Computer E-note for JSS3 First Term
Week 1
Topic: Search Engine
What is a Search Engine?
A Search engine can be defined as a software program that assists a user in locating various websites
or information over the internet. A web search engine is a software system that is designed to search
for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are generally presented in a line of results
often referred to as search engine results pages (SERPs). The information may be a mix of web pages,
images, and other types of files.
Search engines are particularly helpful in locating web pages on a certain topic or in locating specific
pages for which you do not know the exact URL (uniform resource locator). To find a page or pages you
enter a word or phrase called search text or keyword, in the search engine text box. Many search
engines use a program called spider to display a list of all web pages that contain the words or phrases
you entered. It is also called a crawler or a bot. A spider reads pages on websites in order to create a
catalog or index of hit.
A hit is any web page name that is listed as a result of a search. For example, If you want a listing of
KFC outlet in your search text. The search engine would return a hit of web page list that contains the
phrase of KFC outlet in Lagos.
When you enter search text that contain multiple keywords, the search engine usually locates a site
that contains all the words. Some of the popular search websites are Alta vista, Excite, Go, Google,
Mammal, ask, Msn, Yahoo!, Reddit, Look smart, Netscape search and Hot bot.
Search Method
Browsing through categories: you can browse categories such as art, science or sport to find
information that interest you. When you select a category of interest a list of subcategories appears,
you can continue till you get the web page that interest you.
A search engine operates in the following order:
1. Web crawling
2. Indexing
3. Searching
Web search engines work by storing information about many web pages, which they retrieve from the
HTML markup of the pages. These pages are retrieved by a Web crawler(sometimes also known as a
spider) — an automated Web crawler which follows every link on the site. The site owner can exclude
specific pages by using [Link].
The search engine then analyzes the contents of each page to determine how it should be indexed (for
example, words can be extracted from the titles, page content, headings, or special fields called meta
tags). Data about web pages are stored in an index database for use in later queries. A query from a
user can be a single word. The index helps find information relating to the query as quickly as
possible. Some search engines, such as Google, store all or part of the source page (referred to as a
cache) as well as information about the web pages, whereas others, such as Alta Vista, store every
word of every page they find.
Search by Keyword
You can type a word in a search tool about a web page of your interest. The search tool will display a
list of webpages containing the word you specified. Some tools allow you to enter a complete question
when searching for web pages.
List of Search Engines according to categories
General – Google, [Link], Yahoo! and Bing
Metasearch (A metasearch engine (or aggregator) is a search tool that uses another search engine’s
data to produce their own results from the Internet.) – [Link], Mamma, Metacrawler, Excite.
Business – [Link], Genieknows
Education – Noodle Education, Skilledup
Fashion – Fashion Net
Medical – Bing health, WebMD
News – Yahoo! News, Google News, Bing News
Video games – Wazap
Assessment
Mention eight search engines
Week 2
Topic: Uses of Search Engine
A Search engine can be defined as a software program that assists a user in locating various websites
or information over the internet. A web search engine is a software system that is designed to search
for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are generally presented in a line of results
often referred to as search engine results pages (SERPs). The information may be a mix of web pages,
images, and other types of files.
The benefit of search engines, to individuals and society, is immerse. In fact, it is doubtful if the web
would would be as advantageous and essential to so many, if it were not for search engines. Certainly,
the e-commerce environment would be much different if it were not for search engines, which provide
access to many small to medium size enterprises.
Given the amount of information currently on the Web (estimates are at approximately 30 trillion
individual pages but increasing continually), one could say that search engines are indispensable to
locating the online information that has become essential to the private, social, and professional lives
of many individuals. People use search engines to locate and then access information on websites in a
variety of areas, including health, business, government, education, entertainment, news, religion,
and e-commerce.
Week 3 & 4
Topic: Digital Divide
Introduction
Digital divide refers to the gap between people with effective access to digital and
information technology and those with very limited or no access at all. The Digital Divide,
or the digital split, is a social issue referring to the differing amount of information
between those who have access to the Internet (specially broadband access) and those
who do not have access. The term became popular among concerned parties, such as
scholars, policy makers, and advocacy groups, in the late 1990s.
In other words, digital divide refers to a situation in which people do not have same
degree of access to modern digital information and communication technology (ICT) and
for this reason, do not have the same opportunities for social and economic development.
It includes the imbalance both in physical access to technology, the resource and skill
needed to effectively participate as a digital citizen.
BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE
The digital can be bridged but the procedure has to be difference from different country
and region. The very basic step would be to provide digital access to those in the
community who do not have it. However, to be able to do so, countries would have to
reduce the base price of gadgets or subsidise them. This would be too much of a burden
on the economy of most developing countries. Steps are being taken to over come this
with projects like one laptop per child and so on.
