The whole history of the development of human activity is inextricably linked with the development of the means of accumulation, transmission and processing of information. Very important for the life of every person and society as a whole is the preservation of data. Even in ancient times, people were faced with the need to preserve information.
Terms and Definitions
Information is information about the objects of the world that are perceived by a person, animal, plant world or a special device.
A medium is a physical medium on which or within which information can be recorded.
A data warehouse is information recorded on external media that is designed for long-term storage and permanent use. Main characteristics: volume, reliability, access time (time to search for necessary messages), information security. In modern conditions, various technical means are used to preserve materials.
Computer science is the science of data and processes in nature and society, methods and means of obtaining, storing, processing, transmitting, using and managing processes.
Information technology is a combination of means and methods of collecting, processing, storing, transmitting and protecting information.
Information Process: Examples in Systems
Consider such an artificial system that is familiar to everyone as a library. It carries out at least four basic information processes:
- storage - books and other printed materials are located in the library;
- search - when the reader orders a book, the librarian must find it;
- transmission - information presented in the book that is transmitted to the reader;
- processing - when new literature arrives at the library, data about which is entered into the catalog; reading, the reader processes the data, thereby the information process.
We can observe examples of the same processes in a technical system, say, in a mobile communication system. One of the most important is the process of using data, due to which the information needs of systems and their elements are satisfied.
An information system is elements (hardware, software, data) that, interacting with each other, provide users with the information they need as a particular information process. Examples of the use of today's information systems can be found everywhere: at enterprises, in banks and institutions. They help to keep records, provide information to employees and ensure the operation of industrial equipment (automatic lines, machines, etc.).
Information Technology Training
For example, the educational topic "Information and Information Processes" will be considered (the latter are formulated as requirements for the knowledge and skills of students).
Pupils must know the concept of information technology; names and purposes of the main software systems.
Also, students should be able to fix the subject area and its objects, choose and select (or develop) methods for solving this problem in a specific subject area.
At all stages of the development of society, such technologies were used to ensure the exchange of data between people, reflected the appropriate level and ability to use systems for recording, storing, processing and transmitting data, thereby developing the information process.
Examples in computer science of tasks for mastering a school course:
- to familiarize students with the concept of information technology;
- to form a concept of technology as a set of methods, tools and techniques that are used to solve problems in a specific subject area;
- to master the basic skills of working with a personal computer;
- show the role and place of information technology in modern society.
Information Technology Training Methodology
Basic knowledge on the study of information technology is computer information, information processes. Grade 8 of high school is the initial level of obtaining these skills. Note the main points on the methodology for obtaining such knowledge.
- Use the classification of information technology in order to choose to study software tools and technologies for solving problems in specific subject areas.
- Develop a system of exercises to solve problems from different subject areas.
- It is necessary to single out the main didactic units for teaching new technologies.
- Use information technology and processes to study software tools for a single interface. Tools that are not based on a graphical user interface (GUI from the English Graphic User Interface) have a command structure based on a hierarchical menu.
- It is advisable to immediately familiarize students with the terms: what is information and information processes, computer science, familiarize them with professional tools in order to ensure the practical significance of knowledge.
- When teaching information and communication technologies, it is desirable to use information models.
- The main teaching method should be the method of appropriately selected tasks and the method of demonstrating examples based on the widespread use of interactive technologies.
Information model
An information model is a description of an object or process, which indicates some of their typical properties and characteristics that are important for solving a particular problem. Mathematical modeling today is an essential factor in various fields of human activity: in planning, forecasting, management, and in the design of mechanisms and systems. The study of real phenomena using such models, as a rule, requires the use of computational methods. It is widely used: probability theory and mathematical statistics, computer science, computational and mathematical information process. Examples of modeling, the purpose of which is to obtain numerical values of the parameters of a process or phenomenon, are very numerous: analytical, computational, simulation.
