• Explain the importance of information systems and information technology in the design, functioning and evolution of organisations
• Describe different types of information systems and their uses in different organisational departments and managerial levels
• Describe a manager's role in information systems design, development, use, evaluation and supervision
• Describe the information systems life cycle and development process
• Describe the relationship between data, information and knowledge
• Describe different types of databases and their components and uses

Computers and Components
(Knowledge)

• Differentiate between hardware, software and data
• Describe different types of computers
• Describe different categories of computer users
• Describe different categories of software and different types of applications packages
• Explain the main functions of operating systems
• Describe important computer components and peripherals for input, output, processing, storage and communication
• Compare computer and component characteristics using indicators of functionality, quality, speed, storage capacity, inital and operational cost, etc.
• Describe a process to acquire computer equipment that meets organisational needs
• Explain how to configure or modify equipment and behaviour for safe, comfortable ergonomic computer use

• Start and shut down the computer
• Mouse movement; click, right click and double click; icons, buttons and menus
• Start applications using desktop icons and the Start menu
• Maximize, minimize and close applications using buttons in upper right corner
• Arrange or switch between two or more running applications using the taskbar
• Briefly use simple applications (Accessories: Notepad, WordPad, Calculator, Paint)
• Start and use Help (contents, index, search, navigation)

• Use My Computer and Windows Explorer and Search/Find
• Create, Rename, Copy, Move, Delete, and Find files, folders and shortcuts
• Format, label and copy floppy disks

Computer Maintenance
(Knowledge)

• View and explain contents of Desktop, My Computer, Recycle Bin, Control Panels, Printers
• View and explain C:\, Windows, My Documents, Program Files, Start Menu and Favorites folders
• Explain the purpose and use of system tools for computer maintenance such as scandisk, defrag, disk cleanup and backup
• Describe how viruses spread and the use of antivirus software

• List advantages and disadvantages of networks versus stand-alone computers
• Compare structure and function of different types of networks, including:
  LAN and WAN, Internet and Intranet, Client-Server and Peer-to-Peer
• Draw diagrams of simple networking topologies
• Describe common networking components and applications

• Navigate network neighborhood
• Share and access shared folders, disks, and printers
• Browse the Internet using a Web browser such as Internet Explorer
• Specify parts of and type in a URL
• Use common browser buttons including back, forward, home, refresh, stop, search, favorites, history and print
• Use Internet directories such as Yahoo to display information by category
• Use quotes and + to find information on a topic of interest with popular search engine

• Create a Web-based electronic mail account using a free service such as Yahoo or Hotmail
• Log in and read new and old messages
• Send, reply to and forward messages to multiple recipients using header fields
• Upload and download attachments
• Arrange mail messages and folders to keep the account space small and manageable
• Configure and change settings and options including full name, signature, password

• Start and exit Word
• Create a text document; practice typing
• Cursor movement; deleting characters
• Use keys for letters, numbers, capitals, symbols, navigation, shortcuts
• Save, close and open documents
• Select, cut, copy, paste, undo, redo using the Edit menu, buttons and Ctrl keys
• Move text using Drag and Drop technique (with the mouse)
• Format text (change size, font, font style, colour, highlight, etc.)
• Create bulleted and numbered lists
• Find and replace text
• Start and use Word Help

• Use ruler to indent text, create tab stops
• Format paragraphs (alignment, indent, spacing)
• Add, delete, format, resize and add borders and shading to tables, rows and columns
• Convert between table and tab-delimited text
• Sort text alphabetically

• Switch between views/layouts (normal, web, print, outline)
• Use page setup, print preview and print
• View and edit headers and footers
• Apply styles to headers and paragraphs and change formatting of existing styles
• Create and use templates

• Create a table of contents and an index from a document with styles
• Insert menu (page numbers, page breaks, special symbols, footnotes)
• Arrange, split and switch between windows
• Insert, move, resize: drawings, clip art, picture files, charts, objects, word art, symbols

• Start and exit Microsoft Excel
• Enter text and numbers into a worksheet
• Save, close and open an Excel file
• Format numbers: currency, percent, comma, decimal
• Format cells, rows and columns (number, alignment, font, border, patterns, protection)
• Copy and paste formats using the format painter
• Change column width and row height
• Select, cut, copy, paste, move, insert, delete and clear cells, rows and columns
• Sort a selection in ascending or descending order using one or more selected columns
• Find and replace text

• Use the AutoSum button to create a formula that sums a row or column
• Copy formulas to a different row or column
• Fill: down, right, series, fill handle
• Use relative and absolute cell addresses
• Use references (links) to cells in different worksheets and workbooks
• Create simple and compound functions using the function wizard
• Type and edit formulas by hand
• Use the function button to calculate sum, average, and statistical functions

• View multiple windows, worksheets and workbooks at the same time
• View and hide toolbars
• Modify headers and footers
• Use page setup, print preview and print
• Move between different worksheets and workbooks
• Insert, delete, rename, copy and move worksheets
• Create different types of charts and graphs with the chart wizard toolbar button
• Change chart size, location, type and options (title, axes, gridlines, legend, data labels)