CLEP: Intro to computing

[rickyjo]

I really wasn't sure that there was a test out there I would potentially be able to pass with minimal or no study; however, I noticed the existence of this test and it just may hit the spot.

Can somebody give me an idea of what this exam contains? I'm a computer repair guy and I ought to be able to pass this without any additional work if it addresses the right things.

Basically I just need to know roughly what kind of topics are in this exam. Thanks in advance for all your help!

[operalady]

This exam will probably be perfect for you but there may be topics you have not encountered from the repair side.

• History of the computer
  
• Operations
  
• Internet/Email - how it works, lingo and more
  
• Networking - scenario questions and more than I wanted to know on WANs and LANs
  
• Hardware
  
• Database - you know how to use one and what stuff is called?
  
• Interface -
  
• Software -
  
• Spreadsheet - know the different terms here and how a spreadsheet is used
  
• Programming - programming languages (eek)
  
• Development Process - wiki has good articles on this
  
• Virus and Security - spam, trojan horses, ect
  

We used a textbook, the forum feedback and IC for this one. You will be far ahead of us but I bet you have to study. Are you on IC?

[Ruddigore]

I scored a 459 with IC, IC Feedback, and Wikipedia only. I was a bit unsure going in, but once I started tested, I knew I had this one licked. If you've used computers very long (and you definitely have), preparing for this one should be a breeze.

[MISin08]

Intro to Computing is a DSST, which I have not taken. By the exam outine and feedback here, it's the really easy one. The CLEP is Information Systems and Computer Applications, and it's pretty easy too, but the subject matter is somewhat more advanced than the DSST. I estimate the DSST corresponds to a freshman year class in minimal computer literacy, while the CLEP corresponds to a sophomore class for majors in fields where they'll use computers. (EC took it for my 'computers' requirement for BS in Business, and it was a good match for the prereq at the CC where I took Java I.) You can probably hit both out of the park, though the CLEP has a skosh more on business/management topics that some tech-oriented posters trip up on (hint: the 'applications' in the exam title is 'applications of computers' not 'computer applications as in software you install and run'). Last I heard EC did not not consider them duplicates, but YMMV. DSST MIS is the next level up in difficulty, corresponding to a common junior-year course for business majors. EC took it as an elective in my MIS concentration.

Phillip

[rickyjo]

Fascinating. Thank you all for your information. I should be strong in most of the categories operalady listed.

BTW....programming?!?! Why....? I know nothing outside of the basics of web development languages. What exactly do I need to know about programming? The context a certain language is used and the name of the most common languages is probably about all I've got going for me.

Augh, well if the DSST is easier I guess I'll go with that first if I can find a testing center...or is it prometric because I know where those guys are. They have an office across the street from me.

Finally would somebody be so kind as to elucidate what exactly "operations" and "[application?] development processes" could mean as far as the test goes....and maybe "interface" as well, because I'm having trouble envisioning the last one outside the obvious.

[MISin08]

I can't speak for operalady, but development processes sounds like the SDLC, and operations might be stuff like ERP and the use of information systems to automate business operations. Supply chain topics.

Programming on the CLEP was things like know which of the following languages is the most abstract from the hardware, which one is interpreted, which one of the list of choices is object-oriented.

Interface: "If you see icons, a pointer and windows that open when you double-click them, that's a 1)CLI 2)GUI 3)CPU 4)Input device"
Nothing like "interface" as in middleware, not at this level.

This website for a typical textbook (I didn't use the book, just the site) helped me dial in the level I needed to aim for.

Phillip

[operalady]

Fascinating. Thank you all for your information. I should be strong in most of the categories operalady listed.

BTW....programming?!?! Why....? I know nothing outside of the basics of web development languages. What exactly do I need to know about programming? The context a certain language is used and the name of the most common languages is probably about all I've got going for me.

Augh, well if the DSST is easier I guess I'll go with that first if I can find a testing center...or is it prometric because I know where those guys are. They have an office across the street from me.

Finally would somebody be so kind as to elucidate what exactly "operations" and "[application?] development processes" could mean as far as the test goes....and maybe "interface" as well, because I'm having trouble envisioning the last one outside the obvious.

Interface:

• Multitasking – more than one program concurrently for a single user
  
• Shell – graphical user interface, outer layer to operating system
  
• GUI – graphic user interface (gooey), refers to the graphic user interface that allows users to drag with a mouse rather than enter text, divides screen into sections, icons, mouse, divides screen into sections, relies most on mouse, Advantage – easier for the novice
  
• command-line interface – CLI, mechanism for interacting with computer software or operating system by typing commands (DOS/UNIX)
  
• Menu interface – line of command options with a menu bar
  
• Know parts of a window, close, minimize, restore, menu bar, taskbar...
  

