Computing and digital transformation

Duration

40h Th, 15h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

André Blavier, Eddy Heins, Eric Vyncke

Coordinator

Alain Dubois

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

COMPUTING Part  

• In their daily and professional life, managers are overwhelmed by data and information. They will gain a competitive advantage if they can collect, transmit efficiently and manipulate those data to transform them into useful pieces of information. ITC (information and communication technologies) can help us reach that goal.
• Learning the possibilities and constraints of those technologies, their potential for organisational change and dehumanisation risks, is a major challenge. This study implies the mastery of elementary concepts in management information systems.
• Content : Software Installation. Expressions. Conditional execution. Functions. Iteration. Strings. Files. Using databases and Structured Query Language (SQL).

• In parallel, a part of the course will be allocated to the "digital transformation" : how digital technologies are transforming all sectors of our society and the way companies operate their businesses.
• This part will be structured in 3 modules:
• A general introduction to the digital transformation through the 4 majors axes that are driving it : mobile technologies, cloud computing, "big data" and social empowerment.
• The Web as a global programming and development platform for companies. The Web yesterday, today and tomorrow : Web standards and technologies. This module will be connected with the "Computing part".
• Technologies associated to this transformation: architecture and some technical details on the Internet of content and objects, the associated cloud, its morphing into a virtualized world, security (basics of cryptography, risk management, attacks and mitigations techniques, identity and privacy).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

COMPUTING Part. After this course, students will be able to :

• understand fundamental concepts in data processing ;
• learn a computer language and use it to automate repetitive tasks ;
• create and manipulate a set of informations recorded in a database.

• Students will know and understand the main challenges and opportunities related to 4 main axes of the Digital Transformation. They will also have a clear view on the state of the art of web standards.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Usage of a computer and standard software (operating system, mailing software, browser, office suite). These prerequisites are taught in mandatory course INFO2043-1 "Mastering IT tools".

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

COMPUTING Part

• Each week, discovery of a new chapter through videos and documents on the e-learning platform Lol@.
• Practical exercises to be solved on computer.
• Help on those exercises available during practical sessions in the labs.
• Submission of exercises' solutions on Lol@.

• Slides and documentation will be available on Lol@ at least one day before each lesson.  Multimedia contents, reference websites, studies, newsletters, people to follow, ... will also be available on Lol@. The idea is to provide scalable and evolutive supports that students will continue to use in their future professional life. 
• Students are also invited to follow the Twiter account @unpeudeblabla and @evyncke .

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

COMPUTING Part

• Theoretical courses : short lectures about concepts, techniques and set tools via the Lol@ e-Learning platform. Traditional course in class room; individual work.
• Exercises : simple management situation or problem to be solved with the set tools. Monitored work in computer labs.

• Traditional lessons, organized by topics.
• Lectures by professionals coming from ICT companies (depending on their availability).

Recommended or required readings

COMPUTING Part. The course is based on the manual written by Charles Severance, Python for Informatics : Exploring Information and on his MOOC available on the virtual campus Lol@ (http://newlola.hec.ulg.ac.be) including:

• on-line lecture notes and videos;
• solved problems and documents used during the courses;
• timetables, supplementary exercises, etc.

• The course are mainly supported by "Powerpoint" slides. These presentations are a detailled plan for the course and will have to be completed by information and references given during the lessons. The slides are updated yearly and are available at least the day before the lecture.

Assessment methods and criteria

• Theory : written examination with MCQ [50 %] ;
• Exercises : first session, continuous assessment [10 %] (at least on assignement corrected among those to post) and a written examination to evaluate programming and database skills [40 %]. Second session, a written examination to evaluate programming and database skills [50 %].

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

• André Blavier Presentation on HEC-ULg Website andre.blavier@ulg.ac.be Twitter : @unpeudeblabla
• Eddy Heins N1, office 201 eddy.heins@uliege.be
• Eric Vyncke eric.vyncke@ulg.ac.be twitter @evyncke