THE OLD ECONOMY VERSUS THE NEW ECONOMY
Earlier, development in the agricultural sector was slow. Agriculture was time consuming
because works were done manually, but if we look recently there has been a change
because digital equipment have increased the speed of agricultural production. This also
applies to other sections too.
FEATURES OF THE OLD ECONOMY
In the old economy, companies were experienced to decline in growth because of the
following
1. TIME CONSUMING: Operations were time consuming because of limited technology
2. LABOUR BASE: Man power was much required because work was done manually
3. MECHANICAL: The transport system was mechanical in old time because of the
process it passes through from stream engine to work
4. CONSTRAINT OF TIME, SPACE AND DISTANCE: These occur because business
owners established their industries far from the city in order to avoid pollution of
the atmosphere. Sometimes these machines are large and require lots of space.
FEATURES OF THE NEW ECONOMY
1. DIGITAL: Digital technology in the new economy is very fast and it requires less
time and man power.
2. TIME, DISTANCE AND SPACE IS IRRELEVANT: All because of the use of latest digital
equipment, like mobile phone, internet, laptop, e.t.c which enables information go
fast from one place to another, time and distance have become quite irrelevant.
3. TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN: In the world today, technology plays a major role in life of
humanity. The brilliance of these technologies is that communication is not
limited. Hence it is in continuous revolution.
4. KNOWLEDGE BASED: In recent times labour is not too efficient in day to day
activities because digital technology is visible in almost every field of our lives and
it will continue to bring to light the areas of limitation of the old economy. In the
old economy, method of operation was slow and time consuming.
BENEFITS OF THE NEW ECONOMY
1. The size of equipment is reduced.
2. Business can start with small capital.
Assessment
Briefly differentiate the Old Economy and the New Economy
List 5 features each of the Old Economy and the New Economy
Week 5 & 6
Topic: Digital Literacy
What is Digital Literacy?
Digital literacy is the ability to effectively and critically navigate, evaluate and create
information using a range of digital technology. It requires one to recognize and use the
power to manipulate and transform digital media to distribute pervasively and to easily
adopt them to new form. Digital literacy does not replace traditional form of literacy. It
builds upon the foundation of the traditional form of literacy. Digital literacy is the
knowledge, skills, and behaviors used in a broad range of digital devices such as
smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs, all of which are seen as network rather
than computing devices. Digital literacy initially focused on digital skills and stand-alone
computers, but the focus has moved from stand-alone to network devices.
The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate,
evaluate, use and create information.
The ability to understand and use information in multiple formats from a wide range of
sources when it is presented via computers.
A person’s ability to perform tasks effectively in a digital environment… Literacy includes
the ability to read and interpret media, to reproduce data and images through digital
manipulation, and to evaluate and apply new knowledge gained from digital
environments.
Digital literacy is the merging of two terms ‘DIGITAL AND LITERACY’. However it is much
more than a combination of the two terms “DIGITAL” Information is a symbol
representation of data and “LITERACY” refers to the ability to read for knowledge, write
coherently and think critically about the written word.
Digital literacy research explores a wide variety of topic, including how people find, use,
summaries, evaluate, create and communicate information while using digital
technologies. A digital literate person can be described as a digital citizen.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DIGITAL LITERACY
The characteristics of digital literacy is being aware and able to use the digital tools to
identify, manage, access, evaluate, integrate, and analyze digital to understand multiple
format, represented by the computer and also create new knowledge.
BENEFITS OF DIGITAL LITERACY
1. It saves time: Multiple tasks can be done at the same time.
2. You learn faster: Study at your own pace, look up words, facts and figures.
3. It keeps you informed: You have access to current happenings and event all around
the world.
4. It keeps you connected: Technology allows you to talk to anyone, anytime and
anywhere.
5. Decision making: Digital literacy allows you to search, study, analyze and compare
things.
BENEFITS OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN THE CLASSROOM
1. Easily modified for differentiating instruction
2. Effective way to teach vocabulary through intentional scaffolding
3. Provides multiple exposures to academic language
4. Allows for learning with real world context
5. Measures authentic assessment
6. Makes learning easily accessible
7. Encourages peer collaboration (both students and teachers)
8. Increases motivation and self esteem (both students and teachers)
9. Promotes the effective use of technology
Assessment
Define Digital literacy and state its characteristics
Mention five benefits of digital literacy
Week 8 & 9
Topic: DataBase
WHAT IS DATABASE?
A database is a collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval and
uses of data. In a manual database, it can be recorded on paper and stored in a filing
cabinet. While in a computerized database, it is stored in an electronic format on a
storage media. A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can
easily be accessed, managed, and updated. In one view, databases can be classified
according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric, and images.
A database is an organized collection of data. It is the collection of schemes, tables,
queries, reports, views and other objects. The data is typically organized to model
aspects of reality in a way that supports processes requiring information, such as
modelling the availability of rooms in hotels in a way that supports finding a hotel with
vacancies.