Methods of introducing students to the concept of a model
The content line of modeling next to the line of information processes belongs to the basics of the course of computer science. However, one should not assume that this topic is only theoretical in nature and is separated from all other topics. Information technology programming - DBMSs, spreadsheets, and others - should be considered as methods for processing information models. It is advisable to note that the formation of the students' correct understanding of the content of solving problems is one of the important goals of studying a computer science course, which is achieved gradually. The concept of a model is directly related to the concept of an object. But in reality there is no exact definition. Introducing this concept, one can simply note that in a person’s life are surrounded by various manifestations of animate and inanimate nature, which can be called objects of human attention.
Ideas and methods of structural programming
The use of structural programming methods forms the skills of strict observance of labor discipline in the design of algorithms, which greatly contributes to the development of logical thinking of students already in the early stages of studying the basics of algorithmization. It is important to show students that the instruction on the implementation and receipt of a solution to a problem can be considered as a separate order that represents the desired results and will be provided as a specific value, which depends on the input data. Since not every exercise can be completed by students, it becomes necessary to submit it in the form of some finite ordered set of instructions for performing simple actions, which will also lead to the desired results. It is important that the students, analyzing specially selected examples, come to the conclusion that the degree of detail of the tasks depends on the set of operations that the executor of the algorithm can perform.
Educational algorithmic language
Important issues in teaching the basics of algorithmization include choosing a programming method for studying in secondary schools. Education in the school should be based on a specially created language. At the same time, not only the vocabulary and set of grammatical rules are learned, but also the paths to a new style of thinking are opened. The question of choosing a programming language was considered in the works of many scientists, where various ways of how to implement the educational information process were proposed. Examples in computer science of methods for studying this subject are as follows:
- When solving scientific and industrial problems.
- In machine-oriented languages.
- Mastering specific programming languages and schemes.
- Training based on a specially designed training algorithm.
Practice has shown that none of the first 3 ways justifies itself in the conditions of studying the general subject of computer science, since they do not solve the problem of forming the foundations of the information culture of students. Therefore, to solve the cognitive tasks of the training course, it is necessary to combine the basic ideas of each of the proposed paths.
Information Processing Tools
The process of providing information tools for the analysis of information objects is the use of application programs that are created specifically for such processing. You can offer students the following learning scheme:
- Demonstration with specific examples of characteristics of the possibilities of using the environment.
- Analysis of objects, types of messages, methods of their presentation, methods of obtaining the results of message processing.
- Familiarization with the main components of the environment interface.
- Rules for working with the built-in help system.
- Familiarity with the basic functions and operating modes of the environment.
- Studying a specific program (according to a separate scheme).
- Theoretical generalization of the main operating modes and functions of the environment.
- Theoretical generalization at the level of basic guidelines.
- Perform similar tasks in another environment for a similar purpose.
Visual programming system
At each event, the forms and controls can in some way "react" in accordance with the written code that is created by the user for each object separately. In such a process, it is necessary to describe each step in detail. One of the drawbacks of this style is that the person who makes up the project has to write everything down himself. In event-oriented programming, instead of a detailed description of each step, the author should indicate how to respond to various events (or user actions), which, for example, include the choice of direction, mouse click, mouse movement, etc. one event can provide some reaction, another simply ignored. This creates not one large program, but several that consist of a set of interrelated procedures controlled by the user.
Methods of studying the environment of visual programming
One of the reasons for the low academic performance of most students is a slow adaptation to the information load. A large amount of material in various academic subjects leads to the fact that a significant number of students cannot learn it. Improving the situation is possible, in particular, due to the choice of approaches to training. One of these approaches is based on the construction in the thinking of children of a “model” of the subject of each science. This involves the implementation of such mental actions as the search for patterns, finding analogies, searching for hierarchical relationships between objects, comparison, etc. One of the means of forming intellectual skills and various types of students' thinking can be considered the study of object-oriented programming. This approach involves a new understanding of the processes of computing, as well as structuring data in computer memory. The oriented approach introduces the concept of an object containing "knowledge" about the essence of the real world. An object or a collection of objects has important functional significance in this field. By creating such an object in the system, the student must highlight the problems that are essential for use, know and be able to use any information processes. A test or exam should be conducted on the ability to form or put into practice the ability to compare, highlight the main thing, generalize.