The computer skills course aims above all to give students all the knowledge of computer science they need to get their own clear and sufficiently thorough idea (even if on some technical details approximate) of what the science goes by under the name computer science (Computer science) and how and with what effects it develops in favor of man and the spicological sciences and techniques. Students will have to acquire adequate knowledge and application skills of information technology in the field of psychology with particular regard to the use of spreadsheets in order to understand which uses of these tools are most useful for answering questions of research in psychology and to address data analysis in psychology. It is recommended to have followed first the course of "Research methodology with elements of statistics" (instruction given in the first semester).

The course is divided into two parts: theory (basic concepts of computer science) and practice (this part aims to teach information technology skills). The topics will be addressed in the order they are listed in the program.

Basic concepts of computer science (6 hours)

• The computer: nature, denomination and functions
• The computer performer general of algorithms
•  What is an algorithm?
•  From the algorithm to the computer program: introduction to coding
•  Intelligent machines and artificial intelligence

- How to represent, process and analyze data with spreadsheets (16 hours)

-Online collaboration (1 hour)

• Groupware

-Find and retrieve information from the world wide web (1 hour)

• The search tools on the web
• Search engines

No specific prerequisites are needed. We still need a basic familiarity with the computer (use of keyboard, monitor and mouse, opening and closing of the working session, etc.)

In relation to the teaching of computer science students must demonstrate possession of:

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Any supplementary lessons and / or seminars.  

Teaching

Lectures, practical demonstrations on the use of spreadsheets with the aid of multimedia tools (PC and videoprojector), structured exercises on the use of spreadsheets in psychology.

Attendance

Attendance is recommended as it is a course based on the practical use of spreadsheets in psycholog The presence of students will be recorded, to which, each week, an exercise will be assigned to be presented to the teacher the following week.

Course books

-On the basic concepts see the teaching materials provided by the docednte available on the Uniurb blended learning platform and the chapters 1 (pp.5-20) e 2 (pp. 21-36) of the text "Informatica di base" byi M. Mezzini, Maggioli Editore, 2016.

- For the topic how to represent, process and analyze data with spreadsheets:

• Alberto Clerici (a cura di), Manuale di informatica per l'economia, Egea, Milano, 2014. Cap. 4 (da pagg. 91-117), cap. 5 (da pagg. 127-137 e 141-143) e cap.6 (da pagg. 161-181 e 208-215).
• Chiara Marabelli - Valentina Piroli - Semira Taglabue (a cura di), Psicologia ed Excel, EDUCatt Università Cattolica, 2010. Ebook available online.
   

- For the topic Online collaboration, Alberto Clerici (a cura di), Manuale di informatica per l'economia, Egea, Milano, 2014. Cap.8

- For the topic Find and retrieve information from the world wide web, Alberto Clerici (a cura di), Manuale di informatica per l'economia, Egea, Milano, 2014. Cap. 2, §§ 2.2 e 2.3.

For an in-depth analysis on algorithms and coding, "Problemi, algoritmi e coding" di P. Crescenzi ee L. Pagli, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2017.Capp. 1-2-5 (only pp.143-150). Optional reading:pp. 151-187.

Assessment

The exam consists of a suitability test. This means that no grades are assigned, but only the qualification of "eligible".

The suitability test consists of;

Written test through exercises to be performed on algorithms and spreadsheets in psychology. The test aims to ensure the possession of the acquired skills. The time for the test is thirty minutes.The written test will be passed by answering exactly 75% of the questions.

Elaborate written (theme) to be sent by e-mail to the teacher one week before the examination for the coorection. The study will have to choose a track for the theme among those published on the blended learning platform. The elaborated essay must strictly respect the editorial indications provided on the blended learning platform.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

Individual study on texts and reported specific materials.

Autonomous exercises on the topics of the application part available on the blended learnig platform.
 

Attendance

No obligation.

Course books

In addition to the same texts indicated for frequentant students, reading the text is recommended:

- Mauro Mezzini, Informatica di Base, Apogeo (Maggioli Editore), 2016. 

Assessment

Same manner as for the attending students.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

For non-attending students it is recommended to practice  the examples proposed in to course books.