and projects that enable students to develop and demonstrate competence in selecting and using generic software applications. They can be completed using the types of resources available in NSW schools.
The access code will be delivered in a sealed pocket/envelope. This must NOT be opened should you decide that you do not want the product. Students with a Cambridge GO account will have access to the following free resource PDF Textbook. The downloadable PDF version of the student text enables students to take notes, highlight key passages, and bookmark pages. It is downloaded from Cambridge GO using the unique 16-character code that is included with the purchase of the Print Textbook and the Interactive Textbook. Web links Teachers with a Cambridge GO account and a 16-character access will have access to the following free resources: Web links Teaching programs Core content mapping grid 1. Projects and project development Project development Project management People, information and software technology Issues involved in project development Past, current and emerging technologies Chapter review
Project 1 - Design an information system
Project 2 - The Graphical User Interface 2. Artificial intelligence, simulation and modelling Artificial intelligence Areas of artificial intelligence Modelling and simulations Advantages and limitations of models and simulations Chapter review Project 1 - Research the content for a knowledge base Project 2 - Use a spreadsheet for modelling and simulation 3. Authoring and multimedia Multimedia products Data types Display hardware used by multimedia Authoring software Project development Chapter review
Project 1 - Storyboarding
Project 2 - Development of a multimedia product using an authoring system 4. Database design Data Database development Collecting, organising and storing data Methods of processing and analysing data Expert systems Chapter review Project 1 - Database development Project 2 - Querying a relational database 5. Digital media Characteristics of digital media Purpose of digital media Types of digital media products Data storage and function Digitisation process of data types Display and distribution Chapter review Project 1 - Digital media database Project 2 - Digital media design 6. The Internet and website development History of the Internet Uses of the Internet Internet software The world wide web Website development Chapter review Project 1 - Browsers and search engines on the Internet Project 2 - Using HTML as an authoring tool 7. Networking systems Networks Data transmission Types of networks Components of networks Network topologies Network operating systems Factors influencing media transmission Chapter review Project 1 - Writing a technical manual for network use Project 2 - Writing your own test 8. Robotics and automated systems Robots and robotics Purpose, use and function of robots Storage and processing devices Automated control Chapter review Project 1 - Create a brochure and/or a web page Project 2 - Robot design 9. Software development and programming Software systems Data handling Basic programming concepts Algorithms Programming languages Project development Chapter review Project 1 - Programming off the shelf software Project 2 - Programming in a GUI environment