CONCEPT OF DATABASE
The concept of database is simply described as the terminologies of database such as
1. FIELD
2. RECORDS
3. FILE
4. KEY
FORMS OF DATABASE
The following are the forms of database
1. FLAT FILE DATABASE: flat file database store data in plain text file. Each line of
the text file holds one record with field separated by diameters such as command
or tabs.
2. HIERARCHICAL DATABASE: in hierarchical database records are linked in a tree like
structure and each record type has only one owner. E.g an order is owned by only
one customer
3. RELATIONAL DATABASE: This is a collection of data items organized is a set
formally. Described table from which data can be accessed or reassemble in many
different ways without having to recognize the database table. Each table contains
one or more data categories in column. Each role contains unique types of data for
the categories defined by columns.
DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
A database management system (DBMS) is a computer program (or more typically, a suite
of them) designed to manage a database, a large set of structured data, and run
operations on the data requested by numerous users. Typical examples of DBMS use
include accounting, human resources and customer support systems.
APPLICATION AREAS OF DATA BASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
1. Banking: For customer information, accounts, and loans, and banking transactions.
2. Airlines: For reservations and schedule information. Airlines were among the first to
use databases in a geographically distributed manner – terminals situated around the
world accessed the central database system through phone lines and other data networks.
3. Universities: For student information, course registrations, and grades.
4. Credit card transactions: For purchases on credit cards and generation of monthly
statements.
5. Telecommunication: For keeping records of calls made, generating monthly bills,
maintaining balances on prepaid calling cards, and storing information about the
communication networks.
6. Finance: For storing information about holdings, sales, and purchases of financial
instruments such as stocks and bonds.
7. Sales: For customer, product, and purchase information.
8. Manufacturing: For management of supply chain and for tracking production of items in
factories, inventories of items in warehouses / stores, and orders for items.
9. Human resources: For information about employees, salaries, payroll taxes and
benefits, and for generation of paychecks
EXAMPLES OF DATABASE APPLICATIONS
The following are examples of database applications:
computerized library systems
automated teller machines
flight reservation systems
computerized parts inventory systems
Assessment
Briefly explain the forms of Database
State five areas Data base management systems can be applied
Give examples of Database applications
Week 10
Topic: Spread Sheet
SPREED SHEET
A Spread sheet application is a productivity software in which a computer user can manage personal
and business finance with the help of a spread sheet program.
A spreadsheet is an interactive computer application program for organization, analysis and storage of
data in tabular form. Spreadsheets developed as computerized simulations of paper accounting
worksheets. The program operates on data represented as cells of an array, organized in rows and
columns. Each cell of the array is a model–view–controller element that may contain either numeric or
text data, or the results of formulas that automatically calculate and display a value based on the
contents of other cells.
Spreadsheet users may adjust any stored value and observe the effects on calculated values. This
makes the spreadsheet useful for “what-if” analysis since many cases can be rapidly investigated
without manual recalculation. Modern spreadsheet software can have multiple interacting sheets, and
can display data either as text and numerals, or in graphical form.
Productivity software is a software that assists people to gain more efficiency and effectiveness while
performing daily activities. You can use a spread sheet program to perform calculations, analyze data
and present information.
Example of spread sheet
1. LOTUS 1-2-3: This is a spread sheet program from lotus software (now part of IBM) which has
added integrated charting, plotting and database capabilities
2. STAT VIEWS: This is a spread sheet program than can perform many analyses by template. It
creates presentation quality graph and table with a singles of the mouse.
3. MICROSOFT EXCEL: This is powerful spread sheet that allows you to organize data complete
calculate take decision, graph data and develop reports. It is also has basic features to help
you create, edit and format worksheet
GRAPH IN EXCEL
A graph is a great way of representing your data. With graph, data are easily understood and also they
are easily edited for better data presentation. You can create dozens of different charts, from pie
chart to bar chart and more.
DATA SENSE: This is the foundation of any chart in the worksheet that you use to create. Chart data is
the content of a group of related cells, such as one row or column of data in your worksheet.
CUSTOMIZED CHARTS: Any chart created can be customized and can also change to the formatting of
the chart, text, change the chart type and much more.
CHART TYPES
1. COLUMN
2. BAR
3. LINE GRAPH
4. PIE
5. SCATTER
6. AREA
7. DOUGHNUT E.T.C
USES OF SPREAD SHEET
do calculations on data
visualize relationships with dynamic graphs
build and use analytical models
build and use numerical models
Spreadsheet programs also include software that creates graphs and charts from the data provided
within the table. This is good for presentations, such as business meetings and research projects, and
offers a fresh view of the data. These graphs and charts are customizable and can be specific or
general depending on the settings and options chosen.
Assessment
List examples of spread sheet
Mention four uses of spread sheet