Scribd
Upload
219 views

Certificate in IT Syllabus: Software Development Rationale

This document outlines the syllabus for a Certificate in IT course on software development. The module introduces students to fundamental programming concepts through practice. It emphasizes good design, documentation, problem-solving skills, and learning programming as a process. Students will learn about algorithms, coding, testing, documentation, interfaces, and systems software. They will practice problem-solving and coding in languages like Java, C/C++, Visual Basic, and Pascal. The goal is to give students practical skills in programming and software development through hands-on learning and exposure to the full development process.

Uploaded by

Naziya Bocus
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
219 views

Certificate in IT Syllabus: Software Development Rationale

This document outlines the syllabus for a Certificate in IT course on software development. The module introduces students to fundamental programming concepts through practice. It emphasizes good design, documentation, problem-solving skills, and learning programming as a process. Students will learn about algorithms, coding, testing, documentation, interfaces, and systems software. They will practice problem-solving and coding in languages like Java, C/C++, Visual Basic, and Pascal. The goal is to give students practical skills in programming and software development through hands-on learning and exposure to the full development process.

Uploaded by

Naziya Bocus
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Certificate in IT Syllabus

Software Development

Rationale:

Programming, using many styles and languages, provides solutions to a wide variety of
scientific, engineering and business problems. Programming is a core skill that will be
used throughout a computer practitioner’s career. It is a skill acquired largely by
practice and experience. Learning how to program requires a disciplined and structured
approach in order to encourage good practice and to assist in the development of
easily maintained systems. This module introduces candidates to the fundamental
concepts of programming with the emphasis being laid on the whole of the software
development process.

Aims:

 To stress the importance of good design, documentation and usability


 To emphasise skills in problem solving and algorithm specification rather than
just writing syntactically correct code
 To introduce a systematic approach to algorithm development which will assist in
subsequent programming and system design modules
 To introduce candidates to the environment in which software is developed and
to the tools that assist in this process

Objectives:

 Distinguish between systems software and application software


 Understand the phases of software development
 Be able to develop and understand algorithms
 Be able to develop code from algorithms in a visual or 3rd generation high level
programming language
 Be able to follow 3rd generation high level code and apply modifications to it
 Develop competence in the techniques of systematic problem analysis, program
construction and documentation
 Gain an understanding of the basic concepts of good user-interface design
 Be able to test and document programs
 Gain an understanding of the principles of multiple module program construction
 Understand the need for compilers, interpreters, code generators
 Develop a knowledge and understanding of a range of fundamental algorithms

Prior Knowledge Expected:

None

Content:
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS OF THE PROGRAMMING PROCESS

Concept of an algorithm

Development and semi-formal specification of algorithms, based on a simplified


computer model

Development of code from an algorithm

PHASE-SPECIFIC ISSUES OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Development techniques such as modular programming, defensive programming or


recursion

Approaches to software build, such as evolutionary prototyping or 4GL development

Objectives and principles of testing and test-case specification

Testing and debugging strategies including dry-running, white-box and black-box

Styles of software documentation, such as for users or support personnel

Content of software documentation such as GUI descriptions or maintenance details

INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING CONCEPTS

Types: numeric and non-numeric, elementary and derived, subtypes, and expressions
such as assignments, input/output

Control structures: selection and iteration

Subprograms: procedures and functions

Data structures: Arrays (1- and 2-dimensions), implementation of queues, stacks and
lists.

Concept of data abstraction

Sorting and searching algorithms: comparative effectiveness with respect to


computation and storage of scanning versus indexing methods

FILES: SEQUENTIAL, INDEX-SEQUENTIAL AND RANDOM ACCESS

Comparative effectiveness of storage and retrieval for applications such as batch


processing or on-line query or both

INTRODUCTION TO CONCEPT OF USER-INTERFACE DESIGN

User requirements and characteristics of user interfaces; principles and techniques of


dialogue control, navigation and selection

ROLE AND NEED FOR SYSTEM SOFTWARE


System software and its relation to application software

CASE STUDIES IN PROBLEM SOLVING/ALGORITHM ANALYSIS

Primary Texts:

Lesley Anne Robertson, Simple Program Design: A Step-By-Step Approach, Course


Technology Inc (5th Ed), 2006, ISBN: 1423901320

Not specific to any programming language or indeed to any single design method.
Quite simple approach. Uses pseudocode, flowcharts and Nassi-Schneiderman charts
(not widely used)

Bell, D. Software Engineering for Students: A Programming Approach, Addison Wesley


(4th Ed), 2005, ISBN: 0321261275

Recommended for reading more about software engineering and structured design
concepts in programming

Indicative Programming Texts:

Java Texts:

Goodrich, Michael, T, Tamassia, R., Data Structures & Algorithms in Java, John Wiley
and Sons, 2005, ISBN: 0471738840

Horstmann, C.S., Java Concepts 6/E for Java 7 and 8 International Student Version,
Wiley, 2010, ISBN: 978-0-470-56159-1

Deitel, H., Deitel, P Java How to Program, Pearson (8th Ed), 2010, ISBN: 0131364839

C/C++ Texts:

Savitch, W., Problem solving with C++, Pearson (7th Ed), 2009, ISBN: 0321549406

Uses object-oriented ideas with the software life cycle.

Gottried, B.S., Schaum’s Outline of Programming with C, McGraw-Hill, 1996, ISBN:


0070240353

Visual Basic Text:

McMillan, M., Data Structure & Algorithms Using VisualBasic.NET, Cambridge


University Press, 2005, ISBN: 0521547652

Schneider, D.I., Introduction to Programming Using Visual Basic 2008, Pearson (7th
Ed), 2009, ISBN: 0138149437

Pascal:
Findlay, W., & Watt, D., PASCAL, An Introduction to Methodical Programming, Taylor &
Francis (3rd Ed), ISBN: 0273021885

Although old and reliable, at the right level SECTION 4

Other Reading:

Other textbooks that describe introductory programming will be appropriate. The


computer trade press and the computing/IT supplements of newspapers will help to
give candidates both an understanding of the scope of the discipline and also introduce
new developments in the field.

You might also like