OVERVIEW

No professional can currently ignore an effective use of IT tools to support daily business. However, learning them to use without knowing the model they are based on makes it difficult to pass the elementary level and keep up to date with the continuous rapid updates of the tools.

This course aims to provide the basics of word processing and spreadsheets, distinguishing concepts from the demonstration of how they can be put into practice using a particular software system.

For this purpose, the concepts are presented disregarding, as far as possible, how they are implemented by specific applications and examples of use are used in different applications to allow comparison and facilitate abstraction.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Applications of spreadsheet with reference to economic and financial problems. Writing texts with editing software. Presentations with dedicated software

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Using the material made available to become familiar with the tools and tackle some simple exercises, at the end of the course, the student will be able to

• use a word processor to write well-structured documents that follow the main rules of effective communication
• use a spreadsheet to manage, enter and analyze data
• automate the calculation of economic and financial analysis formulas
• generate informative graphics
• design a compelling presentation
• use a presentation tool respecting the criteria of uniformity, sound design and accessibility in the final result

PREREQUISITES

Familiarity with computer use could help, but it is not required.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be delivered using online lessons and online exercises, self-assessment quizzes to help students focus the study. Those material and activities will be available at any time from the beginning of the semester and the students will be able to participate at any time.

Moreover, there will be synchronous labs, in which the teacher will interact with the students to facilitate the overcoming of the main practical difficulties in applying independently of the techniques learned.

Students with disabilities, SLD or SEN

Students with disabilities, with SLD or with SEN are reminded that, to request exam accommodations, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it<https://servizionline.unige.it/>, in the “Students” section. The documentation will be checked by the University’s Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with SLD.

At the beginning of the course, students are advised to contact the lecturer to agree on exam arrangements which, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available athttps://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.

Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Elena Lagomarsino, atinclusione.economia@unige.it<mailto:inclusione.economia@unige.it>, and the Inclusion Office atinclusione.studenti@info.unige.it<mailto:inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it>.

Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected. 

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course is divided into four macro-topics: a first part with general content, a second dedicated to word processing systems, a third dedicated to spreadsheets, and a fourth dedicated to presentation programs. Each macro argument is in turn subdivided into arguments.

General part: applications and operating system, differences and interactions

Word processing: types of applications for word processing, basic concepts of word processing, character formatting and paragraphs; Tabs and alignment; lists and numbered lists; Formatting documents, margins, headers, and footers; tables; styles; templates; Inserting special content: images, figures, symbols and formulas

Spreadsheets: Introduction to Spreadsheets; Inserting and formatting values (numbers, currencies, percentages, and dates); Operations and functions on values, relative and absolute references in Microsoft Excel and their use in formulas; Association of names to values or ranges; Automatic generation, import and export of data; Generation and manipulation of graphics; Sorting, focusing and filters. Pivot

Presentation programs: presentation principles and techniques; introduction to presentation programs; presentation structure; slide structure; animations

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

No textbook is required: the needed material will be freely available online.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

As no traditional lessons will be held, students can autonomously start their self-learning at any time after the semester beginning

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will be a test consisting of multiple-choice questions delivered on a digital platform. The questions concern the basic concepts and, to a greater extent, the use of applications. To answer, the students will need to have acquired a reasonable practical mastery of the same.

The quiz will be in Italian, and no other examination methods are available for international students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The test questions are of two different types:

• generic, or related to available functionalities and good practices of use of the applications
• operational, or that require the use of applications during the examination to create or modify documents and thus be able to answer specific questions on the final status of the document

The answers to the generic questions require less time and aim at verifying that the student has acquired sufficient knowledge of computer tools. Those for operational questions need more time, because they must carry out exercises to find the answers, and are intended to ascertain that the candidate knows how to use the applications in practice and did not limit their preparation to studying functionalities at a general level.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Communications concerning the course and examinations will mainly take place using AulaWeb or mail.