MODULE I
FUNDAMENTALS OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Lesson 1 Information Technology
Lesson 2 Elements of Computer
System
Lesson 3 Apps in Our Day-To-Day
Activities
URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
AND ARCHITECTURE
MODULE 1
FUNDAMENTALS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INTRODUCTION:
This module presents the fundamentals of information technology. It talks
about the basic concepts of information. You will be exploring the elements
involved in the operation of computer systems and learn to appreciate what it
can bring to this information age.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After studying the module, you should be able to:
1. Discuss the concepts of information.
2. Identify the elements of computer system.
3. Categorize different types of applications software.
DIRECTIONS/MODULE ORGANIZER:
There are three lessons in the module. Read each lesson carefully then
answer the activities. For instructions about submission, you will be guided by
your instructor.
In case you encounter difficulty, do not hesitate to discuss this withyour
instructor during the face-to-face meeting or through other means of
communication.
Bright future starts here
Module 1: Fundamentals of Information Technology
URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
AND ARCHITECTURE
LESSON 1
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Data and Information
The words "data" and "information" are frequently used interchangeably. However,
they have different meanings.
Data are raw facts from which you can derive conclusions or new facts. On the other
hand, information is a set of facts organized in such a way that it provides additional
value beyond that of the facts themselves. Information is often the result of
executing related processes on data or simply called data processing. Data
processing is the process involved in converting data into usable information. The
process may be automated and run on a computer. To put it simply, data are the
building blocks of information.
For example, think about scores gathered from students. These scores are raw facts
or data. These are just pieces of facts which cannot determine how well a student
performs in the class. The scores (data) must undergo in a data process such as
categorizing, computing, and organizing. After the data process, the output are the
grades of the students. This is now the information. Compared to the grades
(information), we can see that the scores (data) is not used to determine whether a
student passed or failed the course.
Let’s take it further. Information at times can also serve as data for larger information.
In the example, the grades are already an information. Let’s say we want to get the
grade point average or GPA of the students. To do this, the grades from the students’
subjects will be collectively computed to get the GPA. In this case, the grades serve
as data for the larger information which is the GPA.
Forms of Data
We will now look at the forms of data which we will see on the table below. These
forms of data come from or stored into computers.
Bright future starts here
Module 1: Fundamentals of Information Technology
URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
AND ARCHITECTURE
The table shows the forms of data that a computer works on. Alphanumeric are
those that convey information through text, numbers, and other characters such as
symbols and punctuation marks.
Image data such as graphic images and pictures are data that are composed of
pixels (short for picture element). You can find image files in computers in different
format, such as jpeg, gif, png, bmp, and more.
Bright future starts here
Module 1: Fundamentals of Information Technology
URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
AND ARCHITECTURE
Audio data are those that produce sounds such as music, tones, and noise. You can
find them in different formats such as mp3, wav, aac, amr, ogg, and more.
Video data are combinations of image and audio, such as movies and video clips.
You can find them in format such as mp4, avi, flv, mkv, and more.
THE INFORMATION AGE
The information age (also known as the computer age, digital age, new media age,
or IT era) is a period that shifted from a traditional industry to an economy driven by
information technology. The use of computer technology has become prevalent in
processing, producing, and communicating information. This is the modern era
where valuable information plays a major role in political, social, and economic
activities, and have become dependent on information and communication
technology.
What is Information Technology?
Information Technology (IT) refers to anything related to computing technology,
such as networking, hardware, software, the Internet, or the people that work with
these technologies. Since we live in the information age, information technology has
become a part of our everyday lives.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is another term used which you
may have encountered. ICT is the same as IT but focuses on the use of
communication medium such as computer networks, smartphones, and the
internet.
Information Technology in Various Fields
Information can be thought of as a lifeline of an organization. Think about a company
or a system. Every transaction, process, and work done involves the handling of
information. Without proper handling of information, things could go wrong. Imagine
a company that never records or communicates data and information. Surely this
company would not do well. Nowadays, one must involve the use of information
especially the handling of information. Therefore, Information Technology in
integrated in various fields where information exists and obviously information exists
everywhere.
Bright future starts here
Module 1: Fundamentals of Information Technology
URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
AND ARCHITECTURE
1. IT and Education
As evidenced by the pandemic brought by the CoViD-19 disease, education has
shifted from face-to-face to virtual. Some schools have integrated the use of IT as a
mode of teaching and learning. Although, this was already the case for others before
the pandemic. We can find the use of virtual classrooms such as Google Classroom,
Edmodo, Schoology, and Moodle. Classrooms have resources such as televisions,
projectors, and computers to facilitate learning.
2. IT and Finance
The financial world is not spared with the advent of Information Technology. Banks
use ATM (Automated Teller Machine) which is a product of IT. The use of computers
in the banks help ease workload of daily transactions. Also, payment through bank
transfers can now be done with our devices through the Internet.
3. IT and Marketing
The creation of advertisements has now become popular through the use of online
tools such as Google AdSense and Facebook Ads among the myriad of advertisement
platforms online. Selling of digital products has also become a new economy
nowadays. Even physical products are now sold over the Internet where customers
can buy. Examples of these are Lazada, Shoppe, and Zalora, which are the most
popular online e-commerce in the Philippines.
4. IT and Recreation
Computers have become a source entertainment and recreation. I bet there are
more games that you can play with your devices more than in real world. Also, movies
and music can be played on your computer as source of entertainment. Children in
this generation are inclined to computers. That’s one reason why this generation is
called the Information or Digital Age.
5. IT and Communication
One of the major benefits of using Information Technology is the ease to
communicate with our loved ones and friends. With just a click of a button, you can
now talk with them in real time without days of waiting time for a reply to be
received.
Bright future starts here
Module 1: Fundamentals of Information Technology
URDANETA CITY
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
AND ARCHITECTURE
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
1. The Role of Information Technology in Social Interactions
How has the rise of digital communication (e.g., social media, messaging apps, and
video calls) influenced human relationships and social interactions? Provide examples
from your own experiences.
2. Ethical Considerations in Information Technology
Discuss the ethical implications of data privacy and security in today's digital world.
What measures should individuals and organizations take to protect sensitive
information?
3. The Future of Information Technology in Different Industries
How do you think emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
automation will impact various industries (e.g., education, healthcare, business) in
the next 10 years?
Prepared by:
ENGR. LORENA R. ANGULO, MSME, PCpE
Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Bright future starts here Module 1: Fundamentals of Information Technology