IT in a Nutshell

Online Course on Information Technology

“Data literacy”, “computational thinking”, “artificial intelligence” – you’ve surely heard these terms before, but have you thought about what they really mean? This online course offers an overview of the basic principles and processes of information technology. In this course, you’ll be able to familiarise yourself with in-depth or subject-specific methods and tools for your studies.

What's the course about?

The introductory chapter clarifies basic terms such as “digitisation”, “data”, and “information”. It also provides some tips on where to get help if you are lost in the IT jungle. In the second chapter, you will learn more about what data are, how they are interconnected in a database, and how they can be analysed and processed further. The third chapter focuses on data backup and publication.

The fourth chapter proceeds with the use of algorithms in solving problems. Computers can automatically perform individual steps according to the commands they receive. In order for the machine to execute the commands accurately, the algorithm must be translated into a programming language, the process chapter five explains in detail. The concluding chapter discusses the opportunities and risks of a digitised society. How can you protect your personal data without restricting yourself too much? How can we use artificial-intelligence techniques without giving up too much control?

How does the course work?

The course is divided into six chapters. It will take you about 20-30 minutes to complete each chapter. All aspects and concepts are explained using simple examples, including videos, graphics, short texts, and quizzes. The format of the course allows you to freely organise the sequence, pace and intensity of the learning process. You can complete all chapters one after the other or focus on your chosen content instead. You can also take the final test at the end of the course and receive a confirmation of participation.

Where do you find the course?

This course is incorporated in “Angebote der Universität zum Selbststudium” as an ILIAS learning module on StudIP. The course is also available for non-members of the university at the OpenILIAS-platform and may be used under the terms of the licence CC-BY-SA 4.0.