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Introduction
to Computing
A clear-eyed introduction to computers, programming concepts, and the digital systems behind modern life. No prior experience needed.
What You'll Learn
A full semester of introduction to computing — completed at your own pace, with no deadlines or fixed class times.
What You'll Be Able to Do
- Apply the functionalities of application software by performing practical tasks and critically assess the features and limitations of word processing, presentation tools, databases, and multimedia applications
- Identify and describe key components of systems software, such as operating systems and security protocols, before systematically evaluating and comparing different systems
- Design and optimize hardware systems by integrating and troubleshooting components, and critically evaluate their performance and interdependencies to propose innovations that enhance system efficiency; critically assess the historical evolution of computers and their economic impact, and synthesize a forward-looking analysis of future social, privacy, and economic implications of emerging technologies
- Create innovative solutions for network and data communication challenges using case studies; and critically evaluate evolving software development methodologies to propose improvements for next-generation network systems
Major Course Topics
Course chapters and lessons
Introduction to Computing has 11 chapters across 43 instructional hours, as listed in the course syllabus. Expand any chapter to see the lessons inside it.
- Chapters
- 11
- Lessons
- 71
- Instructional hours
- 43 hrs
- Semester hours
- 3
Chapter 1
Application Software: Productivity, Communication, and Licensing
- 1.1 Software With a Purpose: Matching Applications to Real-World Tasks and Goals
- 1.2 Productivity Powerhouses: A Hands-On Look at Office Suite Software
- 1.3 More Than Typing: What Word Processing Software Can Really Do
- 1.4 Let the Computer Do the Work: How Macros Automate Repetitive Tasks
- 1.5 Staying Connected: Tools and Platforms That Power Digital Communication
- 1.6 Who Owns the Software? Understanding Licensing Models and User Rights
Chapter 2
Application Software: Visual Media, Data Tools, and the Web
- 2.1 Slides, Graphics, and Visual Communication: A Tour of Presentation and Design Software
- 2.2 Raster, Vector, and Everything In Between: Understanding Image File Types and When to Use Each
- 2.3 Compression, Resolution, and Format Choices: How Image File Decisions Affect Quality and Performance
- 2.4 Organizing and Calculating: The Distinct Roles of Databases and Spreadsheets
- 2.5 The Language of the Web: How HTML Structures What You See Online
- 2.6 Sound, Video, and Beyond: How Multimedia Software Shapes Digital Content
Chapter 3
Systems Software
- 3.1 The Engine Under the Hood: What Systems Software Does and Why It Matters
- 3.2 Talking to the Machine: How the Command Line Interface Works
- 3.3 The Software That Runs Everything: A Guide to Computer Operating Systems
- 3.4 Locking It Down: Principles and Practices of Systems Security
- 3.5 Keeping Computers Running Smoothly: Tools and Techniques for Computer Management
- 3.6 Bits, Bytes, and Beyond: Making Sense of Units of Digital Measurement
- 3.7 File Organization and Identity: How File Systems Store Data and How Extensions Reveal File Types
Chapter 4
Computer Hardware
- 4.1 When Letters Become Numbers: The Binary System Behind Character Encoding
- 4.2 Seeing the Results: A Survey of Computer Output Devices
- 4.3 Giving Computers Instructions: The Range and Function of Input Devices
- 4.4 Inside the Machine: The Core Components That Make Up a Computer System
- 4.5 How the CPU Executes Instructions: Fetch, Decode, Execute, and Store
- 4.6 Volatile and Fast: How RAM Stores Data Temporarily to Keep Programs Running
- 4.7 Saving and Storing: Internal vs. External Storage Solutions Explained
- 4.8 Never Lose Data Again: How RAID Arrays Provide Redundancy and Reliability
Chapter 5
Computers, Society, and the Digital Economy
- 5.1 A Timeline of Computing: How Computers Evolved From Room-Sized Machines to Pocket Devices
