Monday, 31 December 2018

Warm up to Computer Science

These resources will help you practice and strengthen your Computer Science and practical programming skills. Multiple links are provided to cover a wider range of backgrounds, experience and needs.

 Python is a great first programming language to learn for beginners, and Java is second to none to learn OOP and intermediate to advanced programming concepts. Java is a must for computer science students, and is also the prescribed programming language for the IB Diploma Programme Computer Science course with the Object Oriented Programming (OOP) option.
Good luck!

Theory/General Knowledge:
Practical aspect: Programming

Free eBooks recommended:
A few of the best reference sites about Java programming are
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Tuesday, 27 November 2018

HTML and CSS Online Exercises

The following HTML & CSS exercises have some questions outside the IGCSE ICT syllabus, but I think they can be very useful to practice and prepare. They include hints and answers. I'm adding recommendations on which ones to do and which ones to skip. Quizzes are available at the same website, but are optional, just one more resource to study and remember.

HTML EXERCISES @ https://www.w3schools.com/html/exercise.asp
CSS EXERCISES @ https://www.w3schools.com/css/exercise.asp
  • Start from CSS Syntax, all the way to ...
  • CSS Positioning, up to and including exercise 3
  • Skip CSS Overflow, but ...
  • Do CSS Align Exercise 1
DO NOT FORGET:
Use validators when in doubt--
The types of CSS and their differences--
In a nutshell: external < internal < inline
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Sunday, 25 November 2018

HTML and CSS for ICT

HTML & CSS revision resources for (I)GCSE ICT

To revise at home, may use the following resources to study, revise and prepare for our course's examinations and practicals.

 Reference:
Tutorials/Learning tools (note that these may not be IGCSE ICT-specific):
Memory training:

Minimum set of HTML tags and CSS selectors

This is a list of what you should know. It is a suggestion and may not be exhaustive; always check and compare against the examination topics and your current syllabus). For example, <!DOCTYPE> and <META> are not included, although you may be asked about them in exams and they are useful to know; I just do not consider them as essential as others.

HTML

<html>
<head>
<body>
<!-- comment! -->
<title>
<style>
<h1 … h6>
<p>
<br />
<hr />
<img />
<a href="">
<a href="mailto: ...?subject= …">
<a name="anchor_name">
<a href="# anchor_name">
<b> <strong>
<i> <em>
<u>
<s> <strike>
<sub> <sup>
<ol> <ul>
<li>
<table> <caption> <thead> <tbody> <th> <tr> <td> (also remember colspan and rowspan)

CSS

Size in pixels (at least px and % )
RGB hex notation #000000 ~ #FFFFFF
RGB (decimal notation) – rgb(0,0,0) ~ rgb(255, 255, 255)
width
height
background-color
background
background-repeat
background-image
background-position
color
text-indent
text-align
text-decoration
text-transform
letter-spacing
word-spacing
font
font-family
font-style
font-weight
font-stretch
font-size
font-size-adjust
margin
margin-top
margin-right
margin-bottom
margin-left
padding
padding-top
padding-right
padding-bottom
padding-left
border
border-top
border-bottom
border-right
border-left
border-color
border-top-color
border-right-color
border-bottom-color
border-left-color
border-style
border-top-style
border-right-style
border-bottom-style
border-left-style
border-width
border-top-width
border-right-width
border-bottom-width
border-left-width
table-layout
border-collapse
border-spacing
list-style
list-style-type
list-style-image
list-style-position
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Wednesday, 7 November 2018

Databases with FileMaker Pro

If you have to work with FileMaker Pro instead of MS Access, these resources will hopefully make your life a little easier:
Best luck!
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Friday, 2 November 2018

Buying a laptop

This is never an easy topic, but you could read the following article (which is updated yearly) as a starting point:

https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-laptops-for-college

and these great tips to avoid buying the wrong laptop/computer:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/top-laptop-buying-mistakes/

Some alternatives not discussed in the article by Laptop Magazine:
  1. Get a MacBook Pro with additional storage (512GB SSD, for example), and split the storage in order to be able to install Windows using Boot Camp. That way you can get the best of both worlds, macOS and Windows. This can be rather costly, though.
  2. Depending on your interests, tertiary institution requirements and budget, you could consider getting a first or second hand laptop, and run Linux (Ubuntu, for example) on it. Just like Macs can dual-boot macOS and Windows, a PC laptop can be set up to dual-boot Windows and Linux.
  3. A desktop and laptop combination; a powerful desktop or at least one that can be easily upgraded, and a light laptop with long battery life to take notes and do everyday tasks.
  4. Two laptops, a powerful one working as a desktop replacement "workhorse" for heavy tasks and a light one as a daily driver (see above).
  • Options 3 & 4 may include a computer that you already own.
General suggestions
  • Read/watch a few independent reviews before you buy. Availability of reviews will depend on model, make, popularity, etc.
  • Recommended RAM is 8 GB minimum; for longevity purposes (and especially if you intend to to photo and video editing) 16 GB RAM is a great choice, if possible and affordable.
  • The best secondary storage combination I can think of is an SSD (240 to 512 GB) combined plus an external large capacity hard disk drive (capacity depending on your individual needs and budget).
  • Processors: Intel i5 or i7 (8th generation preferably, or 7th), AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 second generation (2000 series).
  • Make sure that you get a laptop that doesn't overheat, or at least one that lets you control its thermals, by software or BIOS*.
* Careful when managing your thermals! You may damage your hardware. Here there be dragons...
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Monday, 20 August 2018

Setting up Java and Geany

In order to program in Java, you may want to follow the instructions and videos that I have prepared. They are simle and straightforward, and have no audio to keep the video lean and to prioritise video quality.

 Videos show tutorials for both Windows 10 and macOS.

Setting up your Java programming tools, in order (JDK first, then Geany)
  1. Download and install Java Standard Edition Development Kit, version 8. You will have to agree to using their cookies and accept their License Agreement, then download the right JDK for your system (most likely Mac OS X x64 or Windows x64). Link: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk8-downloads-2133151.html
  2. Now download and install Geany from https://www.geany.org/download/releases. You will need to choose between Windows binaries (e.g. "geany-1.33_setup.exe - Full Installer including GTK 2.24 runtime") and macOS X binaries (e.g. "geany-1.33_osx.dmg - Geany and Geany-Plugins combined").
The following screen casts may help you:
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Monday, 26 February 2018

Memory and Storage Devices

Videos related to the Computer Architecture topic (memory and storage devices)

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