Programming

• History of programming languages - Language pre date the invention of the computer, directs behavior of machines (looms and player pianos)
  

Programming languages
machine language – machine code, 1st generation, system of instructions executed by the CPU, lowest level of computer programming
assembly language – 2nd generation, a family of low level languages for programming computers, and integrated circuits

• FORTRAN – assembly program, general purpose, suited for numeric computing and scientific computing
  
• BASIC – Beginners All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code, family of high level programming languages, 1964 design, access to non science students, remains popular to this day
  

Procedural programming language – imperative language, uses procedures to operate on data structures

• PASCAL – influential imperative procedural programming language, designed as a small and efficient language to encourage good programming practices
  
• C – specified by an ISO standard (internal organization for standardization), used for developing portable apps, most popular
  
• Object-Oriented Programming – a programming paradigm that uses objects , data fields and methods to design applications and programs, polymorphisms, design patterns, inheritance and behavior sub-typing, bundles together, object operates in its own data structure
  
• C++ - a strategically typed, multiple paradigm complicated programming language, considered middle language, includes high and low, input statement includes extraction operator, Output stream – char or cout (C is input), Output statement – cout>>Circumference, Input statement – cin>>Radius
  

• Java – originally object oriented, programming language, SUN Microsystems, 1995, can run on any Java virtual machine
  
• JavaScript – object oriented language, used in the form of client side Java, web browsing and dynamic web pages
  
• PERL – high level dynamic programming language, designed by Wall of NASA, general purpose Linux language, wildly popular
  
• COBOL – common business oriented language, second oldest high level programming language, popular for business on large computers, invented by a woman, Grace Murray Hopper – laid foundation for COBOL
  

Prolog – declarative programming language

• UNICODE – 16 bit encoding system,
  
• ASNII - Abstract Syntax Notation One. 7 bit. The OSI language for describing abstract syntax.
  
• ANSI – 8 bit
  
• Hexadecimal – base 16
  
• Macro – program of recorded keystrokes
  
• CGI –computer generated imagery
  
• Algorithm – ordered steps, define how a task is to be done, essential, specify the specific instructions a computer should perform (in a specific order) to carry out a specified task, such as calculating employees’ paychecks or printing students’ report cards. Written in human readable language (pseudocode).
  
• Pseudocode – human readable language,
  

• “print the values of” - output
  
• Binary search algorithm – recursive structure
  
• Primitive – building block from which algorithms can be constructed
  
• Report generator – produces reports for end users
  
• Application Generator – creates software code based on description of data that needs to be processed
  

Programs

• Function – units of a program code that perform specific procedures, procedures that return a value to portion that invoked them
  
• Assembler – program that translates assembly language software programs into machine language
  
• Compiler - program that translates one text into another type of text, modifies the appearance, converts high language software programs into machine language for later
  
• Interpreter – program that converts software programs into machine language for immediate execution, Advantage – easier to develop
  
• Debugger – a program that debugs and tests other programs,
  

Logics

• Boolean Logic – A + B is true if A is true and B is true
  
• Boolean data types – take only values of T & F
  
• Declarative Programming logic – self contradictory statements, inconsistent
  
• Control Structure – controls logical sequence of instructions
  

Data types

• Abstract data types – user defined, include definitions of operations
  
• Complex data types consist of
  
• Predetermined storage system
  
• Collection of predefined operations
  
• Character data types – data expressed using symbols
  
• Halting problem – predicts when program will terminate under certain conditions, unsolvable, beyond computer’s capabilities
  
• BNF (Bakus Naur Form) – notation for representing syntax of programming languages
  

Difference between:

• Arrays – a collection of data items that can be selected by indices, computed at run time, group of elements of data types, organizes data so a related set of values can be easily stored or searched
  
• Loops – instructions that executes repeatedly
  
• Strings – sequence of computer symbols or digits in computer programming
  

These are part of the notes we used to study. Please verify my info as I am not a computer expert at all.

[Ruddigore]

BTW....programming?!?! Why....? I know nothing outside of the basics of web development languages. What exactly do I need to know about programming? The context a certain language is used and the name of the most common languages is probably about all I've got going for me.

Um, yeah, you know more than I did before I started studying for Intro to Computing. They want *very basic* knowledge, happily. Just know the names of the languages and important factoids about them.

Opera Lady's lists above should be a good guideline for you. If you don't know one or two of these things after studying IC, let Wikipedia be your guide.

[rickyjo]

you guys are good. I am half-way tempted to just sign up and see what happens. Operalady, your notes are great. Ruddigore, Wikipedia got me certified and I will gladly be led to test completion by it again! MisIn08, if that turns out to be a question on the test I will laugh out loud and be punted out of the test room.

[operalady]

Blessings to you. Please keep us posted.

As to my notes the rules are:
1 - always verify
2 - some of my notes only make sense to me
3 - This is what I studied from, not what I actually saw on the test
4 - I don't share notes if we failed to pass.