Mastering IT Tools

Duration

30h AUTR

Number of credits

Lecturer

Fabienne Fontaine, Eddy Heins

Coordinator

Fabienne Fontaine

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

Nowadays, computers are essential tools for managers as for economists. This training aims the student's efficiency in using the main office software during his cursus, as well as in his professional life. Along with the skills previously acquired, new software tools will be discovered, as well as several advanced functionalities which can be seen as an asset for the manager and the economist. Evolution in this domain being fast, tendencies will be also mentioned. Going beyond technical learning, concrete simulation exercises allow a contextual application, where the optimal use of the tool is aimed. Content : The computer :

• basics,
• hardware,
• operating system (interface, management of files and directories, configuration).

• browser and searching information
• communication and groupware tools.

• word-processing,
• presentation,
• spreadsheet : general use, addresses, elementary and advanced functions, graphics, data analysis.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Enabling students to use the computer and personal office software efficiently : computer, operating system, browser, information search on the Internet, communication and cooperation tools, word processing, presentation software, spreadsheet.
They will be able to :

• communicate with the IT department using the right technical vocabulary,
• understand the working of tools (such as operating system, browser, search engine) so as to use them correctly,
• select the appropriate tool to meet a given need,
• conceive an optimal solution to resolve a concrete problem,
• develop a solution using a software,
• analyse an information need, and meet it following the steps of the search methodology,
• communicate efficiently in writing, and using collaboration/cooperation tools within a team,
• conceive and realize a presentation to support a speech, in a way to synthetize information.

• taking advantage of data digitalization, mastering query and data processing tools,
• working efficiently in a team, using collaboration tools.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

None. The modules "word processing" and "presentation" raise to a standard.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

E-learning. A presentation is organised at the beginning of the academic year.
For each module :

• an introduction presents the learning objectives, the software used, the due dates, learning advice and evaluation;
• the course is provided with explanations, diagrams, animations, videos;
• individual activities take place along the learning path (e.g. drills, questions with feedback, guided problem solving with solutions;
• the module ends with an auto-evaluation application case, which is due for the date indicated in the planning and is part of the continuous evaluation. This case is solved individually, except the final work concerning collaboration tools which involves 2 or 3 students, but requires same level tasks from each one, and is evaluated individually.

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

Completely distance-learning, through LOl@ (http://lola.hec.uliege.be).
Coaching will be provided by the teachers via mail, forums on LOl@. Moreover, an appointment can be made.
On LOl@, modules are composed by individual learning activities. The students are free to organise their work, assuming that the due dates are met.
These activities include watching videos. It is thus recommended to have a broadband Internet access.
Software used : Windows 10, Microsoft Office 2016 (Word, Powerpoint, Excel), free software (Firefox) or available for the ULg students (Zimbra) .
The students also have a free access to computer rooms at N1 and B31.
General planification :
This training is organized through e-learning, over the first semester.
This individual and distance training involves personal organization for each student.
Teachers encourage a progressive planning.
To promote regular work, deadlines for each module of the course are previously set (available on LOl@). When deadlines are met, a grade is given to evaluate the online activities.
The proposed schedule represents the minimum to be achieved, because students are free to move at their own rhythm, provided that the deadlines for each module are met.

Recommended or required readings

Syllabi (available on LOl@). Online material (available on LOl@) : online course including text, videos, images, questions with feedback, cases, exercises, electronic files used as a basis for the exercises. All the online material on LOl@ is required for the assessment.
Recommended books (for help, and to go further) :

• Walkenbach J., Microsoft Excel 2016 - Bible, Wiley Publishing, 2015.
• Winston W-L, Microsoft Excel 2010 - Data Analysis and Business Modeling, Microsoft Press, 2011.

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment tools :
A continuous assessment is based on online exercises, and homeworks proposed at the end of each module. The students have to respect the deadlines. The objective is to verify that the students understand how the tools work, are able to realise an asked operation, and resolve cases with the software. Further, it's a good preparation for the exam.
Online exercises during the module are also assessed, but with formative intention.
Homework not returned or exercise not completed on time and via LOl@ be automatically punished with a 0. No excuses will be accepted.
The computer-based exam takes place in the N1 computer rooms. It involves :

• open questions aiming at verifying the vocabulary knowledge, the understanding of principles and the working of the tools,
• the realization of an asked operation in the software,
• the resolving of cases with the software,
• synthetizing skills,
• researching information on the Internet, applying a method.

• Optimal use of the computer.
• Optimal use of software tools.
• Ability to find out an optimal solution for a given problem.
• Ability to communicate efficiently.

• continuous evaluation (online exercises, personal homeworks) : 20 %
• computer exam : 80 %

• computer exam : 100 %

• word processing : 3% (1% of the total for continuous evaluation in January)
• presentation : 2% (of the total for continuous evaluation in January)
• spreadsheet : 56% (6% of the total for continuous evaluation in January)

• continuous evaluation of the online activity, according to the deadlines (cf. planning);
• in January, a computer exam covers all the modules (computer, Internet, word processing, spreadsheet) except presentation, assessed through continuous assessment;
• computer exam in June (for each module, exemption if >=50%);
• computer exam for the 2nd session (exemption following the same rules as in June).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

The keys for success will be a regular work and a good personal organization. The planning on LOl@ mentions the beginning dates and the deadlines for each activity.
The teachers will essentially communicate by e-mail. Every student has to check regularly his messages, and is considered as being aware of the information sended by this way.

Contacts

Fabienne Fontaine : fabienne.fontaine@uliege.be (201 - N1) Eddy Heins : eddy.heins@uliege.be (201 - N1)
A forum open on LOl@ will centralize all the questions about the course organization, questions about IT tools and proposed exercices, assuming that these are useful for all the students.
For the other questions, please contact Eddy Heins by e-mail, respecting the recommended communication rules listed on LOl@.

Items online