NAPS eLearning

This is a foundation unit in the information technology course. The unit introduces students to the fundamental digital concepts on which the design and operation of modern digital computers are based. It enables students to develop a professional view of, and a capacity for inquiry into, the field of computing and prepares them to be consumers and technology users in their professional and personal lives by examining the “what, why and how” behind computers. 

This is a foundation unit in the Information Technology course.  The unit introduces students to the fundamentals of programming, focusing on program design, development and testing, data types, control statements, methods, arrays, functions, pointers and file access. Students will have the opportunity to explore advanced topics such as error handling using exceptions and recursion.

Understanding IT and choosing the appropriate IT strategy can be a strategic enabler and a source of competitive advantage in business. This course is designed to provide students with a business oriented theoretical knowledge of key areas of IT that are ordinarily used in a business organisation. It provides practical skills development in relation to file management, spreadsheets, databases and other software applications in order to help students understand how software can be used to enhance or improve an organization’s overall efficiency. Students will also study the challenges faced by businesses in achieving a return on investment in IT initiatives and the need to evaluate and manage the associated risks.

Network security is a critical element in the use of computers. This unit provides students with a comprehensive overview of the field of network security, security risks and countermeasures associated with network connectivity. Students will gain knowledge and skills to understand, apply and manage network security. The unit will help students to identify common security vulnerabilities, threats, and in-depth analysis of the threats that network users often face. Students also learn how to respond to and recover from security incidents through class exercises. Topics covered include:

• Introduction to Network Security
• Symmetric Encryption and Message Confidentiality
• Public-Key Cryptography and Message Authentication
• Transport-Level and IP Security
• Intruders and Malicious Software

This unit gives an understanding of the design and implementation of computer networks. It provides an in-depth understanding of key protocols of the TCP/IP protocol suite, and its relationship to emerging technologies. The unit allows students to develop knowledge and expertise in key areas such as intra- and inter-domain routing protocols, multicast protocols, different transport protocols, Quality of Service, and multimedia. These concepts are reinforced through   simulators in laboratory sessions.

The web and websites are critical aspects of modern business operations. Developing an appropriate information system for the web is therefore an important part of IT.  This unit deals with the processes, methods, techniques and tools that the IT specialist may use to assist an organisation or agency in the conduct of their business, with a particular focus on how web-based technologies can most effectively contribute to the way business is organized. The unit enables students to study different types of web information systems and strategies in modelling and storyboarding.  Topics covered include web interaction types, Advanced Web Interaction Concepts, co-design methodologies, web information, Web Information Systems Engineering, Screenography and Adaptation of Presentation to Culture. 

Computers are excellent at performing computationally intensive tasks. However, the ability to match human intelligence and intuition with computer algorithms has always been an aspirational goal. Nevertheless, significant progress has been made on algorithms that can perform predictive tasks that would have been considered unimaginable a few decades back as computers are increasing designed to display ‘intelligence’, thus making it appropriate to use the phrase ‘artificial intelligence’ (AI). This course will introduce students to the main ideas and approaches in AI - including agent architectures, Prolog programming, search techniques, knowledge representation and reasoning, machine learning, natural language processing, logical inference and robotics.

This unit is designed to give students an understanding of the legal, ethical, and societal implications of information technology. It highlights notable technology developments and their impact on the professions, business, governments and society. Students examine the legal and ethical implications of professional codes of ethics, cybersecurity, security risk assessment, privacy, electronic surveillance, and freedom of expression. They also explore issues related to Internet censorship, protection of intellectual property, quality software systems, IT’s impact on society, social networking, ethics of IT corporations and role of ethics in the workplace.