Information Technology Information Technology BasicsBasics

Georgia CTAE Resource Network Curriculum Georgia CTAE Resource Network Curriculum Office, Office,

June 2009 June 2009 To accompany curriculum for the Georgia Peach To accompany curriculum for the Georgia Peach

State Career Pathways State Career Pathways June 2009, Kayla Calhoun & Dr. Frank FlandersJune 2009, Kayla Calhoun & Dr. Frank Flanders

ObjectivesObjectives

Define modern information technology.Define modern information technology. Explain the six functions of data Explain the six functions of data

management.management. Compare types of networks.Compare types of networks. List information technology List information technology

applications.applications. Relate information technology skills to Relate information technology skills to

careers.careers.

Modern Definition of Information Modern Definition of Information Technology (IT)Technology (IT)

Use of computer hardware and software Use of computer hardware and software to manage informationto manage information

Six Functions of Data Six Functions of Data ManagementManagement

ConvertConvert StoreStore ProtectProtect ProcessProcess TransmitTransmit RetrieveRetrieve

Data ConversionData Conversion

In order to perform any other operations, a In order to perform any other operations, a computer must convert information into computer must convert information into bit (binary digit) formatbit (binary digit) format• 0’s and 1’s0’s and 1’s

In everyday use, this In everyday use, this

is simply putting data is simply putting data

into an electronic format into an electronic format

that is stored and that is stored and

retrievable.retrievable.

Data StorageData Storage After data is converted into bits, it can be After data is converted into bits, it can be

stored in bytes (a string of 8 bits)stored in bytes (a string of 8 bits) Primary storage, or memory, is located in Primary storage, or memory, is located in

the hard drive and can be directly the hard drive and can be directly accessed by the central processing unit accessed by the central processing unit (CPU)(CPU)

Secondary storage: located outside the Secondary storage: located outside the computer; ex: disks, CDs, USB sticks, computer; ex: disks, CDs, USB sticks, external hard drivesexternal hard drives• Good for security purposesGood for security purposes

Data ProtectionData Protection

Prevention of data corruptionPrevention of data corruption Limits access to dataLimits access to data

• Disk encryptionDisk encryption• Backup – internal or external copies of data Backup – internal or external copies of data

files in case of accidental data lossfiles in case of accidental data loss• Data masking – hiding specific private data Data masking – hiding specific private data

within a databasewithin a database• Data erasure – destroys all electronic data Data erasure – destroys all electronic data

on a hard drive to maintain privacy if it is on a hard drive to maintain privacy if it is discarded or reused discarded or reused

Data ProcessingData Processing

Conversion of data into usable Conversion of data into usable informationinformation

CPUCPU• Fetches instructions for a program from Fetches instructions for a program from

memorymemory• Decodes and reads instructionsDecodes and reads instructions• Portions of the CPU connect and execute Portions of the CPU connect and execute

instructionsinstructions• Writes back the results to memoryWrites back the results to memory

Data TransmissionData Transmission

Physical transfer of data over a Physical transfer of data over a medium, such as copper wire, optical medium, such as copper wire, optical fiber, or wirelessfiber, or wireless

Networks: enable two or more Networks: enable two or more computers to share files, printers, computers to share files, printers, and communicate with each otherand communicate with each other

NetworksNetworks

Local Area Network (LAN): contained Local Area Network (LAN): contained within one building or sitewithin one building or site

Wide Area Network (WAN): connects Wide Area Network (WAN): connects more than one sitemore than one site• Ex: InternetEx: Internet

Networks, continuedNetworks, continued

Client-server: client computers are all Client-server: client computers are all connected by a central server; can connected by a central server; can be LAN or WANbe LAN or WAN

Peer-to-Peer: computers are Peer-to-Peer: computers are connected to each other, but files are connected to each other, but files are not stored in a central location; can not stored in a central location; can only be LANonly be LAN

Networks, continuedNetworks, continued

ServerServer: large & : large & powerful digital powerful digital storage point that storage point that performs a service for performs a service for other computers in a other computers in a network; file, print, network; file, print, web, mailweb, mail

Easier to maintain Easier to maintain security and perform security and perform backups when files are backups when files are centrally storedcentrally stored

InternetInternet

Connects millions of computers Connects millions of computers across the globeacross the globe

Used for obtaining and providing Used for obtaining and providing informationinformation• IP Address: each computer has one; IP Address: each computer has one;

enables data to be sent to and received enables data to be sent to and received from a specific computerfrom a specific computer

• HTMLHTML• E-mailE-mail

Data RetrievalData Retrieval ““science of searching”science of searching” User enters a query User enters a query

(ex: search string on (ex: search string on web search engine or web search engine or computer hard drive)computer hard drive)

Computer information Computer information retrieval system retrieval system scores objects in scores objects in database by relevancy database by relevancy and displays those and displays those most relevant to the most relevant to the queryquery

Common IT ApplicationsCommon IT Applications

Word processors: used to create and Word processors: used to create and edit documentsedit documents

Spreadsheets: used to analyze Spreadsheets: used to analyze figures and present information with figures and present information with graphs/chartsgraphs/charts

Databases: stores information about Databases: stores information about a set of similar itemsa set of similar items

Common IT ApplicationsCommon IT Applications

Publishing: more control over Publishing: more control over formatting and arranging than word formatting and arranging than word processingprocessing

PowerPoint: used in business PowerPoint: used in business presentations and the classroom to presentations and the classroom to present factual information or for present factual information or for persuasive purposespersuasive purposes

Careers in Information TechnologyCareers in Information Technology

While most workers use information stored While most workers use information stored electronically daily, IT specialists are electronically daily, IT specialists are needed to manage those information needed to manage those information systems.systems.

Some jobs in IT:Some jobs in IT:• Network EngineerNetwork Engineer• Network AdministratorNetwork Administrator• System AdministratorSystem Administrator• Database AdministratorDatabase Administrator• IT Project ManagerIT Project Manager• Chief Information Officer (CIO)Chief Information Officer (CIO)

The Top Skills of IT Professionals are:The Top Skills of IT Professionals are:

Computer NetworkingComputer Networking Information SecurityInformation Security Database ManagementDatabase Management Information Storage Information Storage

and Retrievaland Retrieval Computer ProgrammingComputer Programming

SummarySummary

Information technology is the use of Information technology is the use of computer hardware and software to computer hardware and software to manage information.manage information.

IT professionals use computer IT professionals use computer systems to convert, store, protect, systems to convert, store, protect, process, transmit, and retrieve data.process, transmit, and retrieve data.

Computers are connected to each Computers are connected to each other by networks.other by networks.

Summary, continuedSummary, continued

Networks sometimes have one or more Networks sometimes have one or more servers, which store files in a central servers, which store files in a central location. location.

Some common IT software applications Some common IT software applications are word processors, spreadsheets, are word processors, spreadsheets, databases, publishing, and PowerPoint databases, publishing, and PowerPoint

The information age has created the new The information age has created the new career field of information technology.career field of information technology.

IT specialists must be prepared to learn IT specialists must be prepared to learn and adapt to constantly changing and adapt to constantly changing technologies.technologies.