Prerequisite Computer Competencies
Students entering the IST program are expected to have basic computer competence on either Macintosh or DOS/Windows computer systems, in the following areas: operating systems, word processing, graphics, a general theoretical understanding of how computers work, electronic mail, file transfer, information retrieval, scanning and Web publishing (see the appendix). Distance education students must have consistent access to the minimum hardware and software outlined in the Required Technology Access for Distance Students document; and residental students are well-advised to have similar access in their homes.
Students who do not meet the competence requirements must arrange to study independently to make up their deficiencies before entering the program. These skills are necessary for successful participation in IST courses. More advanced knowledge and skills taught in IST courses assume these skills.
Indiana University has made special licensing arrangements for a series of computer-mediated learning tutorials from NETg. Students can access these tutorials online in order to acquire and practice these basic skills. There is an annual fee of $75 for IU students for unlimited access to these learning modules.
IT Training & Education also offers free workshops to IU students each fall, spring and summer. See STEPS classes and workshops.
Appendix: Prerequisite Computer Competencies
Operating systems basics:
Launch or run an application, create a folder/directory, name a folder/directory/file, move a folder/directory/file from one location to another, rename a folder/directory/file, copy a folder/directory/file from one device to another, delete a folder/directory/file, initialize a disk, open a file, save a file, find a file, print a file.
Useful NETg tutorials:
- Intro to PCs and Apps
- Win 98 Fundamentals
- Win NT 4 Fundamentals
Word processing basics:
Create running header and footer with pagination, apply a font to text, change size of font, center text, make text bold, italicize text, underline text, indent paragraphs, change line spacing, doubly indent paragraphs, set right and left margins, set tab stops, force a page break, insert and position a graphic into the document as a figure and label it in other words make a document such as the one you are reading.
Useful NETg tutorials:
- Word 2000 Fundamentals
- Word 2000 Proficient
- Word 2000 Expert
Graphics basics:
Create and position an unfilled rectangle with a black border; create and position a rounded box, filled with light shading; create lines of different thickness; create ovals and circles both filled and unfilled with black borders; create and position text of different fonts, sizes, boldness, transparency and italics; create polygons filled with shading such as solid arrowheads; be able to place graphics "objects" such that they are layered on top of each other to give the desired appearance; select an area, copy it, and move the copy to a new location; erase or otherwise modify a graphic object.
Useful tutorials: Indiana University Information Technology Services Education Program offers STEPS classes in: Photoshop, PowerPoint 2000, and Word Graphics
Useful NETg tutorials:
- PowerPoint 2000 Proficient
- PowerPoint 2000 Expert
Theoretical understanding:
Persons should understand how computers all work the same way. In other words, they have a theoretical understanding of computers at a level that helps them solve day-to-day problems. They should understand the basic classifications for functional components for computer systems: Peripherals: input devices for humans, output devices for humans, secondary storage, communications devices; Internal components: RAM, ROM, CPU; information flows between and among these components; know basic functions of the operating system; know how computers execute programs (compiled vs. interpreted); be able to solve many day-to-day problems when things don't work like they're supposed to; realize when a problem cannot be personally solved and an expert should be consulted.
Useful NETg tutorial: Intro to PCs and Apps
Useful UITS Education STEPS class: Know your PC Inside and Out
E-mail
Use one of the standard electronic mail systems at IU, such as Pine, Eudora, Unix mail, etc. Be able to read new messages, reply to messages, forward messages, create and send to a distribution list, create folders and file messages in those folders.
Useful UITS Education STEPS classes: Webmail and Outlook (basics and beyond).
File Transfer:
Upload and download ASCII text files and binary files from an FTP server.
Useful information in the UITS Knowledge Base: What is FTP, and How Do I Use it to Transfer Files? How-To Guide: Telnet and FTP
Information Retrieval:
Find information on various information resources, including: World-Wide Web, IU Libraries (IUCAT, ERIC, etc.)
Useful NETg tutorials:
- Explorer 4 Fundamentals
- Netscape 4 Fundamentals
- Intro to the Internet and the World Wide Web
Scanning:
Use a flatbed scanner to scan line art, grayscale and color graphics or pictures. Be able to resize such images, and do minor corrections to improve the appearance (e.g., brightness, contrast, blurriness, sharpness). Be able to convert such files to different color coding schemes (1-bit, 4-bit color, 8-bit grayscale, indexed 256 color (8-bit), etc.) to minimize file size while retaining picture quality. Be able to save the image in a format suitable for the application into which the image will be subsequently imported (e.g., for WordPerfect, Photoshop, Word, World-Wide Web).
See the IST Job Aids for help in using scanners in the Technology Suite.
World-Wide Web page creation:
Create Web pages, which include text, graphics and links to other documents in the World-Wide Web. Requires knowledge of HTML (hypertext markup language), graphics creation and conversion to .gif or .jpg format, file transfer with FTP, and some Unix.
Useful NETg tutorials:
- HTML 4 Fundamentals
- Unix Fundamentals
- FrontPage 2000 Proficient
- FrontPage 2000 Expert
Useful UITS Education Program STEPS classes:
Web Development Series (includes Create a Web Page Using HTML: The Basics; Create a Web Page Using HTML: Beyond the Basics; Photoshop; Web Graphics; Unix & Utilities for Web Devlopers)