Block 1 Part 1 Living in a digital world
Introduction
Welcome to the first block of TM111 Introduction to computing and information
technology 1.
As you study Block 1 The digital world, you’ll experience and investigate a wide range of
aspects of the digital world. Many of the things we enjoy – such as music, images, email and
social networking – are based on digital technologies, and you will see how advances in these
technologies have led to them playing an increasingly significant role in our lives. You will
examine some practical examples, and explore some of the issues and debates that surround
the use of digital technologies in a range of everyday situations. Block 1 also introduces some
of the key skills for study, including communication, numeracy, practical and professional
skills, and digital and information literacy (DIL) skills, to help you become an effective
learner.
Part 1 Living in a digital world explores what is meant by the ‘digital world’ in terms of the
technologies involved, and introduces some of the legal, social and ethical considerations.
Part 2 The evolving computer discusses how computers have developed since the early days
to the present time when computers are ‘ubiquitous’ in that they are everywhere around us.
The idea of using binary numbers to code digital representations is also introduced.
Part 3 Digital media looks at how images and sound are represented as binary numbers in
computers and you will use a sound editing program, called Audacity, to record and
manipulate sound. Part 4 A world built of data takes the idea of data representation further,
exploring the relationship between data, computers and humans. Part 5 Weaving the
web explains how the web works and includes hands-on work building simple web pages
using HTML codes and editing tools. Part 6 Crossing boundaries looks at human computer
interfaces (HCI) as the shared boundaries between the user and the computer, and introduces
you to concepts such as ‘usability’ and ‘accessibility’. You will start your personal and
professional development planning (PDP) at the end of Part 6. You will then complete and
submit your tutor-marked assignment (TMA).
Some of the topics you study over the next few months may be familiar to you, but others
will be new. I hope that you find most, if not all, of them interesting and enjoyable.
The module website
The module website includes an online study planner which will guide you through the
printed and online study resources and help you to plan your work. You should visit the
module website before continuing with Part 1 and before starting each subsequent part.
Some activities require you to be online and this will be indicated by an icon [
](as shown) in the margin. Words in bold are included in the glossary, which you will find on
the module website. If you haven't already done so, make sure you look at the
TM111 Module guide.
Introducing Part 1
Introduction
Welcome to the first block of TM111 Introduction to computing and information
technology 1.
As you study Block 1 The digital world, you’ll experience and investigate a wide range of
aspects of the digital world. Many of the things we enjoy – such as music, images, email and
social networking – are based on digital technologies, and you will see how advances in these
technologies have led to them playing an increasingly significant role in our lives. You will
examine some practical examples, and explore some of the issues and debates that surround
the use of digital technologies in a range of everyday situations. Block 1 also introduces some
of the key skills for study, including communication, numeracy, practical and professional
skills, and digital and information literacy (DIL) skills, to help you become an effective
learner.
Part 1 Living in a digital world explores what is meant by the ‘digital world’ in terms of the
technologies involved, and introduces some of the legal, social and ethical considerations.
Part 2 The evolving computer discusses how computers have developed since the early days
to the present time when computers are ‘ubiquitous’ in that they are everywhere around us.
The idea of using binary numbers to code digital representations is also introduced.
Part 3 Digital media looks at how images and sound are represented as binary numbers in
computers and you will use a sound editing program, called Audacity, to record and
manipulate sound. Part 4 A world built of data takes the idea of data representation further,
exploring the relationship between data, computers and humans. Part 5 Weaving the
web explains how the web works and includes hands-on work building simple web pages
using HTML codes and editing tools. Part 6 Crossing boundaries looks at human computer
interfaces (HCI) as the shared boundaries between the user and the computer, and introduces
you to concepts such as ‘usability’ and ‘accessibility’. You will start your personal and
professional development planning (PDP) at the end of Part 6. You will then complete and
submit your tutor-marked assignment (TMA).
Some of the topics you study over the next few months may be familiar to you, but others
will be new. I hope that you find most, if not all, of them interesting and enjoyable.
The module website
The module website includes an online study planner which will guide you through the
printed and online study resources and help you to plan your work. You should visit the
module website before continuing with Part 1 and before starting each subsequent part.
Some activities require you to be online and this will be indicated by an icon [
](as shown) in the margin. Words in bold are included in the glossary, which you will find on
the module website. If you haven't already done so, make sure you look at the
TM111 Module guide.
Introducing Part 1
