Teacher(s)

Philippette Thibault;

Language

French

Main themes

1. An introduction to the field of Information Technology :

• definitions of Information Technology and the computer ;
• a historical overview of computer science and its development ;
• binary code ;
• digitization ;
• basic media technologies (sound, image) ;
• programming languages, operating systems and application software ;
• principles of computer network communication.

2. Practical computer skills :

• introduction to working with IT office tools and relevant software ;
• introduction to working with sound and image files and to relevant software ;
• introduction to multimedia composition software and related techniques ;
• introduction to working with the Internet: web sites and communication tools.

3. Introduction to the issues of multimedia communication related to aspects such as interactivity, algorithms, digital traces and so on.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	By the end of this course, students should have acquired: - a broad background in Information Technology, key concepts in Information Technology and networking, basic knowledge of computer systems (materials, functioning, basic software, multi-media technology and Internet) - theoretical and practical working knowledge of the principal IT applications within Social Sci-ences (multimedia applications and Internet, document presentation and word processing) - critical skills in the field of multimedia communication

Content

Objectives (in terms of skills):

• Acquisition of a general knowledge of computer science (hardware components, computer operations, basic softwares, multimedia technologies and Internet).
• Acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge in social sciences (multimedia and Internet, presentation and data processing).
• Acquisition of a critical competence in the field of multimedia communication.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Methods: The course is structured in 10 modules divided into 4 parts of material:

• Computer science (computer language, architecture and operation of computers, networks and the Internet);
• Multimedia (digitization of sound, image and video);
• Office automation (spreadsheet) and
• Communication (multimedia communication issues).

The course includes ex cathedra presentations alternating quizzes, demonstrations and theories in session. At 4 deadlines announced by the teaching assistant(s), tests of modules are organized. The success (or not) of these tests determines the compulsory or optional nature of the training sessions. These sessions are organised in the computer room and upon prior registration by the student via Moodle.

• Situation "Yellow": The ex-cathedra course is given in "reverse class" distance learning mode. The students follow the podcasts on Moodle. Before each test period, the teacher organizes a question-and-answer session via Teams at the scheduled time of the course (the date of these sessions will be specified via Moodle). The first session on the modalities of the course and the last session on the Q&A for the exam will be in the auditorium (with recording), i.e. the number of participants should be limited. 
  
  The training sessions are exclusively done remotely via Moodle. Students who have not passed the test must first register for the monitoring. Depending on the subject matter, students will then either have to follow a series of complementary video podcasts and participate in the exchanges according to the modalities specified by the assistant, or complete a work in order to be eligible for the point.

• Orange" situation: Same general conditions as in the "yellow" situation for the course, with the exception that the first and last session will also be given at a distance.
  
  The training sessions are exclusively done remotely via Moodle. Students who have not passed the test must first register for the monitoring. Depending on the subject matter, students will then either have to follow a series of complementary video podcasts and participate in the exchanges according to the modalities specified by the assistant, or complete a work in order to be eligible for the point.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The course evaluation is in three parts:

• A Multiple Choice Questionnaire on the entire course material assessing knowledge, understanding and resolution of "basic" exercises. This MCQ is valid for 50% of the final mark.
• Passing the tests during the year and/or participating in the training sessions allows you to obtain 20% of the final grade (1 point per test/monitoring). Please note: failure to complete the multiple-choice questionnaire during the exam is considered as blocking. If this is the case, the student obtains a final mark of 20 on the MCQ.
• Open Questions assess the student's more advanced knowledge for 30% of the mark (ability to solve problems related to the subject, critical feedback based on the theories seen in the course, etc.). 

For the second session, the student has the choice between keeping his or her points from the tests/monitoring or answering additional (open) questions. The other modalities (MCQ part and open part) remain identical to the first session. 
In the case of yellow or orange situations, the examination (multiple choice and open questions) will take place online via Moodle (examination platform). The questions will then have more interactive and hybrid formats (matching, sequencing, gap-filling texts, elements to be found on a picture...). The distinction will be made between expected level questions and advanced level questions, failure to answer the "expected level questions" will result in the end of the correction and the score will be reduced to 20.    

Other information

The course materials (presentations) as well as a series of complementary content (podcasts, quizzes, etc.) are gradually posted on the Moodle platform.
English-friendly course

• Questions: students can ask their questions in English
• Dictionary: students are allowed to use a dictionary (monolingual French dictionary or bilingual French-mother tongue dictionary, as specified by the teacher), including for exams
• Note: the course materials as well as the exam are in French

Online resources

https://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=6683

Faculty or entity

ESPO