Pro-Theta Computing Institute (Private) Limited.
Computer Training and Business Education.

F1. Computer Concepts: Ideas of Information, Information Processing and Data. The Data Processing Cycle. Examples of computer applications. Definition of Hardware; broad classes of computers (mainframe, mini and microcomputers) and networks. Computer Programs. The computer as a programmable device. Classes of software (system and application). Programming languages: purpose, facilities and common examples.
F2. Computer Hardware: The Central Processing Unit (Control Unit, Arithmetic and Logic Unit, Main Memory). Peripherals. The organisation of a simple computer. The storage of programs and data. Data and Control paths in the computer. The Fetch-execute Cycle.
F3. Data - its Representation and Input: The Stages (collection, preparation, verification, input methods). Input Devices and Media. On-line and Off-line peripherals. Verification and Validation methods.
F4. Input Devices: Description of common input devices and media (such as keyboards, light pens, mice, magnetic stripe readers, punched media magnetic and optical character recognition, mark readers...), including simple physical principles of operation and practical applications.
F5. Output Methods, Devices and Media: Description of Displays, Printers, Plotters and Computer Output on Microfilm, including simple physical principles of operation and applications.
F6. Computer Storage: Levels of storage: register, main and backing store. Units of storage (bytes and words) and capacities (Kbytes and Mbytes). Definition of Access Time. Principles of construction of magnetic tape drives and magnetic disc drives (Winchester and cartridge).
F7. The Binary System. Reasons for employing binary in a computer. The advantages and disadvantages of binary. The binary representation of numbers, characters and program instructions. Octal and Hexadecimal forms. Conversion between decimal, binary, octal and hexadecimal integers. Arithmetic overflow.
F8. Programming Languages: Ideas of generations of programming languages, with emphasis on third generation (`high level'), assembly and binary machine code. Suitable applications for each level; comparisons between the levels. Translater programs - compilers, interpreters and assemblers; source code and object code.
F9. Data Files: Definitions of file, record, field and character. The concepts of file organisation, file access and file processing (updating). The main types of data file such as master and transaction. Serial and sequential organisation. Direct access and serial access. Updating sequential (tape or disc) files and indexed sequential files. Concepts of a simple database.
F10. Simple Telecommunications: Serial and Parallel transmission compared. Simplex, Half-duplex and Duplex modes. Modems and Multi-plexors. Simple Interfaces.
F11. Common Applications of Computer Systems: Non-technical descriptions (purpose, hardware, data, processes, outputs, advantages and limitations) in banking, education, engineering, police, hospitals, credit reference, meteorology, airline reservation and stock control.

CPO1. Problem solving with computers: a systematic approach. The role of software. A program as expressing a step-by-step solution to a problem (an `algorithm'). The stages in programming: specification, analysis, devising the algorithm, flowcharting, programming, testing and documentation.
CPO2. Common computer processes: linear and binary searching, internal sorting, 2-way merging, sequential update, direct (on-line) update, calendar dates, times, validation routines, areas, volumes, ratios, percentages, integer division, switches, rogue values.
CPO3. Testing the logic of processes in flowchart, pseudocode or program form. Selection of comprehensive test data. Construction of effects table (dry run). Correcting faults and re-testing, including syntax and run-time errors.
CPO4. The features and facilities of a common third generation (high level) programming language. Simple ideas of program organisation, structure and style. Elementary data structures: numeric, string, one and two dimensional numeric arrays, serial, sequential and direct access data files. Program constants, variables and their identifiers. Arithmetic, relational and logical operators; rules of precedence. Expressions, assignment statements. Input and Output. Using control codes (escape sequences) to control peripheral devices.
CPO5. Control structures in programs: jumps, loops, subroutines; nested structures. The use of common functions (such as integer part, type conversion, ASCII codes, string, sub-strings, random numbers) in practical applications.
CPO6. Program documentation. Detailed practical knowledge of specification, analysis and method, system outline, flowcharts (or alternatives), test plans, program listings (with appropriate comments), test results, input, output and file formats, user notes.
CPO7. Text Processing Package. Facilities and practical operation. Creating, saving and erasing text files. Entry and amending text. Cursor control: text insertion, over-typing, deletion. Operations on blocks of text: marking, moving and erasing. Simple formatting of text. Searching.
CPO8. Modes of computer operation: Batch and On-line (transaction processing and real-time systems) methods. Single user operations. Multiprogramming. Multi-access systems. The operating system and its various functions.
CPO9. A Simple Operating System. Facilities and practical operation. The organisation of a floppy diskette and its formatting. Directories and sub-directories. Copying and wildcard commands. Obtaining information about the system. Simple input and output. Error messages. Re-booting the system.
CPO10. The work of computer operators. Comparison between small (desk-top) systems and mainframe computers. Distinction between the work of programmers and operators.
CPO11. The Computer Room. Equipment layout; environmental controls. Operating standards; discipline. Security considerations, including data back-up. The daily log.
CPO12. Hardware and data media. Routine operation of equipment. Precautions in handling magnetic media. Stationery: continuous, pre-printed, multipart. Ancillary (off-line) equipment. Hardware faults: preventive and remedial maintenance.

PP1. Searching techniques: random and sequential data sets (one-dimensional arrays and files). Calculating and predicting the number of test accesses needed to locate a given record for different set sizes.
PP2. Sorting: well-known internal sort methods (such as exchange and insertion); counting the number of comparison and exchanges (or movements).
PP3. Merging: 2, 3 and 4 way merges of sequential arrays and data files. Refinements such as the elimination (or retention) of duplicated items.
PP4. Two-Dimensional Arrays: the use of 2-dimensional arrays to represent and process practical applications (such as chessboards, aircraft seating plans, matrices).
PP5. Serial and Sequential File Processing. The record-by-record processing of serial data files to extract information or to update records. The updating of a sequential master file (on tape or disc) using a sorted transaction file; detecting and reporting common errors.
PP6. String Processing. Operations on (ASCII) character strings: length determination, searching for a character or sub-string, joining strings (concatenation). Examples in simple word-processing.
PP7. Simple Mathematics. Exercises in averages, ratios, percentages, areas, volumes, sets, finite series, factors and prime numbers. Integer arithmetic including quotient and remainder problems (such as fencing and tiling problems where unit sizes do not divide exactly into lengths or areas).
PP8. Currency Calculations. Financial problems involving simple interest, currency exchange rates and coin analysis.
PP9. Dates and Times. Calculation of interval between two dates or times. Relating weekdays and calendar dates. Extensions to leap years.
PP10. Computer Games and Random Numbers. The representation of simple games such as 'noughts and crosses'. Games of chance with dice; the use of random number functions. Generating test or dummy data by means of random numbers.
PP11. Screen Control. Operations on alphanumeric screens: clear screen, position cursor, clear to end of screen, clear to end of line, clear a specified field. The design of a screen layout to facilitate data entry (with suitable captions), error messages and re-entry options.
PP12. Printer Control. Simple printer operations: output of text and control characters such as form feed, line feed, carriage return and backspace. Formatting a page (with title, column headings and record prints), including correct page-break handling. Designing simple graphic output such as a histogram.