- 5.2 Technology as an Economic Force: How IT Has Reshaped Industries and Markets
- 5.3 Work in a Wired World: Globalization, Technology, and the Careers of Tomorrow
- 5.4 Redesigning Work: How Technology Is Changing the Nature of Jobs
- 5.5 The Price of Connectivity: How Technology Challenges Personal Privacy
Chapter 6
Information Systems, Cybersecurity, and Digital Rights
- 6.1 Information as a Business Asset: The Role of Management Information Systems
- 6.2 Building a Career in IT: Paths and Opportunities in Information Systems
- 6.3 The Resources That Power Information Systems: People, Data, Hardware, and More
- 6.4 Cyber Hygiene: Protecting Yourself and Your Organization in a Threat-Filled Digital World
- 6.5 Ownership in the Digital Age: Intellectual Property Rights and the Open Source Movement
Chapter 7
Network Architecture, Telecommunications, and Connectivity
- 7.1 Signals, Media, and Devices: The Core Components of Telecommunications Systems
- 7.2 Local, Wide, and Metropolitan: Understanding LAN, WAN, MAN, and Wireless Network Types
- 7.3 How Networks Are Organized: Peer-to-Peer, Client/Server, and Mainframe Architectures Compared
- 7.4 Mapping the Network: Star, Bus, Ring, and Mesh Topologies Explained
- 7.5 Shared Resources, Distributed Power: How Distributed Computing Works in Modern Organizations
- 7.6 Cutting the Cord: Wireless Devices and Their Expanding Role in Business Communication
Chapter 8
Database Management
- 8.1 Tables, Keys, and Relationships: The Logic Behind Relational Databases
- 8.2 Data Spread Across Systems: How Distributed Databases Work and Why They're Used
- 8.3 Choosing How to Store Data: A Comparison of DBMS Models
- 8.4 What a DBMS Actually Does: Core Functions That Keep Data Organized and Accessible
- 8.5 Not All Data Is the Same: Understanding Data Types and Their Uses
- 8.6 Data That Works for You: The Organizational Benefits of Effective Database Management
- 8.7 Building Blocks of a Database: Key Concepts, Terminology, and Structural Elements
- 8.8 Database Administration, Security, and Cloud-Based Storage Solutions
Chapter 9
The Internet and World Wide Web
- 9.1 From ARPANET to Everywhere: The Origins and Evolution of the Internet
- 9.2 Plugging In: Standards and Technologies That Enable Internet Connectivity
- 9.3 Building for the Browser: Web Design Principles and the Languages Behind Them
- 9.4 Two Sides of the Web: How Browser-Side and Server-Side Scripts Divide the Work
- 9.5 A World of Scripting Languages: Comparing the Tools That Power the Web
- 9.6 Finding What You Need: How Search Engines and Web Portals Navigate the Internet
- 9.7 Behind Every Click: How the World Wide Web Actually Delivers Content
- 9.8 The Backbone of the Internet: Infrastructure, Protocols, and How It All Connects
- 9.9 Staying Safe Online: Internet Security Essentials and the Legacy of Online Discussion Spaces
Chapter 10
Systems Development, Programming Logic, and Problem Solving
- 10.1 From Idea to Implementation: Methods and Tools for Building Information Systems
- 10.2 Following the Process: A Walk Through the Systems Development Life Cycle
- 10.3 Turning Requirements Into Reality: How Application Development Moves From Concept to Code
- 10.4 The ABCs of Code: Core Elements That Every Program Is Built On
- 10.5 How Computers Follow Instructions: A Foundational Look at Programming Logic
- 10.6 Blueprints vs. Building Blocks: Contrasting Object-Oriented and Procedural Thinking
- 10.7 A Different Kind of Code: Understanding Functional Programming and How It Compares
- 10.8 Planning Before You Code: How Pseudocode Maps Out Program Logic
Chapter 11
Boolean Logic, Algorithms, and Debugging
- 11.1 True, False, and Everything In Between: Boolean Logic and Its Role in Programming
- 11.2 Step-by-Step Problem Solving: What Algorithms Are and How They Work
- 11.3 When Code Goes Wrong: Debugging Strategies and the Compilation Process
These chapters come straight from the official course syllabus, which also sets out the graded assignment and the proctored final exam.
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